Very good place to visit. No need to buy a ticket, it's free, and providing electronic-guider-device in a very cheap price( Ask the front service bar in the main hall for more information).
Best museum in Suzhou, beautiful architecture and great collection.
The first time I was here was business related. The second time I was here as a tourist was in August, 2015. "Tired of it?" No, both the architecture and the exhibits are evergreen!
The architecture is amazing, and as one would expect as it is designed by Suzhou native and the same architect of the Louvre pyramids and Bank of China building in Hong Kong.
Been here twice in two years, doesn't seem like the exhibits change too much. But entrance is free (some times long lines) so 5 stars!
This small and little-known museum is a gem of architecture
I consider Suzhou Museum one of the most beautiful museums I have seen. It is a master piece created by the master architect I.M. Pei. It is designed in total harmony with the very sensitive surroundings (UNESCO world heritage The Humble Administrator's Garden) and the old town. The museum in itself is among the best in China with beautiful artefacts and changing exhibitions from all over the world.
Always a pleasure to visit here and enjoy the seasonal exhibitions that change frequently. A true beauty to enjoy!
Suzhou Museum is one of the best museums in East China. I say this not because the museums are better or worse elsewhere in China, but because I've visited too few cities in the north to make a conclusion.
To start off, the admission is FREE! You may have to wait for 15 minutes if you show up in the morning, but the line moves fast, and you'll get in soon. The collection is well curated, by the end of it you will have a basic understanding of the history of this region. There is also a collection of modern art pieces donated by renowned Chinese artists. I highly recommend checking it out.
You can rent the audio guide for 20 RMB in Chinese and 30 RMB in other languages including English. However, they do run out fast, at least the Chinese ones. If you can read and understand Chinese, I recommend that you use WeChat (WeXin in Chinese) and follow Suzhou Museum's official account. There you can type in the number of the displayed artwork, and receive an interpretation either in text or audio format.
It's a popular place for both locals and tourists, young and old, especially the pre-school-aged kids (idk why but they're everywhere in the museum), so please prepare yourself for a rather noisy atmosphere. There are other places within 30 minutes' walk from the museum to enjoy some serenity, but unfortunately not inside the museum.
Last but not the least, the architecture is a masterpiece of I.M.Pei, the buildings alone are worth visiting!
Old and new, modern and traditional museum. Very intesting place.