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Why the
Suzhou Gardens & Canals
are special
For thousands of years the city of Suzhou has been
celebrated throughout China for its exquisite
classical gardens and picturesque urban canals.
Interesting insights about
the gardens of Suzhou
 Most
were built by wealthy
merchants and government officials as private
in-town escapes from the bustling, high pressure
city life. They were usually extensions of their
residences, for easy access.
A
classical garden in southern China is typically a
harmonious blend of distinctive plants, golden
carp filled ponds, eye-catching rockeries,
graceful pathways, arched bridges and poetic
pavilions in a small, walled setting.
The
garden is designed so that your view changes every
dozen or so steps down the walkway. And, each
should take on different guises as the seasons
change.
Interesting insights about
the canals of Suzhou
The
city lies on the vast Yangtze River delta. Suzhou
is surrounded by lakes and waterways - and is
crisscrossed by an urban canal network, which is connected with
China's Grand Canal and, therefore, the ocean. Suzhou is very much a
water city and the canals play an integral part.
Some
portions of the narrow canals are still lined
with traditional dwellings and plied by photogenic
small cargo boats (see canal photo).
Tips for your
vacation tour or trip
If
you have time to visit only a few of Suzhou's
scores of ancient gardens, let them be these four:
 Garden
of the Master of Nets
Humble Administrator's Lingering Garden
Surging Wave Garden.
You
can view the Suzhou canals from bridges, but the
only way to fully appreciate them is on a boat.
Location
Suzhou is about 80 kilometers (50 miles) from Shanghai.
Pronunciation guide
Suzhou: sue-zh'o
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