Suzhou 苏州

Squirrel Mandarin Fish 松鼠鳜鱼

Sōngshǔ guìyú

A deboned fish scored, fried to a "squirrel" shape and glazed in sweet-and-sour sauce.

💡Suzhou’s showpiece dish — delicate and sweet, true to Su cuisine.

Order this: 松鼠鳜鱼

Aozao Noodles 奥灶面

Àozào miàn

Fine noodles in a rich, clear broth topped with braised fish or duck — a Kunshan-Suzhou classic.

💡Order the red-soup (red-braised) version for deeper flavor.

Order this: 奥灶面

Fresh Meat Mooncake 鲜肉月饼

Xiānròu yuèbǐng

A flaky pastry filled with hot, juicy seasoned pork — a savory Jiangnan take on the mooncake.

💡Best eaten warm from the bakery; queues form around Mid-Autumn.

Order this: 鲜肉月饼

Osmanthus Rice Cake 桂花糕

Guìhuā gāo

A soft, fragrant sweet cake scented with osmanthus blossom.

💡A classic Suzhou sweet; lovely with green tea.

Order this: 桂花糕

Sūzhōu Bówùguǎn

A modern masterpiece by architect I. M. Pei that reinterprets the Suzhou garden in white walls and grey stone, holding refined Jiangnan art.

💡Free but book ahead; the building and its courtyard garden are as much the draw as the collection.

Search this: 苏州博物馆

Sūzhōu Sīchóu Bówùguǎn

The history of Suzhou’s legendary silk, with live silkworms, antique looms and exquisite embroidery.

💡Free; great for understanding the craft before buying silk in the city.

Search this: 苏州丝绸博物馆

Zhōngguó Sūzhōu Píngtán Bówùguǎn

Dedicated to Suzhou Pingtan — the gentle local storytelling-and-ballad art — with live afternoon performances.

💡Free entry; time your visit for a live pingtan show in the old teahouse setting.

Search this: 中国苏州评弹博物馆