That's Suzhou picks the best things to do in the city each month.

Sep 4: ArtLab

Flyer via promoter

ArtLab is back! You will work with artist Katalina Mavares in what is sure to be a fun and social art experience. Space is limited so snag your spot while you still can. 

Wed Sep 4, 10.30am; RMB288. Modern Media Plaza Center, see event listing. 

Sep 4: Artist Talk

Flyer via promoter

Join artist Ronald Paredes for a special talk on Wednesday at the Modern Media Plaza.

Wed Sep 4, 2.30-4.30pm; free entry. Modern Media Plaza Center (22nd Floor), see event listing. 

Sep 4: The Unfailing Radio Wave

Screengrab via promoter

Check out the most spectacular moments from the classic 1958 film The Unfailing Radio Wave. Based on a true story, the movie tells the story of an undercover telegraph operator who sends coded messages with crucial intelligence information during China’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-1945). The event is part of Suzhou Jiangnan Culture and Arts International Tourism Festival.

Wed Sep 4, 2pm & 7.30pm; RMB80-480. Suzhou Culture & Arts Center, see event listing.

Sep 8: Mid-Autumn Moon Cake

Flyer via promoter

It's all about the moon cakes this month. If you're interested in giving back, here's a chance to volunteer and make your own moon cakes at a local nursing home. Scan the QR code in the post for details. 

Sun Sept 8.

Sep 11 & 25: Name That Tune Bingo

Flyer via promoter

Name That Tune Bingo is back. Head on over to Pulp Fiction Bar every other Wednesday for four rounds of musical fun. There will be plenty of prizes and discounts on food and drinks, including 15% off of food from The Butcher's Hook. 

Every other Wednesday, 8.30pm; free entry. Pulp Fiction Bar, see event listing.

Sep 17: Suzhou MathsJam

MathsJam is a monthly opportunity for all you math enthusiasts out there to get together in a pub and go bonkers with puzzles, games, problems, or anything you think is cool or interesting. The crew meets on the second-to-last Tuesday of the month at the Locke Pub. Feel free to bring your own puzzles and logic games!

Tues Sep 17, 7.30pm. Locke Pub, see event listing. 

Sep 18-21: DUSA Oktoberfest

If you're looking for a place to celebrate Oktoberfest in Suzhou, you're in luck. Head on over to the Lakeside Garden of Kempinski Hotel any evening from September 18-21. Authentic German food and fresh house-brewed Paulaner beer will be served in a traditional Oktoberfest tent. The band Bavaria Partyband will provide live entertainment.

Sep 18-21, 6-10pm; Kempinski Hotel Suzhou, see event listing. For tickets, call 0512 6289 7888 ext.76570.

Sep 20: Aoi Teshima 2019 Tour

Image via Pexels

Aoi Teshima is a Japanese singer and voice actress. She is known for singing and acting in several Goro Miyazaki movies including Tales from Earthsea and From Up on Poppy Hill. She'll be performing right here in Suzhou this month. 

Fri Sep 20, 7.30pm; RMB180-680. Suzhou Polygrand Theatre, see event listing.

Sep 21: Yin Yang Flow Workshop

Image via Pexels

Get your yoga and meditation on at the Yin Yang Flow Workshop on September 21. Yin Yang Flow combines Vinyasa Flow and Yin Yoga. This particular class is suitable for all levels. If you bring a friend who hasn't taken the class before, you can get 50% off. 

Sat Sep 21, 11.15am-12.45pm; RMB88. Star Yoga (Central Park Station), see event listing. 

Daily: Morton's Power Hour

Get ready for the fall with one of the best power hours in town! Available every day from 5-7pm.

Daily, 5pm-7pm; prices from RMB28, Morton's Grille Suzhou, see event listing.

Daily: WOOBAR Afternoon Tea

Head over to WOOBAR every day to enjoy a special afternoon tea! Standard sets are RMB288 net, while sets including cocktails and bubbles are priced at RMB458 net.

