Life in China
Where is XJTLU?
XJTLU is located within the Higher Education Town (HET) area of Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP), Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China.
Suzhou, Jiangsu Province
Flanked by droves of meandering waterways and breathtaking gardens, the 2,500-year-old city of Suzhou is located along the southeastern edge of Jiangsu Province in eastern China. Suzhou is bordered by the Yangtze River in the north, Shanghai to its east, Zhejiang Province to its south and Lake Taihu in the west. Known as the “Venice of the East,” Suzhou indisputably lives up to its canal-city name. Resting 13 feet (4 m) above sea level, almost half of the 3,276-square-mile (8,488-sq-km) city of Suzhou is covered by water – 42.5 percent, to be exact – making it a top- ranking, water-rich Chinese destination. The downtown area of the city has a wide variety of historical tourist sites to visit, while the Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP - where our university is based) is very modern and offers a high standard of living with numerous dining and entertainment options.
Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP)
Located in eastern Suzhou, Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP) covers an administrative area of 278 square kilometres, including the 80-square-kilometre China-Singapore Cooperation Zone. It was established in February 1994 with approval from the State Council, SIP is the first governmental cooperation project between China and Singapore, and is recognised as an important window of China's reform and opening-up and a successful model of international cooperation. SIP has topped in national-level economic development zone evaluation for five consecutive years from 2016 to 2020, and developed into the world's first-class high-tech industrial park recognised by the Ministry of Science and Technology.
SIP has been actively carrying out new development concepts, insisting on global vision, international level and Chinese characteristics, and taking the lead in high-quality development to build the world's first-class high-tech industrial park, a first-rate pilot free trade zone and a new centre of Suzhou toward the future.
Maps of Suzhou
Suzhou is divided into ten sections – six districts and four county-level (satellite) cities. The districts surround the old town and city centre, while the cities line the outer edge of Suzhou. All sections are located within Suzhou’s jurisdiction and abound with culture, festivals and attractions.
Discover Suzhou City
Scenery and Outdoors
Pingjiang Road
This historic street is a popular place for both tourists and locals of all ages. The canals, bridges and buildings have been maintained and incorporate a variety of tourist shops, art galleries and museums, coffee shops and restaurants.
Tiger Hill
Tiger Hill is located in the north-western corner of the city and is famous for its 36-metre high, leaning pagoda. The 1,000 year-old Yunyan pagoda is surrounded by Suzhou-style bonsai trees as well as a museum, small scenic gardens and a temple.
Canals
In addition to Pingjiang Road, there are many areas in Suzhou that feature canals, such as Shantang Street, which at over 1,200 years old is one of China's oldest and most famous streets.
Jinji Lake
This lake at the centre of Suzhou Industrial Park is surrounded by parks, winding paths and statues, as well as many commercial areas with shops, restaurants, bars and hotels. You can expect great views during both the day and night.
Museums and Culture
If you are interested in paintings and calligraphy, the Suzhou Art Gallery displays regional paintings, calligraphy and modern art, whilst a smaller French-owned gallery on Pingjiang Street, displays both Chinese and foreign art.
For music lovers, the Suzhou Ping-Tan Museum and Suzhou Kun Qu Museum perform traditional Suzhou dialect and Chinese opera.
UNESCO World Heritage Gardens
There are numerous historic gardens in Suzhou, all providing great places to relax. Two of the most popular are the Humble Administrator’s Garden - next to Suzhou Museum - and the Master of Nets Garden, however many more are worth a visit.
Suzhou Culture and Arts Centre
In addition to an IMAX cinema, this centre houses a theatre where you can watch numerous shows. Past performances include Swan Lake by the Russian Royal Ballet, National Dance Company Wales, and the Suzhou Dance and Acrobatics Show. The centre also holds art and photography exhibitions often free of charge to the general public.
Life in Suzhou
Want to virtually explore the Suzhou City first? Check out our Life in Suzhou video series on YouTube!
Campus Tour Video
Restaurants
Suzhou cuisine is one of the eight famous Chinese cuisines with specialities that include hairy crab and ‘squirrel’ fish. Traditional restaurants can be found downtown on streets such as Guanqian Jie, Ganjiang Lu, Shiquan Jie and Xueshi Jie. Li Gong Di causeway in Suzhou Industrial Park also has a number of Chinese restaurants.
International Cuisine
There are many international restaurants and bars, catering to a wide range of tastes and dietary requirements, all over Suzhou Industrial Park, especially at areas around Jinji Lake including Xingdu Plaza, Li Gong Di, Moon Harbour and Times Square. Home delivery services also make both Chinese and international cuisine easily accessible and convenient.
Museums and Culture
Of the many museums and galleries in Suzhou that are well worth a visit, one of the most popular is the Suzhou Museum, designed by world-famous architect I.M.Pei.
If you are interested in paintings and calligraphy, the Suzhou Art Gallery displays regional paintings, calligraphy and modern art, whilst a smaller French-owned gallery on Pingjiang Street, displays both Chinese and foreign art.
For music lovers, the Suzhou Ping-Tan Museum and Suzhou Kun Qu Museum perform traditional Suzhou dialect and Chinese opera.
Shopping and Recreation
Shopping Centres
In addition to the traditional shops located in old Suzhou, there are modern international shopping malls and centres such as Times Square, Suzhou Centre, Shin Kong Place, Harmony Plaza, Eslite Bookstore and InCity Mall that house clothing, homeware and electronics stores as well as supermarkets, restaurants and coffee shops.
Supermarkets
In addition to the many local food shops selling fresh fruit, vegetables and meat, Suzhou also has a number of large international supermarkets selling Chinese and imported food, such as Sam’s Club, Auchan, Carrefour, and Metro. There are also a variety of smaller international food stores that stock imported goods. The proximity to Shanghai also makes online shopping possible with a wide range of online supermarkets catering to foreign cuisine.
Sports Facilities
On the North Campus, there are several outdoor tennis and basketball courts. Two gyms are open for XJTLU staff.
There are many other choices of gyms and sports facilities around campus, such as Dushu Lake Higher Education Town Sports Centre and Suzhou Olympic Sports Centre. Sporting events are also held throughout the year including the Suzhou Jinji Lake half marathon in April and a Tai Lake half marathon in November.
Scenery and Outdoors
Suzhou is a remarkable city to explore, whether you visit the old streets, canals and gardens, the modern attractions around Jinji Lake, or the scenic spots further out, such as Tai Lake of the mountains of Mudu.
Pingjiang Road
This historic street is a popular place for both tourists and locals of all ages. The canals, bridges and buildings have been maintained and incorporate a variety of tourist shops, art galleries and museums, coffee shops and restaurants.
Canals
In addition to Pingjiang Road, there are many areas in Suzhou that feature canals, such as Shantang Street, which at over 1,200 years old is one of China's oldest and most famous streets.
Jinji Lake
This lake at the centre of Suzhou Industrial Park is surrounded by parks, winding paths and statues, as well as many commercial areas with shops, restaurants, bars and hotels. You can expect great views during both the day and night.