Stay a night in the old town instead of day-tripping from Shanghai

The train from Hongqiao takes 25 minutes, which is why most people come at ten and leave at six — exactly the hours the old town is busiest. A night in a guesthouse near Pingjiang Road buys you two quiet halves of the day: the canals at dusk with the lanterns on, and the gardens at opening before the first coach. Suzhou station sits on the north edge of the old town, so you can walk in with your bag.