After a busy work week many in Shanghai look forward to a quiet weekend getaway. As one of the most livable cities in China, nearby Suzhou offers a wide variety of activities — from shopping to lovely gardens — and has become a popular destination for a short break. Ready to shop till you drop? Looking for guilt-free shopping in an inspiring atmosphere? Look no further than Yi Ou Lai Suzhou, China’s first luxury shopping tourism destination of its kind. The Chinese version of Bicester Village, one of England’s top tourist attractions, locates at Yangcheng Lake Peninsula Tourist Resort in Suzhou Industrial Park. It is a stylish destination where you can relax, discover world-class brands at unbelievable prices and experience a nice blend of Eastern and Western culture.

Best deals for luxury brands and unexpected discounts during final reductions

With more than 80 boutiques spanning over an area of 70,000 square meters, Yi Ou Lai Suzhou is the latest innovative project by Value Retail, the leading developer of shopping tourism worldwide. The Village features a combination of European architecture with traditional Chinese elements. The shopper’s paradise offers a number of European luxury shopping experiences and fine dining restaurants.

Yi Ou Lai Suzhou opened its doors in May 2014, and since then has been a shopping paradise with a glittering array of luxury and designer brands — all offering savings of up to 75 percent on the recommended retail price.

Through August 15, Yi Ou Lai Suzhou even offers final reductions on top of the 75 percent regular discount to celebrate the summer shopping season. Numerous brands are on sale including Armani, Bally, ECCO, Sergio Rossi, Furla, kate spade new york, Michael Kors and Ted Baker to name a few. Customers also have a chance to win free trip to Europe worth 4,888 yuan (US$794).

Shoppers can delight in great deals on Zegna/Agnona shoes and dresses, MCM’s new rivet handbag; women’s clothing by Theory and Gucci leather goods for as little as 1,000 to 2,000 yuan. Those looking for the latest in styles will not be disappointed. Check out Furla’s newly unveiled 2015 candy and chain handbags, Sergio Rossi’s latest arrivals, Carolina Herrera’s most recent collection of dresses and one pieces, and Chuang X Yi’s specials from a range of domestic designers’ brands.

Fantastic combination of style and art

Located in a beautifully crafted village setting and inspired by Marco Polo’s journey along the Silk Road, Yi Ou Lai Suzhou presents a collection of works by Israeli-born artist and former Shanghai resident, Basmat Levin for this summer. Levin’s colorful art installations can be seen everywhere in Yi Ou Lai Suzhou to create an inspiring shopping atmosphere. Yi Ou Lai provides unique and innovative shopping experiences that transform the way people experience and use fashion, acting as a pathway to enrich the art of self-expression. This is the foundation offering of Yi Ou Lai’s shopping tourism experience. The vibrant emotions of Basmat’s artwork are also found in the Yi Ou Lai boutiques, where creative work from the world’s best designers is ready to become part of your self-portrait.

The Village is committed to the development of Chinese culture and arts and also works closely with art, fashion and interior designers. It boasts a mix of emerging Chinese designers who are confident and with bold vision such as Heirloom, Decoster, Chloe Chen, Crush, Arete, Samantha Lim, Nicole Zhang and Shokay while Chuang X Yi pavilion is a brand boutique and a platform for the emerging Chinese design talents to showcase their talents and creativity. The Village allows customers to explore the scenic Water Garden and streams, experience a range of performances at the outdoor theatre.

The Yi Pavilion is a style paradise for self-expression and a dynamic venue for art, design and shopping opportunities. World-class designers will use the space to experiment with the relationship between art and fashion to acquire masterpiece merchandise.

Superior five-star services

Customers can enjoy a lot of services while at the Village. The Welcome Center is a place where one can pick up maps and be warmly welcomed by the lovely Yi Ou Lai Suzhou staff. The lounge inside the center offers chairs and tables where you can sit and have your cellphone charged or pick up a book you like from bountiful choices. Valet parking service is available with in advance bookings. Free Wi-Fi covers the entire village. Children’s play area  is specially designed to give kids space to run around and enjoy their day. There are spacious independent and family bathrooms with automatic sanitary facilities in the Village.

VIP lounges and other Village facilities are available and the balcony with panoramic view can be an amazing venue for big events.

Yi Ou Lai Suzhou

Opening hours: 10am-8pm (Monday to Friday); 9am-9pm (Saturday to Sunday)

Address: 969 Yangcheng Ring Rd, Yangcheng Lake Peninsula Tourism Resort, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province

Tel: (0512) 6733-8822

How to get there

By car

• From Huning Expressway (G2/G42): Exit at Yangcheng Lake Service Area and continue through the Yangcheng Lake toll booth. Continue driving and turn left on Yangcheng Lake Avenue and drive 1.5km west to Jinlin Road. Then head north on Jinlin Road for 300m to arrive at Yi Ou Lai Suzhou Village.

• From downtown Suzhou:

Drive along the central expressway and exit at Yangcheng Ring Road to arrive at Yi Ou Lai Suzhou.

By luxury express

A luxurious bus offers a comfortable journey from downtown Shanghai to Yi Ou Lai Suzhou. For more information on pick-up points and reservations, please visit the website: www.yioulai.com.

By train

Yi Ou Lai Suzhou is strategically located next to Suzhou Industrial Park railway station, which has high-speed trains to Shanghai, Nanjing and Hangzhou. You can then take a taxi or get on  Yi Ou Lai’s free luxury shuttle bus there from the railway station.

By free shuttle bus

The free shuttle bus service to and from Yi Ou Lai Suzhou is available from downtown Suzhou. For more information on pick-up points and bus schedule, please visit the website: www.yioulai.com.