A morning in Suzhou

The most interesting thing we did in Suzhou was checking out the local stores. For instance, we found a TV store...

... a kitchen supplies store (check out those wok burners!) ...

... and a bath supplies store, where you can get your own wooden bathtub.

These doors, however, were not for sale and simply up for grabs. Too bad they didn't fit in a suitcase as they would have looked great in our living room.

There were also plenty of local delicacies to try, like little birds (pigeons?) and pigs' noses. We stuck with sweet sesame dumplings.

Traditional buildings by the only remaining canal inside the town

A view of several bridges over the canal. Unfortunately most of the buildings around it were built recently and are nothing special.

The Venice of the East

I couldn't understand how appropriate the above name was for the city of Suzhou until I saw some pictures on the internet after I returned. Having just two days to explore Shanghai and its outskirts was not enough, and a morning in Suzhou was the best we could do as far as getting out of Shanghai.

Suzhou looked a lot more like Venice in the old days, when the main way of transportation was by water. In the new China of automobiles most of the canals were paved over and you have to get out of Suzhou city and into the country if you want to get a glimpse of its watery past--which we weren't able to do.

Still, it was interesting to see what a smaller city looks like, and, to be fair, the center of Suzhou is still well-preserved with its narrows streets filled with traditional businesses and stores. Unfortunately, there is only the main canal left. A visitor with more time can take a leisurely walk alongside the waterway or visit the numerous gardens. We sat down at a tiny traditional restaurant and had some sweet dumplings before heading back to the metropolis.

A Walk on the Town

European Architecture around the French Concession

A view into a courtyard. The two-wheeled vehicles and the laundry hanging outside are Shanghai staples.

A well-lit building downtown, opposite the historical People's Park

The lights and crowds of Nanjing Lu, where all domestic and international tourists must set foot at least once.

Another view of Nanjing Lu