Suzhou

Suzhou is an amazing city located on the shores of Lake Taihu and the Yangtze River in China. The city is known primarily for its centuries-old gardens and parks, canals and bridges. The merchant and traveler Marco Polo called the city the "Venice of the East."

The city was founded back in 514 BC as the capital of the Wu Kingdom, at that time the city was called Helucheng. Only a millennium later, in 589, the city received its current name, Suzhou, in honor of Mount Sushan. Life has been bustling here since ancient times. Caravans of traders came for the finest silk, which was made here. The city became rich very quickly, officials and merchants spent money on gardens and parks for themselves and for the population. In the 7th century, the construction of canals and a system of locks running throughout the city began. Over five million people worked in the construction process. These channels are still operating, attracting millions of tourists annually.

Travelers go to Suzhou, first of all, to see the beautiful gardens, of which there are a lot and each has a name. The most famous are the Lion's Cave Garden, the garden of the fishing net master, the garden of the humble official, the Park of Blue Waves, the Garden of Peaceful Pastime. They were built as places for leisure and recreation. Miniature landscapes were imitated in the gardens. Over the years, gardens in the courtyard of officials became the norm, and each official tried to make his own unique garden, in which all the little things were thought out, and the device itself obeyed the canons of his philosophical views.

The historical part of the city of Suzhou is completely covered with picturesque canals. Houses are usually built so that one part faces the canal and the other faces the street. A walk around the city is perfect for romantics. After all, you can take plenty of boat rides along the river channels, ride a bicycle rickshaw, meditate in the numerous gardens to the sound of the wind, and taste the amazing local cuisine. Local sweets will surprise even the most avid gourmet. To get acquainted with the cuisine, it is better to go to the market. It is necessary to bargain on the market, this will significantly reduce the price of the product. Here you will be offered traditional sweets made from rice flour, halva, sweets with pine nuts. Baked ducks, shaggy crabs, shark fin and marsh turtle soups, and mandarin fish are served in numerous restaurants.

Suzhou is considered the center of the silk industry, and it is home to China's largest textile factory for the production of silk products exported to all parts of the world. The fastest way to get to the city is from Shanghai. If you are not in a hurry, it is better to take a ferry, exploring the surrounding landscapes.