The Suzhou Metro currently operates three lines: 1, 2 and 4, covering 93 stations and a distance of 120 kilometres. Fares range from a minimum of 2¥ (approx. USD 0.30) to a maximum of 8¥ (approx. USD 1.19). Discounted fares are available for cardholders. It’s important for passengers to be aware of peak times when travelling.
The Suzhou Metro, also known as the subway, operates from 6:10 am to 10:46 pm. It does not provide 24-hour service. The stations and trains are air-conditioned for the comfort of passengers, but it’s not possible to walk between platforms. The Suzhou Metro does not operate driverless trains and its platforms are not equipped with screen doors.
The fare for the Suzhou Metro starts at 2 Chinese Yuan (CNY). For more detailed information, you can visit the Suzhou Metro Official Website.
Metro map of Suzhou
Map of Suzhou Metro showing different lines. Click on the map to enlarge it or download the Suzhou Metro map in PDF format.
Background: Suzhou City and Its Metro
Suzhou, a Chinese city of 10 million, is a major metropolis. Over the past half-century, the city has undergone remarkable growth, transforming itself from a city with limited tourist appeal into a world award-winning urban centre.
Suzhou is a major industrial centre, with the second highest number of factories in China, including those producing iron, steel, textiles, electronics and computers.
The city’s robust growth has also boosted the service sector, with tourism being a notable contributor, contributing 150,000 yuan to the city’s revenue in 2013.
Its proximity to Shanghai, a city with a growing demand for high-end services, has made Suzhou a magnet for foreign investment. Public transport, epitomised by the Suzhou Metro, is a critical component of these services.
The inception of the Suzhou Metro occurred in 2007 when the local government decided to address the transportation needs of its citizens, leading to the construction of the metro.
The operational lines of the Suzhou Metro, namely Lines 1, 2 and 4, were launched in 2007, 2009 and 2010 respectively, and became fully operational in 2012, 2013 and 2017. At present, these lines cover a total of 120 kilometres with 93 stations. There are plans to double this coverage to 240 kilometres by the end of the decade.
Lines and Stations Details
The Suzhou Metro currently has three lines: 1, 2 and 4, which together cover 120 kilometres and connect 93 stations. Lines 3 and 5 are currently under construction, and lines 6, 7 and 9 are planned. As of 2016, the daily passenger load on the three active lines was 420,000, accumulating to 136 million passengers throughout the year.
Here are the summarised facts for Lines 1, 2 and 4 of the Suzhou Metro:
Line 1: From Mudo Station to Zhongnan Jie Station:
Line 1, marked in green on the metro map, covers a distance of 25.73 kilometres through the districts of Wuzhong, Huqiu, Gusu and the Suzhou Industrial Park, with a total of 24 stations. It starts at Mudo station in Wuzhong district, passes through the city’s historic centre and under the industrial park via China’s longest tunnel, and ends at Zhongnan Jie.
An upgrade is planned to replace the current trains (top speed 35km/h) with faster models that can reach up to 80km/h. These newer models will be among the fastest metro trains in the world, reducing the journey from Mudo to Zhongnan Jie to just 49 minutes.
In addition to increased speed, these trains will also increase passenger capacity to 28,500 passengers during off-peak hours and 45,000 passengers during peak hours. Interestingly, 100,000 passengers were carried on the opening day of Line 1.
Line 2: From Qihe station to Sangtian Dao
Covering a distance of 26.38 kilometres, Line 2 operates 30 trains per hour through its 22 stations in three districts. It carries an average of 28,800 passengers per hour, peaking at around 40,000 during peak periods. The end-to-end journey time on this line is 48 minutes. For passenger convenience, LED screens at stations show the arrival times of the next trains.
This line, marked red on the metro map, has both underground and surface stations and serves areas such as Fu Xiang River Road, Kuwata Island and Wu Lago Yin. It starts in the northern district of Xiangcheng, passes through the Gusu district and ends in the eastern district of Wuzhong.