Daily, 2pm-4.30pm; prices start from RMB288 net per set, WOOBAR W Suzhou, see event listing.

Mondays: Morning Coffee

Join the Expatriate Association of Suzhou every Monday morning for coffee. Enjoy great conversation and learn everything you need to know about Suzhou. It's a great opportunity to socialize and, of course, to get that all-important morning coffee fix. 

Mondays, 10am-midday. See event listing. Visit www.suzhoueas.org for more details.

Mondays: Craft Club

Interested in arts and crafts? Join the Expatriate Association of Suzhou’s Monday Craft Club to get in touch with your creative side as you socialize and make new friends. 

Mondays, 1.30pm-4pm; free entry. See event listing. Visit www.suzhoueas.org for more details.

Tuesdays: Weekly Game of Mahjong

Interested in mahjong? Join the Expatriate Association of Suzhou every Tuesday to learn how to play this classic Chinese game. All skill levels welcome! 

Tuesdays, 1.30pm-4pm; RMB10 per player. See event listing. Visit www.suzhoueas.org for more details.

Tuesdays: The Camel Pub Quiz

Every Tuesday, James Brown, the Hardest Working Man in Show Quizness, challenges with 10 rounds testing a wide variety of subjects ranging from general knowledge, film and current affairs questions. Camel vouchers are up for grabs, plus plenty of shots to keep the atmosphere lively and competitive.

Tuesdays, 8pm-late; free entry. The Camel Pub Quiz, see event listing.

Wednesdays: Ladies Night

Calling all Ladies! Wednesday night is all about you. Head over to Gastro Lounge 1/2 Azucar for fine Italian Prossecco and French artisanal ice cream. But the best part is that you can enjoy 50% off on a range of fancy cocktails. There will also be a DJ on site and beats for you to groove to.  

Wednesdays, 8pm-1am. Gastro Lounge 1/2 Azucar, see event listing

Wednesdays & Saturdays: Sunset Vibe at WOOBAR

Enjoy some chill time with live tunes at Sunset Vibe at WOOBAR (W Suzhou) every Wednesday and Saturday night. There will also be 2-for-1 on select cocktails and red, white and bubbles.  

Wednesdays and Saturdays, 6.30pm-8.30pm WOOBAR. W Suzhou, see event listing

Thursdays: Stand-Up Comedy Open Mic

Looking for a laugh? Well, you're in luck because Suzhou Comedy Club is hosting a weekly Stand-Up Comedy Open Mic event every Thursday from 8-9pm. And it's free so there's no excuse not to go!

Thursdays, 8-9pm; free entry. Zhangmen Craft Brewery, see event listing. 

Thursdays: Acoustic Night

Calling all acoustic music lovers! Head over to Feeling Bar 188 every Thursday evening for a night of 'Purely Acoustic.' Ranging from folk, country, pop, rock to Latin and everything in between. There is music for everyone's taste. Don't miss it!

Thursdays, 9pm-1am. Feeling Bar 188, see event listing.

Fridays: Jinji Lake Music Fountain

After a two-month hiatus, Suzhou's famous Jinji Lake Music Fountain is back in action. Located in the city's Industrial Park, this gorgeous display combines music and light. It's the perfect activity for the whole family. The show takes place every Friday from 8-8.30pm.  

Fridays, 8pm-8.30pm; Free. Jinji Lake Music Fountain, see event listing. 

Fridays: Amigos Tex-Mex BBQ Buffet

Amigos Tex-Mex has a new all-you-can-eat BBQ at RMB148 per person (RMB98 for kids) happening every Friday evening. Expect to dig into some beef brisket, pulled pork, smoked ribs and much more! Plus, there will also be free flow options available. Reservations are recommended. 

Fridays, 6-9pm; RMB148 (RMB98 for kids). Amigos Tex-Mex, see event listing.

Fridays: El Social

Live it up every Friday night at El Toro Loco! Party with El Toro's resident DJ, DJ Nao. From 8-10.30pm, enjoy free flow wines, cava, beer, cocktails and tapas for only RMB248. From 10.30pm-midnight, the party continues (only without the tapas) for RMB158.

