Suzhou Nanyuan Hotel

Suzhou Nanyuan Hotel is a very historic state guesthouse located on Shiquan Street in the old city district, very close to major attractions such as the Humble Administrator's Garden, Lion Grove Garden, Hanshan Temple, and the Gate to the East. During this trip to Suzhou, staying here with my family was a wonderful experience. The hotel's garden is also a typical Suzhou garden, with many ancient trees and unique rocks. Guests can make free reservations for the hotel staff to explain the past and present of this guesthouse. This place was the former residence of Chiang Kai-shek's second son, Chiang Wei-kuo, and Lin Biao and his wife. Through the explanation, we learned many historical stories, and we were fortunate to visit the civil air defense project of that time, seeing the ancient hand-cranked ventilation fan related to my field of study, as well as the old-fashioned Hongqi sedan. There is a Suzhou-style noodle shop owned by the hotel at the north gate—Yan Yang Lou, which offers affordable prices and very good taste. Friends can try the Suzhou cuisine there, which is light and full of fresh flavors.