Suzhou Classical Gardens

Suzhou

苏州 · Venice of the East

🎫 Tickets Booking · Suzhou

Last verified 26 Jul 2025

Book Suzhou's classical oases and water-town canals like a local—No Tourist Traps. No BS.

1 Overview

Real-name QR is mandatory for all UNESCO Classical Gardens, Suzhou Museum, Suzhou Silk Museum and the popular water-towns Tongli & Zhouzhuang.
Mobile-first: all tickets live in WeChat / Alipay mini-programs or Dianping/Meituan. A mainland SIM is helpful for SMS alerts, but 80 % of sites now accept foreign numbers or e-mail the e-ticket.
Precision drops: Humble Administrator's Garden opens at 07:00 (exactly 7 days ahead), Tongli at 00:00 (15 days ahead). Hot windows snap shut in minutes on weekends and holidays.

2 Pre-Booking Essentials

Item Details
Passport scan Upload photo page (visa if asked) for every real-name ticket.
Mobile number / e-mail Mainland SIM best; most apps now e-mail QR if intl. number.
WeChat / Alipay Wallet KYC (passport + selfie) then add Visa/Mastercard.
Clock sync Match device to time.gov.cn (±1 s) before a drop.

3 Booking-Alerts (2025)

Lingering Garden / 留园
🟧
Capacity: 6,000
Release: 07:00 · 7 days ahead
Platform: Same mini-prog
Tiger Hill / 虎丘
🟧
Capacity: 8,000
Release: 00:00 · 5 days ahead
Platform: "虎丘山风景区" mini-prog
Master of Nets Garden / 网师园
🟧
Capacity: 2,500
Release: 12:00 · 5 days ahead
Platform: "苏州园林旅游"
Suzhou Museum (I.M. Pei)
🟥
Capacity: 7,000
Release: 00:15 · 7 days ahead (free)
Platform: museum.wechat mini-prog
Tongli Water Town / 同里古镇
🟧
Capacity: 20,000
Release: 00:00 · 15 days ahead
Platform: "同里古镇" mini-prog
Zhouzhuang Water Town / 周庄古镇
🟩
Capacity: 30,000
Release: 00:00 · 15 days ahead
Platform: "周庄古镇游" mini-prog
Jinji-Lake Night Show / 金鸡湖水幕秀
🟩
Capacity: 5,000 seats
Release: 10:00 · 3 days ahead
Platform: "苏州文化演艺" mini-prog
Suzhou Silk Museum
🟩
Capacity: 5,000
Release: Same-day, rolling; free
Platform: "苏博丝绸" mini-prog

*🟥 High = sells out ≤ 15 min 🟧 Med = gone < 24 h 🟩 Low = rarely sells out except Golden Week.

4 Booking Windows & Platforms

Garden combo—the "四大名园 Pass" (¥210) bundles Humble, Lingering, Net-Master & Lion-Forest with one QR, valid 5 days.
Night-show seats—Jinji-Lake water-screen is free standing-zone; ¥120 seated grandstand sells out first.
Tongli canal ticket—add ¥60 boat ride in app; QR scanned at pier.
Museum free—suited entry times (every 30 min); reconfirm 24 h prior or auto-void.

5 Payment Methods

Method Notes
WeChat / Alipay Preferred; foreign card OK after KYC.
Credit-card gateway Humble Adm., Tongli, Zhouzhuang accept Visa/MC directly.
Cash Needed only for old-town ferry snacks—carry ¥100 in small notes.

6 Cancellations & Refunds

Full refund ≥ 24 h before slot • 50 % 4–24 h • No refund < 4 h.
Free tickets auto-void if QR unscanned within the 30-min window.

7 Pro Tips

1
Dual alarms—06 : 57 & 06 : 59 for Humble Garden drop; passport # on clipboard.
2
Beat the crowds—enter Humble 07 : 30 slot → walk to Lion-Forest (08 : 00 on-site) before tour buses.
3
Off-peak silk—visit Suzhou Museum 14 : 00 slot; school groups gone.
4
Tongli sunset—book 15 : 00 ticket, stay for canal lantern glow, last bus 20 : 30 line 725.
5
Rain plan—gardens open in drizzle; bring non-slip shoes—mossy rock-paths are slick.