Fridays, 8pm-late; prices start from RMB158. Toro Loco W Suzhou, see event listing.

Fridays & Saturdays: DJ Gin at WOOBAR

Say hello to the weekend by jamming to house, nu-disco, deep house, funk, bass, pop and more with WOOBAR's DJ Gin every Friday and Saturday night. 

Fridays and Saturdays, 9pm-1am. WOOBAR W Suzhou. see event listing.

Events worth traveling to Shanghai for:

Sep 6-15: Evita

Image courtesy of promoter

Andrew Lloyd-Webber and Tim Rice’s much-beloved 1978 West End musical is coming to Shanghai this September. Evita follows the life of Eva Peron. It’s a story about an Argentine girl who charmed and worked her way up from poverty and eventually married the country’s leader General Juan Peron. Evita was conceived as a sung-through dramatic piece and ‘Don’t Cry For Me Argentina’ proved to be the most popular single from a show for many years. However, it was 18 months after the release of the record before Evita arrived on stage. The production was directed by Hal Prince and was an artistic and popular success. You can see Evita at SAIC Shanghai Cultural Square from September 6-15.

Sep 6-15, times vary; RMB480-1,280. SAIC Shanghai Cultural Square, see event listing. Purchase tickets here.

Sept 7: Pinocchio

Image courtesy of promoter

Kids love the story of Pinocchio... and for good reason! Pinocchio will be brought to life in Shanghai this September. The play tells the story a puppet named Pinocchio, who was created out of wood by a man named Geppetto. However, Geppetto wished that his puppet could be a "real boy." His wish was magically granted by the Blue Fairy. The play will take your kids on an adventurous journey with Pinocchio, as he learns how to navigate the world in an honest and truthful way. Whenever Pinocchio does lie, his nose grows longer and longer! Kids 3 and up are sure to be highly amused and entertained.

Sat Sept 7, 10.30am & 2pm; RMB99-250. Floor 4, Shanghai Mall, 1376, Nanjing Xi Lu, Jing’an district. See event listing. Purchase tickets here. (Mandarin language).

Sep 7: Film-Concerts: (Même) Pas Peur Du Loup

Looking for a family-friendly event? Kids will be enthralled by this funny and entertaining film-concert. Your little ones will follow along as the big bad wolf goes on all sorts of adventures. But don’t be scared, it turns out the wolf isn’t all that scary after all. He’s actually over-the-top hilarious and very friendly. The film will be accompanied by instrumentals from musicians Anne-Laure Bourget (percussionist) and Ollivier Leroy (pianist, singer, composer). With the wealth of experience acquired both separately and together, the two multi-instrumentalists found it only natural to share their music with young audiences through selected short movies. Their music is made of percussions from around the world: unusual instruments, keyboards (like the Indian harmonium and toy piano), diverted objects and vocals.

Sat Sep 7, 10.30am and 3.30pm; RMB150. 1862 Theatre, see event listing. Purchase tickets here. Note that the performance will be in French with Chinese subtitles. 

Sep 9-15: World Snooker Shanghai Masters 2019

The greatest snooker players from around the world are back in town as world number one Ronnie ‘The Rocket’ O’Sullivan bids to lift the Shanghai Masters trophy for the third year running. After becoming the richest invitation event in snooker history last year, expect arguably the most competitive field to date as the world’s top 16, plus eight players from China, fight it out for the prestigious trophy and for a share of the jaw-dropping RMB6 million plus prize fund. Running from September 9 to September 15, the Regal International East Asia Hotel will play host to one of the biggest events on the snooker calendar, with Chinese superstar Ding Junhui looking to win the competition for the third time in seven years.

Monday Sep 9 to Sunday Sep 15, RMB80-980. Regal International East Asia Hotel, see event listing. Purchase tickets here.

Sep 13: Yunggiema

Flyer courtesy of promoter

Yunggiema, of Bhutan descent, will sing songs of the Menba minority tribe. You may have stumbled across Yunggiema music at Concrete and Grass Music Festival. The singer tells tales of lost ways of life, full of a longing for a bygone culture. 

