Suzhou Railway Transport
Suzhou boasts a well-developed railway transportation network, primarily consisting of high-speed trains and intercity railways, including main stations such as Suzhou Railway Station and Suzhou North Station. Its extensive railway lines connect to major cities across China, making Suzhou a transportation hub that greatly facilitates both business and leisure travelers.
Suzhou High-Speed Rail
Suzhou has numerous high-speed railway lines, including the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway, the Shanghai-Nanjing intercity high-speed railway, and the Shanghai-Suzhou-Nantong railway. Amongst them, the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway is one of the most important lines in China, connecting Beijing and Shanghai, and passing through Suzhou.
In addition, the Shanghai-Nanjing intercity high-speed railway and the Shanghai-Suzhou-Nantong railway provide convenient connections between Suzhou and major neighboring cities like Shanghai and Nanjing.
For long-distance travel, Suzhou has direct high-speed rail connections with other major cities in China, such as Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Chengdu, which enables travelers to reach destinations across the country with ease.
Suzhou Intercity Railway
Suzhou's intercity railway network is also very advanced, mainly comprising the Suzhou-Jiaxing-Hangzhou intercity railway and the Suzhou-Tongji-Changzhou intercity railway. These intercity railways have made travel incredibly convenient between Suzhou and surrounding cities.
The Suzhou-Jiaxing-Hangzhou intercity railway has greatly reduced the travel time between Suzhou, Jiaxing, and Hangzhou. Meanwhile, the Suzhou-Tongji-Changzhou intercity railway connects Suzhou with cities such as Taicang and Changshu, and Zhangjiagang, offering travelers convenient travel options.
Major High-Speed & Intercity Rail Lines in Suzhou
| Railway Line | Passing Station |
|---|---|
| Shanghai-Nanjing High-Speed Railway | Suzhou Station |
| Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway | Suzhou North Train Statio |
| Tongzhou-Suzhou-Jiaxing Intercity Railway(under construction) | Zhangjiagang Station、Suzhou Industrial Park High-Speed Railway Station、Suzhou East Station |
Suzhou Railway Stations
There are four main passenger railway stations in Suzhou, namely Suzhou Railway Station, Suzhou North Railway Station, Suzhou Industrial Park Station, and Suzhou New District Station.
Suzhou Station
This train station is the main gate for passengers to and from this city by rail. Because Suzhou is located in the middle of the Shanghai-Nanjing High-Speed Railway, there are many bullet trains from Suzhou to Shanghai, Wuxi, Zhenjiang, and Nanjing. It is about 2.2 miles (3.5 kilometers) to the city center, 1.3 miles (2 kilometers) to the Humble Administrator's Garden, and 8.4 miles (13.5 kilometers) to the North Railway Station.
Location: No.27, Suzhan Road, Gusu District
Transportation: City bus No. 1, 26, 38, 83, 119, 178, 202, 518; Tourist Bus No. 1, No.4; Night bus No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5; Express Bus No. 2 and No. 6.
There is a long-distance bus station on the west side of the railway station square. There are many coaches who are bound for Tongli, Wuzhen, Zhouzhuang, Jiaxing, Changshu, Wuxi, Nantong, Hangzhou, and other regions around the city. There are also some shuttle buses to Shanghai Pudong International Airport, Hongqiao International Airport, and Wuxi Shuofang International Airport also depart.
Suzhou North Railway Station
Suzhou North Train Station is an intermediate station on the Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway. Passengers can take high-speed trains to/from Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Xian, and so on. Departing from the station, passengers can get to Beijing in five hours and Shanghai in about half an hour.
Location: Tiancheng Road South, Xiangcheng District
Transportation: The bus stop is located southeast of the railway station square. Bus No. 139, 811, 813, 819, 824, 837, 866, 871, 873, 877; Night Bus No. 4, 7 and 9 can be found there. The other bus stop is located on the east of the railway station square; it serves bus No. 832.
Passengers also can take subway line 2 to go to the downtown area. The subway station is about 150 meters from the railway station exit.
How to get to Suzhou by Train
Shanghai - Suzhou High-Speed Train
Currently, there are more than 175 high-speed trains running between Shanghai and Suzhou from early morning till late night.
Tourists can choose the closest railway station and the best time to go to Suzhou. The distance varies between 81 km (50 mi) and 94 km (58 mi) due to different running routes. During the peak seasons, such as the Spring Festival and Chinese National Day Holiday, more trains may be put into service.
Please note that the bullet trains run more than one station in both cities. For your convenience, you are recommended to choose the one closest to your staying place based on the schedule.
In Shanghai:
Shanghai Railway Station is very close to the downtown area. Passengers who are heading for, or leaving from the urban area are recommended to choose this station. Passengers can take Subway Line 1, Line 3, or Line 4 to get there. Many city buses are bound for this train station. They are Pudong Airport Line 5, 13, 63, 64, 78, 95, 104, 106, 109, 113, 115, 117, 140, 301, 302, 305, 308, 310, 315, 322, 324, 328, 329, 744, 573, 723, 817, 823, 837, 845, 927, 929, 930, 941, 942, 948, 955, 962, 963, Xinchuan Special Line, Hutang Special Line, Nanxin Special Line, Shenchuan Special Line, and Xinjia Special Line.
