From Living and Working in Suzhou

Suzhou is an important center for the local economy and home of many diverse businesses. Moreover, good education and transportation systems, along with the rich Wu culture, make living in Suzhou an attractive prospect for many expats.

Suzhou is the second largest city in the Jiangsu province of Eastern China. Situated within the basin of the Yangtze River, just south of the great waterway and at the heart of Wu culture, Suzhou is a hub for commerce, trade and economics. It is hardly surprising that Suzhou has attracted so much business, given its location; in fact it has been a hub for traders for over two and a half thousand years.

Job Hunting in Suzhou

Job hunting in Suzhou is becoming more and more internet based and there are many jobs opportunities such as business teaching jobs in Suzhou Foundation School. There are many English language websites containing, or devoted solely to job hunting in China; examples include eChinacities and Chinadaily.

There are also associations and news channels set up to provide English speaking expats with all the help they need, such as unique expatservice.
You may also want to try reaching out to any Chinese contacts you have when looking for work in Suzhou. Professional networking and business partnerships that can be based on personal relationships and trust play an important role in China’s business world and personal recommendations can help you a long way during your job hunt in Suzhou.

Transportation in Suzhou

If you want to rent a house in Suzhou , learn something about its transportation is necessary. The roads in and around Suzhou — where like in the rest of China they drive on the right — can become very congested at certain times of day. However, this issue is currently being alleviated. A large metro network is being built underneath the city, consisting of nine lines in total, two of which are already operational.

Cycling is also very popular in the city and Suzhou has a very good bus service to all parts of the city. Taxis are also readily available and are generally very cheap.

For travel farther afield, the rail links in Suzhou are extensive. In fact, the city sits on the Beijing to Shanghai line, making its main station one of the busiest in all of China. Shanghai is only a twenty-five minute journey away by high speed rail.

The Port of Suzhou has been called the busiest inland river port in the world, with many millions of tons of cargo moving through it every year. The smaller rivers within the city are used for tourist and commuter traffic. There are also three major airports in the wider area, including two at Shanghai.

Culture and Leisure in Suzhou
The Kunqu style of opera originated in the area, and is a central part of Wu artistic culture. A form of storytelling called Pingtan is also popular in Suzhou. This involves singing and speaking, as well as musical accompaniment, and can often be found in performance on the streets.

Expatriates living in Suzhou can head to the Suzhou Museum to learn more about their new home. The museum features artefacts and displays depicting the rich history of the Suzhou area, including exhibitions about the rich silk industry that continues to prosper today.

The Yunyan Pagoda is also always worth a visit. Built over a thousand years ago, the tall structure makes for a striking sight as it is now leaning to one side due to its shifting foundations. Another, slightly younger, pagoda is the Beisi Pagoda. The octagonal building was once two stories higher than it currently stands, but got damaged in a fire during the Song dynasty.