Sep 13, 7.30pm; RMB180-480. 1862 Theater. Tickets. 

Sep 13-15: JZ Festival

Flyer via promoter

JZ Jazz Festival, China’s biggest jazz and blues festival, is back again to celebrate their 15th anniversary. This year’s fest will be held from September 13-15 at the Maxus Datong Music Valley, just in time for the Mid-Autumn Festival. The 15th annual festival boasts a lineup of 75 bands including Lalah Hathaway, Jacob Collier, the Earth Wind & Fire Experience (featuring the Al McKay All Stars), Marcus Miller, Jaga Jazzist, Tia Ray, Cui Jian, Li Quan, the Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw Amsterdam and Viento Terral with Andy Hunter, just to name a few. Musicians and bands from far and wide are bringing the sounds of jazz, blues, funk, Latin, fusion and more to JZ’s stages.

Sep 13-15, RMB460-1,380. Maxus Datong Music Valley, see event listing. Purchase 1-day tickets here and 1-day VIP tickets here.

Sep 14: Ana Alcaide

Flyer courtesy of promoter

Ana Alcaide, from Toledo in Spain, will transport audiences via the use of her nyckelharpa (a traditional Swedish instrument). Alcaide’s music is inspired by the history of Sephardic Jews in Toledo, melding modern composition with timeless stories and instruments, to create a sound quite unlike any other. 

Sep 14, 7.30pm; RMB180-480. 1862 Theater. Tickets. 

Sep 14-15: Fashion RunRunRun

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Flyer courtesy of promoter

Fashion and sports are being brought together at the first-ever Fashion RunRunRun. You can get all dressed up and strut your stuff at this unique marathon which will be held at Jing An Kerry Centre on September 14-15. There will be two separate runs over the weekend: the Fashion Run and the Family Run (perfect for the whole family!). Yes, it's a marathon but it's not about winning. Participants are called to run, not for competition, but to get all dressed up and freely express themselves. Redefine your personal style while having a blast with friends, family and new acquaintances. 

Fashion Run: Sat-Sun Sep 14-15, 1-6pm, RMB200; Family Run: Sat-Sun Sep 14-15, 10am-1pm, RMB300; Fashion Run Package: Sat-Sun Sep 14-15, 1-6pm, RMB900 (5 adults), RMB1,600 (10 adults). Jing An Kerry Centre, see event listing. Purchase tickets here. 

Sep 15: Deep Forest 

Flyer courtesy of promoter

French act Deep Forest will show off its ethnic electronica music. Initially formed as a duo, Eric Mouquet and Michel Sanchez, all the way back in 1992, Deep Forest has collected plaudits and Grammy nominations throughout its lifetime. After Sanchez left the group in 2015, Mouquet has continued making gorgeous and eclectic ethnic tracks. 

Sep 15, 7.30pm; RMB180-480. 1862 Theater. Tickets. 

Sep 20-22: International Photography Fair

Gif courtesy of promoter

China’s only international art fair devoted to the photographic medium is returning for a sixth year this next month. Photofairs is back bigger and bolder than ever, with plenty in store for fans of visual arts over the course of three days, from September 20-22. The 2019 edition will feature works by well-known names such as Marina Abramovic, Yang Fudong, Vivian Maier and Robert Mapplethorpe, while the winner of the newly-introduced Exposure Award, Noémie Goudal from Galerie Les Filles du Calvaire will exhibit alongside commendations from the award’s judges, including submissions from Morocco, New York and Beijing. Until September 18, you can get standard daily tickets for the reduced price of RMB98 (RMB125 after Sep 18) and VIP tickets for RMB580 (RMB620 after Sep 18). 

Sep 20-22; RMB98 daily (early bird), RMB580 VIP preview ticket (early bird). Shanghai Exhibition Center. Purchase tickets here. 

For more things to do in Suzhou, check out our Events Section.

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