Line 4: From Longdaobang to Tongli
Line 4 is currently the longest, covering 42 kilometres and serving 31 stations in the districts of Xiangcheng, Gusu, Wuzhong and Wujiang. The line passes through the Lotus Pond Park and the city’s historic centre.
Many of the stations on Line 4 connect with bus and rail services to the outskirts of the city, providing a link between the eastern and western parts of the city. Line 4 mainly serves the Wuzhong Economic Development Zone, which has its own 10.7 kilometre railway line from the metro.
Seven stations on this line have a degree of autonomy in fare and timetable decisions, adapting to regional demand. Future plans for this line include facilitating transfers to the upcoming Line 7.
Schedule
The Suzhou Metro maintains a detailed schedule for each line, including peak hours and the frequency of departures during those hours.
Line 1:
Service on this line starts at 6:10am from both terminals, with the last train leaving Mudo station for Zhongnan Jie at 11:20pm. Peak hours are particularly important.
Morning peak (7:30am to 9:00am): Trains from Zhongnan Jie to Mudo are busiest from 7:44 am to 8:39 am, while trains from Mudo to Zhongnan Jie peak from 8:36 am to 9:30 am. During these peak hours, trains depart every three minutes and 10 seconds, increasing to every five minutes after the morning rush.
Afternoon peak (17:00 to 19:00) From Zhongnan Jie to Mudo, peak hours are from 17:21 to 18:00. From Mudo to Zhongnan Jie, the busiest time is from 17:48 to 18:30, with trains arriving every four minutes and 20 seconds.
Line 2
The first train leaves both terminals at 06:00 and the last train leaves Sangtian Dao for Qihe at 23:32. Peak hours on this line are as follows
Morning peak (7:45am to 9:00am): Trains from Sangtian Dao to Qihe are most crowded from 7:45am to 8:33am, while trains from Qihe to Sangtian Dao are most crowded from 8:00am to 8:56am. During these hours, trains arrive every five minutes and 30 seconds.
Afternoon Peak Hours (17:00 to 19:00) Peak hours for trains from Sangtian Dao to Qihe are from 17:12 to 18:24. From Qihe to Sangtian Dao, the peak period is from 17:54 to 18:52. Similar to the morning peak, trains arrive every five minutes and 30 seconds during these hours.
Line 4
The first trains leave both terminals at 06:00, while the last train leaves Tongli station for Longdaobang at 23:30. Peak hours on this line are as follows
Morning peak (7:45am to 9:00am): Trains from Tongli to Longdaobang are busiest from 7:45am to 8:37am, while trains from Longdaobang to Tongli are busiest from 8:05am to 9:00am. Trains arrive every six minutes and 35 seconds during these peak hours.
Afternoon Peak Hours (17:00 to 19:00) Peak hours for trains from Tongli to Longdaobang are from 17:05 to 18:10. For Longdaobang to Tongli, the peak hours are from 17:47 to 18:55. During these hours, trains arrive every six minutes and 30 seconds.
Fares
As with many Asian metro systems, fares on the Suzhou Metro depend on the total distance travelled by the passenger. The fare schedule is available on the official website of the public company managing the metro. The minimum fare is 2 yuan (approx. USD 0.30) and the maximum fare is 8 yuan (approx. USD 1.19).
There are two types of tickets: standard tickets, which are used on all rail services, and rechargeable cards. The former can be purchased from ticket machines in all metro stations and are refundable, provided the ticket is unused and in good condition. The latter can also be purchased from the same machines and can be recharged with a minimum of 20 yuan (approx. US$2.97) and a maximum of 130 yuan (approx. US$19.33).
Cardholders have the advantage of being able to make more trips than ticket holders and use city buses. Metro cards offer a more affordable commuting solution for long-term residents compared to most western metros.
Children less than 1.30 metres tall can travel for free when accompanied by a paying adult. However, this only applies to one child per adult. An additional child would require a paid ticket. Similarly, people aged 65 and over can travel for free with proof of age.
Members of the armed forces, police officers and other security personnel with a service-related disability can also travel free on trains and city buses. However, persons with disabilities outside these categories must pay for their ticket in accordance with the rules.
