Life in (Suzhou) China

On this page I am going to try and post as much information and as many links as I can to what makes life in Suzhou possible (and most days enjoyable).  When new families are getting ready to move here, I get many of the same questions.  I hope to put much of that information here, where it is available to anyone!

(***Our family lived in Suzhou from 2011-2015.  This page has not been updated since the spring of 2015, but some of the information may still be helpful.)

Expatriate Group

• Expatriate Association of Suzhou (EAS) http://www.suzhoueas.org/

         This is a great resource for expats.  All EAS members receive a set of taxi cards     

       (English and Chinese business cards for many of the businesses in town).

Meal planning & recipes specific to China:

Market to Meal  http://www.market2meal.com/

Fast Food & Food Delivery:

Sherpa  http://www.sherpa.com.cn/index.shtml

• For 10 RMB (about $1.50) you can place an online order for many restaurants around town and the food will be delivered directly to your front door in about 45 minutes.  The website is in English and the customer service representatives speak good English.  The service is available in Suzhou, Shanghai, and Beijing and they will deliver to hotel rooms (we've used it when traveling).  Look for the delivery men in the orange & black uniforms on e-bike around town!

Imported Foods:

Summit (on Singa Plaza, Suzhou), Enjoy Incity (at Horizon apartment compound, Link City Mall and other locations), Eurofoods

City Shop (Shanghai) http://www.cityshop.com.cn/

• Imported Western foods, bakery, deli, etc.  Delivers to Suzhou on Wednesdays for free for orders over 200RMB.  Must place order by 5pm on Tuesday for Wednesday delivery.

Fields (Shanghai) http://www.fieldschina.com/

• Imported Western foods, bakery, deli, etc. including organic foods.  Delivers to Suzhou on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday.  Free delivery for orders over 200RMB (for less than 200RMB, a 50RMB delivery fee).  

Nick's (Shanghai) http://nickswine.ocnk.net/

• Australian meat and wine.  Free delivery for orders over 300RMB.  Deliveries made on Mondays to Saturday.  Place an order before 3pm for next day delivery after 2pm.

Kate & Kimi (Shanghai) http://kateandkimi.com

• Online grocery store in Shanghai.  They are able to deliver bakery items from Shanghai (we love the English muffins from Bastians).

Shopping online:

Taobao  www.taobao.com

• Similar to eBay in the US.  A great place to order anything and everything and have it sent to your home or apartment.  It is all in Chinese, so a Chinese friend, Google chrome (for translation), or following Taobao Fieldguide (which you'll find here) is a must.

Amazon  www.amazon.cn

• Same service as the U.S., delivered right to your door

WOW Shopping http://www.wowshopping.com.cn

• English-speaking assistance for ordering on Taobao.

International Schools:

Dulwich College Suzhou (British international school)  http://www.dulwich-suzhou.cn/

Suzhou Singapore International School (SSIS)  http://www.ssis-suzhou.net/

Suzhou Foreign Language School

Newton International School  http://www.internewton.com/

Casa Dei Bambini

In the US I would go here, but I don't know where to go in China...

• Lowe's/Menard's/Home Depot = B & Q
• Walmart = Auchan (although there is Walmart in China, but tends to be more expensive)
• MC Sports = Decatholon
• Michael's/Hobby Lobby for baking supplies = Love's (Suzhou), behind Summit
• Sam's Club = Metro (you can apply for their membership card-bring your passport and a business card for the family member that is employed in China, or shrug your shoulders at the people at the desk and use gesture for a small piece of paper and the workers will give you a single-day slip to check out!).  Now there is an actual Sam's Club in Suzhou.  You can find it at the Link City Mall.
• If you're looking for Cold Stone, Starbucks, Gap or Ikea, you can find all of those in Suzhou  or within a short drive.