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Day 3, Suzhou, China Although our first choice was a day-trip to Hangzhou, we had not many choices on Monday but to book the tour to Suzhou. We missed the Sunday tour to Hangzhou, and the next tour was on Tuesday. Hangzhou is a tad further than Suzhou, and it will require two more hours to get there from Shanghai. Suzhou, itself, will require 3 hours on the new freeway. Since Hangzhou is so scenic and sizable, it is recommended that travelers put up a night at Hangzhou and return to Shanghai the next day. Of course, this is not to imply that Suzhou is not a beautiful city. It is. Suzhou is regarded as a “garden city” for centuries in China. The opening of the Grand Canal, also known as the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, in the 5th Century BC allowed the Duke of Wu during the Spring and Autumn Period to transport his troops up north, in the direction of his conquests. Later, it was lengthened to connect Beijing to Hangzhou during the reign of the Sui Dynasty. Five rivers were linked to it: Yellow River, Hai River, Huai River, Qiantang River and the Yangtze. Since Suzhou was along the Grand Canal (still is today) and accessible to ancient capitals via the Canal, many successful officials and magistrates (mandarins) from the respective capitals throughout China’s ancient history set up their so called “vacation” villas in the city. Some emperors would venture further south into Hangzhou to establish their winter abodes ‒ a reason why Hangzhou is considered "imperial" and Suzhou "ministerial". Suzhou of the past reminds me of present-day Fort Lauderdale in Florida. Wealthy tycoons set up mansions and estates along the canals and keys in Fort Lauderdale, and decorate them with accompanying luxury yachts. The same can be said about the Suzhou of old. Lush, huge estates were acquired by wealthy officials and turned into well-architected Chinese gardens for pleasure and leisure. They were also used as trophies to display the wealth and success of the owners. The guide told us there were over two hundred large garden homes in good order at the peak of Suzhou’s golden age. The largest and better-maintained garden is the Humble Administrator’s Garden (Zhuozheng Yuan). The Humble Administrator’s Garden is considered one of the most elaborate and well-preserved gardens of the South. Today, the garden comprises three sections: the Central which is appropriately called Zhuozheng Yuan, the Eastern Section which is called Guitianyuanju, and the Western Section which is called the Supplementary Garden. Only pictures can describe it well. Words seldom lend credence to complicated rock formations and lily ponds choked with foliage, typical of southern Chinese gardens. 
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Bla, I visited Suzhou once in a day. Zhuozhengyuan also. But the gardens were below my expectation. Guess it's the whole surrounding ambience affecting this. Nice to read your travellog, you prefer statistics than personal expereience. Nice approach, different fm mine. Aha. Will read you more when i have time. Enjoy.
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11/29/2006 4:46 pm |
Bla, I visited Suzhou once in a day. Zhuozhengyuan also. But the gardens were below my expectation. Guess it's the whole surrounding ambience affecting this. Nice to read your travellog, you prefer statistics than personal expereience. Nice approach, different fm mine. Aha. Will read you more when i have time. Enjoy. Thanks! You're hard to please. Will make a great customer.  BAH
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You're hard to please. Will make a great customer. BAh, (BTW, this name sounds funny) You amused me by complimenting me like this. :_) Travel more. My heart is always longing for travelling.
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