Nov 17, 2009 - Suzhou

Tues 17 Nov 2009 SUZHOU After breakfast it was a 9am start for our coach journey to Suzhou. ... Suzhou flourished as a major trading and silk center in the early 6th century. ... Da Yunhe, the Grand Canal, linked Suzhou to Beijing. ... Very prosperous during the Ming and Qing dynasties many of China's affluent settled in Suzhou and the local traders became wealthy. ... Much of this wealth was spent in creating elaborate gardens, over 150 of them, that, today, make Suzhou famous. ...

Oct 7, 2009 - Day 18: Suzhou - Gardens and silk

Suzhou has the much more classical Chinese architecture that I'd been expecting elsewhere in China. ... 3 billion people that the majority would have to live in dense housing apartments, but Suzhou was more my picture, with houses only a few storeys high. ... First stop was the Lingering Garden where I really could have lingered much longer.Suzhou has the much more classical Chinese architecture that I'd been expecting elsewhere in China. ... 3 billion people that the majority would have to live in dense housing apartments, but Suzhou was more my picture, with houses only a few storeys high. ... First stop was the Lingering Garden where I really could have lingered much longer....

Apr 22, 2009 - Suzhou

Today we drove about 1 1/2 hours to Suzhou, the silk capital of China and home to the most beautiful gardens. ... Our first stop is The Master of Nets Garden :) A typical Suzhou type garden with beautiful rock formations, pagodas and furniture. ... It is a beautiful day weather-wise and very comfortable to just walk around and smell the flowers! From there we visit the Silk Factory and learn how silk is made starting from the worms munching on mulberry bushes all the way through the spooling of the silk thread.Today we drove about 1 1/2 hours to Suzhou, the silk capital of China and home to the most beautiful gardens. ... Our first stop is The Master of Nets Garden :) A typical Suzhou type garden with beautiful rock formations, pagodas and furniture. ... It is a beautiful day weather-wise and very comfortable to just walk around and smell the flowers! From there we visit the Silk Factory and learn how silk is made starting from the worms munching on mulberry bushes all the way through the spooling of the silk thread....

Sep 1, 2008 - Gardens in Suzhou west of Shanghai

Today was our last day to tour in China and it was a bit anti-climatic. We took the bus to Suzhou where we toured 2 gardens. ... These gardens are really landscaped estates.Today was our last day to tour in China and it was a bit anti-climatic. We took the bus to Suzhou where we toured 2 gardens. ... These gardens are really landscaped estates....

Aug 2, 2008 - Suzhou

Well, our second train ride didn't go quite as smoothly as the first.Well, our second train ride didn't go quite as smoothly as the first....

Jul 4, 2008 - Day 8 - Wuxi to Suzhou

The lake was very pretty, but we had no idea how big it really was until we started our trip down to Suzhou and got a better sense of its enormity. ... We arrived in Suzhou for a delicious lunch at a place alongside the Grand Canal. ... At the restaurant, we were met up with Lei-Lei who became our local guide for Suzhou. ...

Jun 11, 2008 - China - Suzhou

Despite the rain, we had a great time in Suzhou. ... The local proverb "In heaven there is paradise, on earth there is Hangzou and Suzhou" may be taking things a bit far, but we spent an enjoyable couple of days exploring gardens, museums and pungent canals. ... Fed and watered, we explored some of Suzhou's museums. ... The Silk Museum was a definite hit - it details the history of Suzhou's 4,000 year old silk industry and includes a room with live silk worms munching away on mulberry leaves and spinning cocoons - see photos and video clip. ... To us, it certainly wasn't easy on the ear, but it was fun to watch and perhaps it's an acquired taste! Suzhou market's itself as the 'Garden City' and the 'Venice of the East'. ...

May 2, 2008 - Suzhou

Mavis and I took a high-speed train to Suzhou (pronounced “sue-joe”), a city that dates back to the 6th century. ... ) In order to get up over a bridge, He dismounted and pushed! Our first stop was the Suzhou Silk Museum. ... We made it clear that he wasn’t getting extra money for wasting our time! This stop was the Suzhou Museum. ... His family is from Suzhou. ...

Dec 6, 2007 - Suzhou - Wuxi

We saw more tranquil places around which Small" cities of 4 and 6 million people were built.We saw more tranquil places around which Small" cities of 4 and 6 million people were built....

Dec 5, 2007 - Beijing - Shanghai - Suzhou

today was a large travel day and only travel type pictures: airplanes, city buildings ( via bus rides) and several characteristic traffic jams ( even on taking the bus to the airplane for heaven's sake hten queing for take off. Who knew! So -the gang was a tad happier since we travelled a bit through Shanghai enroute to Suzhou ( silk city). ... They saw the street vendors, and more street shopping scapes they have been lacking so far.today was a large travel day and only travel type pictures: airplanes, city buildings ( via bus rides) and several characteristic traffic jams ( even on taking the bus to the airplane for heaven's sake hten queing for take off. Who knew! So -the gang was a tad happier since we travelled a bit through Shanghai enroute to Suzhou ( silk city). ... They saw the street vendors, and more street shopping scapes they have been lacking so far....

Nov 10, 2007 - Day 5

Today we leave Beijing and our guide, Ivy, for a two-hour flight to Shanghai. After meeting our new guide, Lili, we board our bus and travel two hours to her hometown of Suzhou. ... with "Robert Redford" ? Finally, we arrive at the Holiday Inn in Suzhou, very nice, to relax, refresh and get ready for dinner. ... After dinner we relaxed in the bar with a glass of wine and listen to a local group playing western music.Today we leave Beijing and our guide, Ivy, for a two-hour flight to Shanghai. After meeting our new guide, Lili, we board our bus and travel two hours to her hometown of Suzhou. ... with "Robert Redford" ? Finally, we arrive at the Holiday Inn in Suzhou, very nice, to relax, refresh and get ready for dinner. ... After dinner we relaxed in the bar with a glass of wine and listen to a local group playing western music....

Jul 1, 2007 - Suzhou

I took a day trip to Suzhou, well know for its canals and old private gardens. ... We visited the Garden of the Master of the Nets, supposedly the most impressive garden in Suzhou, took a tour on the canals, and visited some other garden whose name I cannot remember. ... The day was rounded off with the six of us sharing a meal at a chinese restaurant before catching the train back to Shanghai.I took a day trip to Suzhou, well know for its canals and old private gardens. ... We visited the Garden of the Master of the Nets, supposedly the most impressive garden in Suzhou, took a tour on the canals, and visited some other garden whose name I cannot remember. ... The day was rounded off with the six of us sharing a meal at a chinese restaurant before catching the train back to Shanghai....