Hangzhou or Suzhou?

Question

Hi everybody, I have just 3 days to spend and I have to choose between Hangzhou or Suzhou. Which one would you suggest more?

Opt.1

day 1 - flight from Guilin to Hangzhou

day 2 Hangzhou

day 3 Tea plantation

day 4 Hangzhou or Wuzhen. In the evening transfer to Shanghai airport

day 5 Flight at 1.45 am

Opt.2

day 1 - flight from Guilin to Shanghai and transfer by train to Suzhou

day 2 - Suzhou

day 3 - Tongli as day trip

Day 4 - Suzhou in the evening transfer to Shanghai airport

day 5 Flight at 1.45 am

Thanks for your help and suggestions.

Answer

With only 3 full days to spend, choosing between Hangzhou and Suzhou depends on the type of experience you want: nature and scenic beauty versus classical gardens and canals.

Option 1 – Hangzhou:

Hangzhou is famous for its natural scenery, tea plantations, and cultural sites.

Day 1: Flight from Guilin to Hangzhou. Depending on arrival time, you could stroll around West Lake in the evening.
Day 2: Explore West Lake attractions (Lingyin Temple, Leifeng Pagoda), enjoy a boat ride, and sample local cuisine.
Day 3: Visit the Longjing Tea Plantations and experience tea tasting; optionally explore the nearby villages.
Day 4: If you have time, you could visit Wuzhen Water Town (around 1.5–2 hours each way) before transferring to Shanghai airport in the evening.

Hangzhou offers more in terms of natural scenery and relaxation, especially if you enjoy walking, lakes, and tea culture. The pace is gentle and immersive.

Option 2 – Suzhou:

Suzhou is renowned for its classical gardens, canals, and historic architecture.

Day 1: Flight to Shanghai and train to Suzhou. Depending on arrival, you could take an evening stroll along Pingjiang Road or Shantang Street.
Day 2: Explore Suzhou’s highlights: Humble Administrator’s Garden, Lingering Garden, and the Suzhou Museum.
Day 3: Day trip to Tongli Water Town to enjoy canals, bridges, and traditional architecture.
Day 4: Return to Suzhou for any last sightseeing, then transfer to Shanghai airport in the evening.

Suzhou is more compact and easier to see in a short time. It focuses on gardens, waterways, and traditional architecture rather than natural landscapes.

Recommendation:

If you prefer natural scenery, tea culture, and a slightly more relaxed pace, go with Hangzhou.
If you enjoy classical gardens, historic towns, and canal cities with a dense cultural experience, choose Suzhou.
Both options allow for evening transfers to Shanghai for your flight, but Hangzhou plus a short visit to Wuzhen offers a mix of lake, tea, and water town scenery.

Given you only have 3 days, Hangzhou offers a slightly more diverse experience in terms of nature and culture, while Suzhou is more concentrated on historic architecture and gardens. It comes down to whether you want lakes and tea plantations (Hangzhou) or canals and gardens (Suzhou).