Suzhou Railway Station: getting in, finding your train and getting out
Suzhou's central station, on the north edge of the old town, with frequent fast trains to Shanghai and Nanjing. Here is how to get in, through to your train, and out to the metro or a taxi with a foreign passport.
| Chinese name | 苏州站 |
|---|---|
| Trains to | High-speed and intercity trains to Shanghai, Wuxi, Nanjing and Hangzhou, plus conventional trains |
| Metro | Lines 2 and 4, at the Suzhou Railway Station stop (苏州火车站), on the North Square side |
| Arrive | 45 minutes before departure (an hour at weekends and holidays) |
Departing from Suzhou Railway Station
- Getting in. The North Square is the main hub, with the metro, taxis and a 2F drop-off deck; the South Square is quieter. 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. The boards show your gate; gates 2A/2B are on the North Square side and 5A/5B on the South Square side. 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.
Left luggage: Left luggage on the North Square exit level, and a cheaper counter on the South Square.
Arriving at Suzhou Railway Station
Arrivals exits lead to the North and South Squares; the metro, the main taxi rank and the coach station are on the North Square side.
Taxi and Didi: Use the official taxi rank (the railed queue) on the North Square. Ride-hail (网约车) cars pick up in car park P3 on the North Square and P2 on the South Square.
Tips
- Suzhou has several stations: Suzhou North (苏州北), Suzhou Industrial Park (苏州园区) and Suzhou New District (苏州新区). Check that your ticket says 苏州.
- For the Humble Administrator's Garden, take Line 2 to Pinghe Road and change to Line 6; a taxi is about ¥10-15.
- Coming by metro, you can reach the trains without a second security check (roughly 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.).
Next steps
- Paying for the metro and buses in Suzhou
- Also in Suzhou: Suzhou North Railway Station. Check which station your ticket says.
Sources: chinafortravelers.com, www.wanderinchina.com, www.yzwb.net, chinatravel.com. Spotted a change? Use the box below.
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