Connections
The Suzhou metro lines are well connected to numerous city bus lines and to each other. They also provide connections to yet-to-be-opened stations that will be opened alongside new lines.
Interconnections for Line 1 include:
- Suzhou Amusement Land Station (苏州乐园站): Future transfer to Line 3.
- Guangji Nanlu Station (广济南路站): Transfers to Line 2.
- Leqiao Station (乐桥站): Transfers to Line 4.
- Dongfangzhimen Station (东方之门站): Future transfer to Line 3.
- Xingtang Jie Station (星塘街站): Future transfer to Line 5.
Interconnections for Line 2 include:
- Suzhou Railway Station (苏州火车站): Allows transfers to Line 4.
- Guangji Nanlu Station (广济南路站): Allows transfers to Line 1.
- Panli Lu Station (盘蠡路): Future transfer to Line 3.
- Shihu Donglu Station (石湖东路站): Allows transfers to Line 4.
Interconnections for Line 4 include:
- Suzhou Railway Station (苏州火车站): Transfers to Line 2.
- Leqiao Station (乐桥站): Transfers to Line 1.
- Shihu Donglu Station (石湖东路站): Transfers to Line 2.
Rules
- Smoking is strictly forbidden in stations and trains, as it is in most metro systems worldwide.
- Passengers should ensure that their belongings do not obstruct others.
- Pets are not allowed on the premises of Suzhou Metro. Pet owners will need to find alternative transportation.
- Alcohol consumption is prohibited within the Metro premises.
- Writing graffiti on station and train surfaces is strictly prohibited.
- Passengers are not allowed to carry flammable materials inside the Metro.
- Passengers are not allowed to carry weapons, including knives and firearms, unless authorised by the authorities.
- The emergency equipment available at each station should only be used in emergencies. Misuse may result in fines or banning from the metro.
- Crossing the yellow line on the platform, a marked danger zone, may result in a fine.
- Running in stations and trains is forbidden as it is a danger to yourself and other passengers.
- Assaulting fellow passengers or metro staff is punishable by heavy fines.
Future Expansions
The management of Suzhou Metro is investing in the expansion of the system. Ongoing projects include the construction of new lines, Lines 3 and 5, which will open in the near future.
Line 3 will cross the city from east to west. This line will cover a total distance of 43.5 kilometres with 31 stations. It will connect Wuzhong District with Suzhou Industrial Park and New Suzhou District, including a link to the neighbouring city of Kunshan. Line 3 will also connect with Line 11 of the Shanghai Metro.
Like Line 3, Line 5 will run from the east to the west of the city and is scheduled to open to the public in 2018. Line 5 trains will travel a total distance of 49.5 kilometres, starting at Zhenhu Avenue in the New Suzhou District and ending at Yinshan Lake in the city’s industrial park. It will have 32 stations, six of which will provide connections to other metro lines.
In addition to Lines 3 and 5, three more lines, Lines 6, 7 and 9, are planned.
Line 6 will be 34.2 kilometres long and have 29 stations with connections to other metro lines. This line is expected to connect the districts of Gao Xin and Nanjing. Construction of Line 6 will start in 2017.
Line 7, one of the shortest lines in the metro, will be 11 kilometres long. This line will provide north-south and east-west connections, although the number of stations has not yet been determined.
Finally, Line 9 will be 54 kilometres long and have 27 stations. Its trains will run from the south-east to the south of the city. Like the other lines, Line 9 will be connected to the other lines of the metro system.
Nearby attractions
Near Leqiao Station on Line 1, tourists can visit the beautiful Guan Qian Shopping Street Boulevard. This open-air mall-like boulevard is full of shops and leisure facilities, making it an ideal place for those who want to buy souvenirs of Suzhou.
Known as the Venice of the East, Suzhou beautifully illustrates this nickname in the Shangtan Street area, located near the Shangtan Street Station of Line 2. The evening view adorned with lights, canals navigated by canoes and open-air restaurants create an enchanting scenery that is a must for anyone visiting the city.