I've been here in Suzhou for over a year now and getting around with a family of 5 isn't always easy. So how do/did/will we do it? There is a whole continuum of methods to get around, and we've pretty much gone through them all. Let me give you some insights into them.
1) Buses. Yes, good ol' fashioned buses, the same way most people were getting around 50 years ago, and with good reason, they are cheap, relatively efficient and certainly beat walking. You can get about anywhere you want to locally in Suzhou with the bus system and GoogleMaps. Just see my first few lessons about sending info to your cell phone on how to do that.
Be aware that kids under about 10 years of age, unless they are very tall, will not pay either. Now that my youngest is 10 I only have one free kid and it isn't as cheap as it once was. Don't get me wrong, it is still cheap, but if you aren't going very far and you can find them, taxi's may be a better option. Most buses in Suzhou are 1-2 RMB, insane!
So how do you know what bus to take where? Go to GoogleMaps and find any two places and then hit "directions" and select the Bus/Public transportation icon, it is very easy!
2) The Cab. Yes don't automatically dismiss the taxi because you are a cheapskate. If there are 4 of you i your party and you aren't going far, then waiting for a slower bus and having to walk a bit on both ends of your journey, plus the hassle of figuring out the right bus, may mean that a taxi is a better option. For 4 people to take a local bus is 8 RMB, while a taxi of 3 KM or less is only 11 RMB, not much different if there are 4 of you. Of course if there is only one of you than 2 RMB vs. 11 RMB is a big difference, but if it's raining and you don't know what bus to take, well then it may be worth it. Having trouble finding a taxi? Just go up to anyone and say "Da(1)-Di(4)" and then dial the Suzhou-wide taxi line number of 6777-67777. You must select "1" to get a blue or gold taxi, or "2' for the nice black taxis. Don't get the black taxi, they start at about 15 RMB for 3 KM and go up much quick
3) Trains. Yes, from Suzhou to Shanghai via TRAIN is about 35 RMB and takes about 25 minutes. Trains leave from the main train station every 30 minutes during peak hours and not much slower during non-peak hours. You can manipulate the URL and settings of this link to get the schedule between any two points on the high-speed train line and print out or email yourself the full schedule to make buying tickets and hopping on trains easier.
One nice thing to know about trains, if you go to buy a ticket and they say the next train is sold out, don't worry about it, just buy the ticket for the next train. Then head over to the one you want and just wander up to where they are loading and show your ticket at the gate and look confused. They will let you on the train as long as you get on and off at the right station, though you may have to stand or sit in the dining car. Dining car seats aren't assigned anyway and you don't even have to order anything there. We actually prefer those to our normal seats on a longer ride so we can play some games or talk face to face anyway.
We've never been refused at a boarding gate yet with this little trick and we've done it at least a dozen times. So get on the train, with speeds over 300 KH/Houh is GREAT!