Suzhou North Railway Station: getting in, finding your train and getting out
Suzhou's stop on the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed line, in Xiangcheng about 16 km north of the old town. Here is how to get in, through to your train, and out to the metro or a taxi with a foreign passport.
| Chinese name | 苏州北站 |
|---|---|
| Trains to | High-speed trains to Beijing, Jinan, Nanjing, Shanghai Hongqiao and other cities on the Beijing-Shanghai line |
| Metro | Line 2, at Suzhou North Railway Station (苏州北站), under the North Square (B1) |
| Arrive | 45 minutes before departure; allow extra time while the station is being expanded. |
Departing from Suzhou North Railway Station
- Getting in. Entrances face the North Square (metro) and the South Square (bus center). Use the staffed lane at the ID check and at the gate. The passport you booked with is your ticket: use the staffed lane, where it is checked against your booking, unless signs say the automatic gates take passports.
- Security. Bags go through an X-ray right after the ID check, and you walk through a scanner.
- The waiting hall. One waiting hall; the boards show your gate. Find your train number on the departure boards; boarding usually starts 15 to 20 minutes before departure and the gate closes a few minutes before.
- The platform. Your coach number (车厢) is printed on the floor markings and over the doors; stand at yours, as trains stop only briefly.
Arriving at Suzhou North Railway Station
The north exit is about 100 m from the Line 2 station; the bus center is on the South Square.
Taxi and Didi: Taxi ranks are on both the North and South Squares; follow 出租车 signs. Ride-hail (网约车) pickup zones have moved during construction, so follow the signs and the app.
Tips
- Line 2 to Suzhou Railway Station takes about 25 minutes; to reach the old town, ride Line 2 south and change to Line 6 at Pinghe Road (about 45-55 minutes in all).
- Many Shanghai trains stop at both Suzhou North and Suzhou Station; if you are staying in the old town, Suzhou Station (苏州) is closer.
- A big new transport hub is being built around the station, so access roads and pickup points may change.
Next steps
- Paying for the metro and buses in Suzhou
- Also in Suzhou: Suzhou Railway Station. Check which station your ticket says.
Sources: chinaairlinetravel.com, www.wanderinchina.com, en.wikipedia.org, www.163.com. Spotted a change? Use the box below.
Was this page helpful? Thanks. If something was missing or wrong, tell us below.
Something wrong or out of date on this page? Tell us
Just been there? Tell us what you found on the ground.