One of the best things about being a student in China is that you get to take advantage of the nearness of the areas to each other and how conveniently they are all interconnected by trains (which means cheap travel!).
For the weekend, I took the train to Suzhou from Shanghai with a group of friends. Besides that people are saying that the best time to visit Suzhou is during the spring season, Suzhou is relatively near Shanghai (only 100km away). That is why we decided on the place as our out-of-town day trip.
First off–we bought our tickets in advance for fear that as first-time travellers to Suzhou, we might not be able to stick to 
the itinerary due to time constraints. There are actually a lot of trains going back and forth Shanghai and Suzhou; but since we were going on a weekend, it was advised that the tickets (both going and returning) be bought in advance. Another reason is that we wanted to get on the D train (which is new, modern, fast and well, just the most comfortable). Short-distance train tickets are available 10 days in advance.
I have not tried the Maglev, but they say that the D train looks similar to it. Our ticket from Shanghai to Suzhou costed 31RMB, while the return ticket costed 26RMB.
For the train time tables and price (and if you can read Chinese), HuoChePiao.com is a very good website to check out. It lists all the trains going to the place together with the departure and arrival time.
For English-language websites, TripAdvisor.com and ShanghaiHighlights.com are useful.
VERY IMPORTANT: Take note that the trains leave on the main Shanghai station. NOT on the South train station.
We got on the earliest D train going to Suzhou. The train departs 6.06am using the D402. The trip is short only–around 41 minutes. Too short in fact if you really want to enjoy the ride, in my opinion.
I have been on a sleeper train in Xiamen before. It was really old, run-down, and just downright ugly. So the D train is a nice, welcome surprise.
The seats are plush and the aisles are wonderfully spacious.
Overhead compartments are available if you simply must bring along luggage and other stuff.
According to my friend, she remembers the 2004 Hollywood movie “Before Sunset” starring Ethan Hawke during the entire trip. The experience was that poetic. The 31RMB was actually worth it!
My friend (this is a candid shot!)
In any establishment, I always make it a point to check out the washroom facilities. The D5402 was ok–not the best–but it was also not the most disappointing. Though there was that weird smell, it was clean and usable.
You can also refill your water bottles inside the train! I especially liked this as I am a heavy water drinker.
Just like planes, there are magazines for reading. But if you do not read Chinese (O_O), the pictures are nice anyway!
Overall, the train ride to Suzhou was fun; and for the experience, I would do it all over again!
Sounds like you grabbed a 1st class ticket on the way here (to Suzhou) and a 2nd class on the way back. Only big difference is the amount of leg room. For the extra 5RMB, the additional space is well worth it — particularly if you are, like myself, not a small animal.
The other thing to note about traveling between Suzhou and Shanghai is that getting tickets from Shanghai to Suzhou is much easier than getting tickets on short notice from Suzhou to Shanghai. This is because Suzhou is the last (or second last — if Kunshan is on the route) stop before the Shanghai station, and so most trains are long distance trains that have a majority of passengers going all the way to the terminus station.
Hey Ryan,
Yes! That’s true actually. First class ticket on the way to Suzhou. And a not so good one on the way back. It was a no-seat ride. So, yeah…the whole time standing with people pushing you around. What an experience!
Thanks for the additional info!
wow, nice blog KM! :D
KMMMMMMM!!!!!!
kumusta? You’re in shanghai? until when?
punta ako diyan! Magperperform kami sa Philippine pavillion ng expo!
:DDDD
Huh? These trains aren’t anything new, are they? I remember regularly taking 40-minute trains between Suzhou and Shanghai — and that was five years ago. Best time was 30 minutes, but it only happened once. You wanna see crazy cuts on travel times between cities? Come out to the mountainous west! Chengdu to Chongqing from nearly 12 hours down to under two in the same five years!
The T-trains have been around for ages, and are decently fast — will get you between Suzhou and Shanghai in between 40-60 minutes usually. D-trains aren’t “new”, but aren’t 5 years old. I think they started running in 2008.
Hi, nice blog. Great comments also. I’ve been hearing rumors about a faster train between Shanghai & Suzhou (15 minutes) starting soon – does anyone have info on this, especially when it’ll start operation? Thanks!
Hi Neil. Thanks!
You must be talking about the bullet trains? But yes, like what Jane said, best time was 30 minutes. And that’s for a nonstop ride.
I’ll let you know what I find out.
Just wanted you to know this was very helpful. I am in Shanghai now and this is the only site I found that described the trip best. Thanks!
Hi Marisa!
Thanks! :-D Enjoy your stay in Shanghai! Feel free to leave a message if you need to ask anything about Shanghai! :-D
Hi. I am from the Philippines too and currently in Pudong, Shanghai. Are u still in here?
Hey,
Anything I can help you with?