The International Schools Review Forum

Hi guys,

I am looking for some information on living in Suzhou, China. I have decided to accept a position there, and I would like to know more about the city. What is life like there? What about housing? What do you enjoy and dislike?

Thanks

Nice city. Traffic is fine, though that probably depends on what you consider fine. Compared to the ME and much of SE Asia, it's a picnic.
Housing is pretty cheap comparatively and with lots of options at different levels. The Industrial Park area, despite its name, is very pleasant.
Decent place to live.

Suzhou is a great city. Big enough to have everything you need, small enough to not be overwhelming, and close to Shanghai when you want to go there.

There is a range of housing available, depending on the budget you're given.

Transport in the city has greatly improved with the addition of the metro lines. I used to live about 11km from the school I worked at and cycled everyday.

Suzhou is reasonably easy to live in. Apartments are between 4-7,000 RMB a month depending on size and location. Pollution is not too bad compared to up north. Transport is reasonable - but you can always just book a Didi (Chinese Uber - is in English) which costs peanuts.

There are lots of reasonable western restaurants and you can get most of what you need locally food wise. If not, then get one of the online supermarkets in Shanghai to deliver. They are pricy though.

Savings potential from SSIS, OSC and Dulwich Suzhou is high. Other schools, not so much...

The city is also a great place for friends and families to come and explore. Lot's of pretty gardens, - and water towns. It does always seem to rain though...

Just don't ask about the internet (this is a China problem - not a Suzhou problem)

Assuming you mean Jiangsu and not Anhui, I would concur with the prior contributors. Its basically a distant suburb of Shanghai, as long as you dont have high needs for excitement its an okay place to go back and forth to work, relax on the weekends and not have to put to much effort into getting what you need. However, I found it very boring.