Suzhou

Canals and bridges crossing and linking within the well-preserved villages, houses and shops standing just a few steps from the still waterways, and classical gardens with each man-made feature carefully designed and placed so as to complement the other natural elements perfectly. Outside the bright lights and constant hustles of modern Shanghai are these traditional villages that are modest, yet impressive as they have been for thousands of years. It’s incredible that these ancient timeless villages still exist as they do, especially being so close to an ever-growing metropolis!

Garden City – In China, gardens are an art form, and the Garden City of Suzhou has the ultimate masterpiece collection. The most famous of the ancient gardens, Humble Administrator’s Garden, is absolutely splendid. The garden includes man-made pavilions, bridges and halls balanced in harmony with the natural landscape of rocks, hills, brooks and trees. For an enchanting evening, attend the short open-air Pintan Operas in Garden of the Master of the Net, where the artists dress in traditional Ming and Qing style. Another not to be missed site is Master IM Pei’s Suzhou Museum, considered the last and also best work by the world-famous architect. To honor and best represent his beloved hometown Suzhou, the museum is in a traditional Chinese garden setting, covering an area of 19,000 square meters. There are 32 exhibition halls, displaying art treasures from the Stone Age to Qing Dynasties. This museum has received much recognition and praise for being able to blend the modern seamlessly with the historic.

Water Villages – There are several ancient water villages along the ancient Grand Canal with charming Ming and Qing Dynasty houses situated along the banks. Tongli, Zhujiajiao, Luzhi, Jinxi, and Zhouzhuang are just a few of the towns that have truly stood the test of time. Even hundreds of years later, the original buildings, courtyards and bridges are still intact, and the beautiful flowers and plants still continuing to flourish and blossom. Visit the signature houses (which often belonged to the Ming and Qing Dynasty elite) and walk through the small back alleys to recreate the aura of tranquility and nobility from the dignified past. You cannot officially conclude your water village tour without taking a boat excursion along the canal, where the ‘boatmen’ are usually a husband and wife duo happy to serenade you with a ballad.