Like a giant egg
by sourbugger
There is 1000 year old saying that goes something like this : "In heaven there is paradise, down on earth there are Suzhou and Hangzhou".
With self-promotion like that, it is not suprising that Suzhou appears on virtually any tour of China. Rightly so, I would argue. The medium-sized city has a wealth of gardens, often planted by retired official / politician / bigwigs and a collection of that most Asian of architectural forms, the Pagoda.
I defy anyone not to be taken in by the charms of this city.
Some architects regard the Pagoda as a 'perfect shape', rather like a large egg, that is full of other-wordly symbolism. I would like to think that the world0famous archtect I.M.Pei might have been inspired in his work by being born here and seeing such wonderful forms at an early age. I understand that he has returned to his birthplace, and is overseeing the construction of a new municipal museum in the city.
An absolute must in China - and a bit of serenity for your soul to partake in as well !
Humble Administrator's Garden
by Willettsworld
The Humble Administrator's Garden covers 51,950 m² and is the largest garden in Suzhou and probably the most famous garden in China. The garden's site was a scholar garden during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.), and later a monastery garden for the Dahong Temple during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). In 1513, during the Ming Dynasty reign of Emperor Zhengde, an administrator named Wang Xianchen bought the temple and converted it into a private villa with gardens, which were constructed by digging lakes and piling the resultant earth into artificial islands. The garden was split up in the later Ming dynasty, and it remained neglected until the Qing Dynasty reigns of Emperors Shunzhi and Kangxi, when the garden was extensively rebuilt.
In total, the garden contains 48 different buildings with 101 tablets, 40 stelae and 21 precious old trees as well as bridges, lakes and pools. It is a truly beautiful and peaceful place (despite the countless tourists) and a magical experience.
Open: 7:30am-5:30pm. Admission: Y70.
About suzhou
by elin0838
ý@Suzhou, lying in the middle of Yangtze River Delta and the south of Jiangsu Province, at 120ýý37'E and 31ýý39'N, is adjacent to Shanghai to the east, bounded on the south by Zhejiang Province, on the brink of Wuxi to the west and fringing on the Yangtze River in the north. The total area of Suzhou is 8488 km2, among which plains occupy 55%, water, 42%, and hilly areas, 3%. It is a world-known water city with numerous canals and lakes, including the Grand Canal passing the city from the north to the south.
ý@ý@Ever since its formation in 514 BC, Suzhou has always been the political, cultural, and economical center of the southern lower reaches of the Yangtze River. With its prosperous commerce and a galaxy of talents, it enjoys the reputation of being a ýgparadise in manýfs worldýh. The old city proper, with its area of 14.2 km2, has a history of 2500 years and is still retaining its unique feature of rivers paralleling lanes, and waters flowing under bridges. The classical gardens in Suzhou, which have been listed by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage Property, are peopleýfs intelligent creation of beautiful living circumstance and city environment, representing the national features of the perfect combination of architectural function, structure and art.
ý@ý@Recently, Suzhouýfs urban reconstruction has assumed a structure of what is know as ýga body with two wingsýh, which means the ancient city proper in the middle with Suzhou-Singapore Industrial Park to the east and Suzhou New & Hi-tech District to the west. Under the policy of protecting the historical and cultural properties of the ancient city proper while devoting major efforts to developing its economy, not only have the world heritage and the ancient city proper developed effectively, but Suzhouýfs economy has also been developed greatly. As a result, the municipal GDP of 2002 reached $25.4 billion (the per capita GDP being $4300) and an annual revenue of $3.54 billion was fulfilled, thus making Suzhou one of the countryýfs most important coastal cities with intense cultural and tourist activities and an export-oriented economy.
Sign in with Facebook
and out on the road side!
In one of the inner courtyards
Guanqian jie by day
I am sure you can do that too
