Suzhou transport
 

After visiting Suzhou, I plan to head to Xian, and I assume the most logical way to do that is by air (I've heard the train trip is quite long). Looking at the airline schedules, and to my surprise, it seems like all the Shanghai flights to Xian leave from the Pudong airport, and not Hongqiao.

If so, is there any logical way to the Pudong airport from Suzhou other than a taxi? And if I go by taxi, is that something I'll need to negotiate? And how exactly would one do that -- carry your bags to the street, hail a taxi with the Chinese characters for the airport written down, and bargain?

BTW, my hotel says it's a 2.5 hour ride to the Pudong airport (true?) and offered me what I presume is a completely insane price of 1300 RMB for the trip!

Thanks.

Realistic price Suzhou - Pu Dong for a single traveller by taxi is maybe 300RMB+, otherwise you´ll have to share and wait until the car gets full enough to cover the costs for the driver. Depending on traffic, you can get there in less than two hours.

However, there is a bus from central Suxhou to Pu Dong for 82RMB, starting from the Aster(?) Hotel and running through the Singapore Industrial Park.

Thanks, mosburger. If I have more than one person in the taxi, does the driver expect more? And how does one negotiate such a fare? Obviously, I'd like to arrange it in advance (at least a few hours, preferably the day before), and not leave it "to chance."

Also, I've heard all sorts of estimates for how long it takes from Suzhou to Pudong Airport. I'm guessing 2 1/2 hours is "worst case," right?

BTW, in searching the web, I came across that information regarding that bus service. For a solo traveller, it doesn't seem like a bad deal. Once you've got a couple people though, a taxi seems like a more attractive option if you can get a reasonable fare.

iahphx: I´ve never bothered to use the shared cabs, only heard about their method from Chinese friends. Other than that, it´s all just up on your bargaining skills, supply and demand.

I normally ask a fluent Mandarin speaker to call a taxi company in advance and negotiate the price, and they do vary a lot. I´d guess the normal quote you get for Suzhou - Pu Dong would be around 500 RMB, but as said you could get away with 300 again depending on circumstances.

A driver familiar with the route gets you there in about 1,5 - 2 hrs if traffic is not especially jammed. During rush hour or after accidents you might add another 30 mins to an hour extra. I would advice to leave Suzhou four hrs before your flight.

The bus as such is comfortable and reaches both tourist and business areas in Suzhou but the Pu Dong bus terminal has poor accessibility from the main terminal and you are exposed to the weather on your way in.

Thanks, mosburger. You know, if I have to leave 4 hours in advance to make my flight (which will then take another 2 hours+, and then my transport into Xian) I wonder if I might be better doing it overnight on the train. Sure, it would take more time, but I'd rather waste it at night than during the day.

I understand there's an overnight train from Shanghai to Xian. Does anyone know whether that train stops in Suzhou on the way?

Thanks.

http://www.travelchinaguide.com/chin...ubmit32=SUBMIT

A few trains for you to choose from there. All the trains start in Shanghai with Suzhou being the first stop outside Shanghai. Basically you give up an evening in Suzhou or a morning in Xian.

From what's been posted it wounds like the flying option will end up taking most of the day. Train may well be your best bet.

The Suzhou Sheraton has a hotel car that guests can engage and its cost is at least twice that of a taxi. We wanted a car for a day trip from Suzhou and instead of using the hotel car, we asked the concierge to arrange a taxi. I don't remember the cost but it was at least half or even less the cost of the hotel car and it was the nicest taxi we rode in during our entire time in China. However, the taxi driver did not seem to know his way around too well and some time was spent in backtracking and trying various routes. It may have been that he was trying to avoid tolls.

To arrange your own taxi, have the hotel write down the characters for the airport and your terminal, then show them to a few taxis that look reputable and see what they say. Have your calculator handy so they can show you the price. Also consider that some taxis have limited luggage space and you may be quite crowded for a two hour trip.

Happy trails!

I had to see it to believe it, but it appears that you are right. Given this, I suggest the following options:

1) do Hangzhou instead of Suzhou (it has an airport and I like it a lot more)
2) fly to Nanjing, spend a day there, and take a train/bus to Suzhou.

Last year in May when we were staying at the Sheraton Suzhou, we arranged for a ride from the hotel to my Shanghai hotel (on the Pudong side) thru the travel agency shop in the Sheraton. I paid RMB 450. During our ride there, my wife asked the driver how much would his company charge for a ride PVG<=>Suzhou if we booked it thru them (the transport company, not the travel agency) directly in the future. He said RMB 300. BTW, our taxi metered ride from PVG-Sheraton Suzhou last year cost around RMB 575.

So if you're interested, here's the transport company's phone in Suzhou:

Office: (512) 6209-0140
Cellular: 13901545540
Owner's Name: Mr. Huang

Employees don't speak English so you'll need someone who can speak Mandarin. The car we rode in was pretty new and cleaner than the taxi from PVG.