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Suzhou
Just an hour from Shanghai, the peaceful town of Suzhou is famous for its network of canals, its classical Chinese gardens and its silk production. Suzhou first came to prominence during the building of the Grand Canal, a 1,900 kilometre man-made canal linking Hangzhou to Beijing. When the Grand Canal was completed, Suzhou found itself strategically located on a major trade route, which encouraged traders to settle on the banks of the canal. These buildings are still inhabited today by local families.
During the Ming Dynasty, 500 years ago, Suzhou flourished as a place of refinement and retreat, attracting scholars and merchants who built themselves gardens to seek solitude in. Whilst the Garden of the Master of Nets is the smallest garden in Suzhou, it is also one of the most beautiful.
This garden was donated to the Buddhist Temple in 1620 but was destroyed by fire and rebuilt in 1880. The main feature of the garden is the Hall of Arhats, which has 500 statues of Buddha saints.
The gardens in Suzhou are considered real works of art, a fusion of nature, architecture, poetry and painting designed to ease, move and assist the mind. The Humble Administrator’s Garden is the largest garden in Suzhou and the most famous and representative of Suzhou’s gardens. Within the garden walls, there are lots of great sights, filled with history and legends.
Hanshan Temple, literally "Cold Mountain Temple", is a Buddhist temple and monastery. It is located at the town of Fengqiao, about 5 kilometres west of the old city of Suzhou. The current name of the monastery derives from Hanshan, the legendary monk and poet.
Originally named Fushi, Tongli is an ancient but well preserved canal town with a history of nearly 1,000 years. Located on the eastern shore of Lake Tai, just 20kms from Suzhou, Tongli offers visitors the chance to step back in time and discover traditional buildings, cobblestone streets and atmospheric teahouses amongst its canals.
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