Scholars Hotel Suzhou Pingjiangfu

Amazing hotel! Fans of Chinese traditional architecture, garden and ambience will simply love it! Big highlights : the interior pool with golden fishes, some tables paper and brush to do calligraphy, authentic old furnitures and art, and important: they have a free tai chi 太极 lesson on the morning! The only hotel I know providing this! The teacher is super nice and his moves are impressive! I recommend a try! (Just let the hotel know one day before)

The gated hotel is a co-op made up of restored and new buildings, a restaurant, and a spa, but nothing over 3 stories. There are numerous restaurants once you leave the grounds -- go west. Get the breakfast buffet, it is worth it! The tourist center is a block west and next to the Grand Canal. Go there, and ask the nice young lady how to get around. The hotel will give you change for the bus. The police and information will help you in the metro. Be sure to walk up and down the canal, enjoy people watching, especially the young ladies dressed and made up in beautiful period piece costumes. You can rent one yourself if you wish to participate. Most of the tourist sights are within walking distance, including the Humble Administer's Garden and the sanpan ride on the canal. The hotel also has a nightly cruise sign up. If you want to see a panda, you'll have to go to the Taihu Wetland Park -- it's about 30 km from the hotel. You can get there by cab or public transportation.

My favorite hotel in Suzhou. nice and the restaurant is quite foreigner friendly