Hongqiao Railway Station is a little far from the city center. But it is very close to Hongqiao Airport and has more platforms and arrival halls than Shanghai Railway Station. Passengers can take subway Line 2 and 316, 320, and 941 to get there. Hongqiao Airport Line 1; Hongqiao Lines 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 also go by the railway station.
In Suzhou:
Suzhou Railway Station is situated in the downtown area. Generally, it is more convenient and time-saving for tourists to get to or leave Suzhou. Passengers can take subway line 2, or buses 1, 6, 7, 8, 10, 19, 26, 33, 38, 40, 44, 50, 64, 69, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 91, 102, 119, 178, 202, 219, 316, 317, 502, 518, 522, 529, 712, BRT2, BRT3, BRT6, BRT8, Y1, Y2, Y3, and Y5 to get here.
Suzhou North Railway Station is a little far away from the city center. Those who depart from or head for the northern part of the city choose this station. Passengers can go there by subway line 2 and buses BRT8, 77, 80, 711, 811, and 819.
Click here to book the train ticket from Shanghai to Suzhou.
How to travel from Suzhou Train Station to other places?
Travelers can take the bus No. 40 and get off at the Beiyuan Road stop, then walk about 220 meters to get there. Passengers who take sightseeing bus No. 2 can get off at Suzhou Museum stop and then walk about 470 meters to get there. The bus duration is around 30 minutes. Taking a taxi would take about 15 minutes and the taxi fare is around 15 - 20 RMB.
Travelers can take the coach at the long-distance bus center on the North Square. The buses’ departure times are 06:10, 07:10, 08:05, 09:05, 09:40, 10:15, 10:50, 11:20, 12:20, 13:30, 14:30, 15:35, 16:25 and 17:20. The bus ticket is 8 RMB per person and duration is about 40 minutes.
Buses’ departure time from the long-distance bus center on the North Square is 07:45, 08:25, 09:35, 10:15, 10:45, 11:25, 12:05, 12;45, 13:25, 14:05, 14:45, 15:25, 16:05, 17:25 and 18:05. The ticket fare is 16 RMB per person and the duration is about 1 hour.
Shanghai Hongqiao Airport and Shanghai Pudong Airport:
The long-distance bus center on the North Square also offers shuttle buses to Hongqiao International Airport and Shanghai Pudong International Airport. The shuttle bus leaves about every 40 minutes from 05:40 to 17:30. The ticket fare is 53 RMB, and the duration is about 2 hours. Bus to Pudong Airport is 84 RMB and 3 hours.
Except for the shuttle bus, travelers who need to transfer to Shanghai Hongqiao Airport can also take the high-speed trains to Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station. The Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station is within walking distance of the T2 of Shanghai Hongqiao Airport. Subway also can be used to transfer from Hongqiao Station to T2, one stop only. There are nearly 50 pairs of bullet trains a day running between Suzhou Railway Station and Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station, thus this is also a recommended option.
Suzhou - Hangzhou High-speed Train
It takes about 1.5 hours from Suzhou to Hangzhou by high-speed trains, and it takes from 3 to 5.5 hours by ordinary trains. It is highly recommended that you take the high-speed train (G-series or D-series) instead of ordinary trains to save time. Most trains depart from Suzhou Railway Station, and only a few leave from Suzhou North Station. Trains from Hangzhou to Suzhou depart from Hangzhou East Railway Station or Hangzhou Railway Station.
Suzhou-Nanjing High-speed Train
Currently, you can make a day tour between Suzhou and Nanjing by direct train. There is no doubt that the high-speed train is the most preferable choice for travelers. More than 200 pairs of trains run between the two cities. around 165 pairs of them are bullet trains It takes about 1.5 hours from Suzhou to Nanjing by bullet trains.
Suzhou - Huangshan High-speed Train
In the past, the train journey from Suzhou to Huangshan would take nearly 10 hours. However, starting from January 5th, 2019, it takes only 3 hours to travel from Suzhou to Huangshan by taking the Hangzhou-Huangshan high-speed rail.
There are four high-speed trains running back and forth between Suzhou and Huangshan every day, with stations set up at Suzhou Station, Suzhou North Station, and the Park District Station. The shortest journey takes only 2 hours and 56 minutes.
The Hangzhou-Huangshan high-speed rail line could be described as "poetic and picturesque, full of leisurely scenery," making it a world-class golden tourist high-speed rail line.
Plan Your Suzhou Trip with Us
Usually, it's recommended to visit Suzhou in 1 or 2 days. How can you maximize your travel experience to see Suzhou's highlights? If you tour Suzhou with us, our experienced English-speaking guides and private drivers will escort you to discover the history and stories behind this charming city. They are local experts in Suzhou.
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