“In heaven there is paradise, on earth Suzhou and Hangzhou”: Ostensibly a Chinese popular saying, almost certainly the best possible advertisement for the tourism bureaus of Suzhou and Hangzhou. Especially among domestic tourists, Suzhou is one of the most popular destinations in China. After a few days in busy, bustling Shanghai, Suzhou makes a pleasant escape. While the quaint canals are now largely hidden by modern construction, the formal gardens are still beautifully preserved. Try to see them all (there are around a half-dozen still open to visitors), or pick one to linger in. Like Hangzhou, Suzhou used to be a major center of silk production, and the Silk Museum is also definitely worth a visit.
The Suzhou Silk Museum is located on Renmin Lu, a few blocks south of the train station. The entrance ticket costs 15 RMB. The Humble Administrator’s Garden is located on Dongbei Jie in northeast Suzhou, about 2km southeast of the train station. Admission to the garden costs 70 RMB during the high season (March-May and September-October) and 50 RMB during the low season. For more information on visiting Suzhou, see my Suzhou destination guide.
This is the latest in a series of weekly slideshows spotlighting places I’ve been on my travels, in China and beyond. You can also view this album, along with more photos, at To China and Beyond’s Picasa page.
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