Settling-In Tips from
Staff at Crown Suzhou


What is special or unique about your city?
Suzhou is located on the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and on the shores of Lake Taihu in the province of Jiangsu, China, only an hour drive from Shanghai. The city is renowned for its beautiful stone bridges, pagodas, and meticulously designed gardens, which has made it one of China’s top tourist attractions.

Suzhou is the largest economy in the Jiangsu province which accounts for 19.6% of the total provincial GDP. The Suzhou municipality consists of three cities: Changshu, Zhangjiagang and Kunshan, spanning an area of 8,488 sq. km. with a population of approximately 5.91 million of which 2.17 million live in the city proper.

Suzhou has a number of state level development zones, Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP), Suzhou Hi-tech Development Zone and Suzhou New District (SND) being the main ones. Currently, there are over 5,500 foreign enterprises operating in Suzhou. In 2002 the cumulative utilized FDI reached US$28.2 billion, accounting for 25% of the Jiangsu province's totals.

Of the world's top 500 multinational companies, 85 of them already have presence in Suzhou, more than 30 have set up R&D centers there and these figures continue to grow. Suzhou SIP and SND are populated by many big name companies including Philips, Siemens, Kraft, Bosch and Samsung as well as many others. Suzhou's expatriate population now stands at approximately 20,000, with a high proportion of Japanese, Taiwanese, Singaporean and European expats.
 
What are a newcomer's first impressions of your city?
Most newcomers are struck by the abundance of traditional architecture, greenness of the city and the many canals and bridges lining the streets. Suzhou can also seem very crowded at times especially during peak tourist seasons. This is due to development restrictions in downtown, Suzhou streets are narrow and conspicuously devoid of tall buildings.
 
Are these impressions likely to change?
Suzhou downtown with all of the tourist attractions, old streets and buildings is a poor representation of the city as a whole. Most foreigners reside in the industry parks where the infrastructure is better developed, there is less traffic and it’s less crowded. Many visitors have likened the Suzhou industry park to living in Singapore and people have little need to venture out to the more chaotic center of the city.
 
What is the local language?
Natives to the city speak the local dialect. Everyone understands and nearly all speak standard Mandarin -- as required by the government for state employees (police, health care workers, taxi drivers, etc.). In Suzhou you are likely to encounter people that speak a little English, especially in Tourist areas and the industry parks.
 
How easily could I live in this city without knowing this language?
In Suzhou, English competency is among the best in mainland China. Staff in most hotels, for example, speak some English. Most other non-English speakers such as taxi drivers are getting used to visitors, but are still only able to understand "yes", "no", "hello" and "good-bye."

Learning a few key Mandarin phrases definitely helps. Suzhou also has an extensive support network of long term foreign residents with the hub being the Suzhou Expat Association who offer mentoring and downloadable taxi cards from their website. Taxi cards are also available from most good real estate agencies.
 
What are good things to remember in order to avoid offending the other residents of this city?
It would be advisable to steer clear of talking about certain political issues involving China.

When handing over a name card, do so using both hands at the same time. This is a sign of respect.

If you find yourself in a conflict situation, a better way to get what you want is not to raise your voice but to calmly persist. Local residents tend to react to another’s anger equally or more strongly. Loud voices are used quite frequently and often what sounds like an argument is just a lively discussion -- for example, when bargaining for goods at a local market.
 
How might the local weather affect my daily life?
Suzhou is a comfortable place to live, experiencing mildly cold winters and humid summers. Its annual average temperature is 15.7°C and in January, the coldest month the temperature averages between 1°C and 8°C and in July the hottest month you can expect temperatures from 24°C to 36°C although the high humidity can sometimes make the air feel much hotter.
 
Is there anything else I should know about the overall character of your city or its people?
Due to its proximity to Shanghai, Suzhou has reasonably liberal and forward-thinking residents. They welcome foreigners living in their city and are eager to learn more about international cultures.

Some of the less pleasant aspects one comes across include: spitting in public places, nose blowing without tissues, pushing on public transport and on the pavement (sidewalk) and an apparent obliviousness to queuing.
 
Useful Links
More Suzhou Magazine: www.moresuzhou.com
Suzhou Expat Association: www.suzhouexpats.org/
Suzhou Expat: www.suzhou-expat.com
DUSA (European Business Association): www.dusa.cn
 
 

IMPORTANT NOTE:
Crown Relocations has made every effort to present accurate information. However, regulations, rates and other variables are subject to change and Crown Relocations cannot accept responsibility for the errors that might result. Please contact your closest embassy or consulate for confirmation.