Suzhou, located in the economically developed area of the Yangtze Delta, has convenient transportation.
Suzhou is only 86km away from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport. With the high-class airport expressway special highway, it takes only 70minutes from Suzhou to Hongqiao Airport. Most of the overseas tourists to Suzhou come and leave the area from Hongqiao Airport. It has become the main port for people to fly to and from between Suzhou and other domestic and foreign cities. Besides, the Guangfu Airport in the western suburb of Suzhou has opened scheduled flights to Beijing and Foshan.
Suzhou Railway Station is a national first-grade station recognized by the National Railway Department. It can hold 1500 passengers at a time. There is also a high-class VIP Waiting Room. The station handles nearly 95 trains and receives over 40,000 passengers everyday.
The network of highways between Suzhou and nearby cities is developed, including the Hu-ning Expressway, No.312 State Highway, No.318 State Highway, Su-yu Highway, Su-hang Highway, etc. Su-jia-hang Expressway is now under construction and will be completed before October 1,2000.
Suzhou also retains the unique inland river shipping route-Suzhou-Hangzhou passenger liner. It sets sail at dusk everyday and arrives in the morning. It goes along the Grand Canal and enables the passengers to see the ancient bridges, ancient towns, ancient ferries and ancient towing tie paths and to appreciate the life of families on water and Jiangnan idyllic scenery before it gets dark. There are about 6 to 8 liners sailing everyday, taking about 1000 passengers.