Zhouzhuang - Chinese Venice. "Venice of the East": Water cities of China Chinese Venice city

Chinese cities on the water, often called the “Venice of the East”, are famous for their ancient buildings, bridges, picturesque canals and local residents, whose life has remained virtually unchanged over the past centuries, despite the economic boom that is sweeping all of China today. Zhujiajiao
One of the oldest water villages in China, Zhujiajiao, is located just 30 km from the center of Shanghai in the western suburbs on the shores of Lake Dianshanhu. This is one of the most beautiful historical places China has a history of more than 1,700 years. They say this is the Venice of Shanghai - a perfectly preserved ancient village on the river bank. On Great Northern Street there is the Kezhi Garden. This is one of the largest home gardens in southern China. They say Zhujiajiao is the city of bohemian Shanghai youth. A kind of outlet and salvation, a monastery where you can hide from the hustle and bustle of a multimillion-dollar city. Thanks to them, many old houses here have turned into amazing cafes, pubs, theaters and clubs, decorated and painted in every possible way. Art and creativity are simply in the air!









Suzhou
The historical center of Suzhou, around which it has grown modern city, stands on the Great China Canal between Shanghai and Wuxi, near Lake Taihu, and for many centuries was the most important transport and commercial center of the Jiangnan region - the richest part of the country.
During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the city was built up with the estates of capital officials and turned into the garden capital of China. As a World Heritage Site, historical center Suzhou is still famous for its beautiful stone bridges like Baodaiqiao, pagodas and artfully laid out gardens. With the rise of Shanghai in the late 19th century, Suzhou lost its importance as a central city in the region, but due to its architecture and a large number businesses around the city, it remains a mecca for both tourists and entrepreneurs.




Chibao

Chibao Ancient Year is located in the Minhang District of Shanghai (18 km from the city center), with a population of about 14 million people, total area 21.3 km2. The ancient city of Chibao was built during the Song Dynasty (960–1126). The word "Chibao" is translated as "seven treasures". The city of Chibao has attracted tourists since ancient times. This is one of the oldest and most famous areas in Shanghai. it is cut by the canals of the Tong River Po, which flows directly through the city. Numerous and picturesque bridges and canals - all this creates a unique atmosphere of the ancient city of Qibao. Here you can see old wells, an embankment and picturesque bridges, as well as ancient buildings and buildings, narrow streets, and huge shady trees. On the territory of the ancient city is the Seven Treasures Temple (“Qibao Temple”), built in 907–960. This is a Buddhist pagoda located in the center of the area. Lives among the residents of Shanghai old legend about the real seven treasures that exist and are securely hidden on the territory of the temple and monastery: an iron Buddha from the Ming Dynasty, a bronze bell, also from the Ming Dynasty, a golden manuscript in the form of a lotus, written by the emperor’s concubine in the 10th century, a thousand-year-old Chinese Catalpa tree, a jade ax, a golden a cockerel and a pair of jade chopsticks. Interestingly, only the first four treasures have been documented, and only one treasure has ever been found. This is an ancient bell, which is now located on the territory of the Temple of the Seven Treasures.


Zhouzhuang Zhouzhuang is one of China's most picturesque and famous water cities, located in Kunshan County, just 30 km southeast of Suzhou. Ancient town stands on the Jinghan Canal, connecting Suzhou with Shanghai. The city is widely famous for its romantic atmosphere, enchanting views and well-preserved ancient residential buildings, elegant bridges and rich cultural heritage. The city of Zhouzhuang is known as the first water settlement in China, whose history dates back just over 900 years. It is called the “Venice of the East”. It attracts tourists with its labyrinth of canals, buildings from the Qing and Ming eras and local customs. The city is located on an area of ​​about 0.4 km2. However, with a seemingly insignificant territory, here you can see about 100 ancient classical courtyards, more than 60 arches of brick carvings and 14 ancient bridges. It is important to note that the bridges here are very diverse, but the most typical are the paired Shuangqiao bridges. These strong, stone, simple bridges were built during the Ming Dynasty. They consist of one arched stone span and one beamed stone span. Also interesting in its own way a unique place in Zhouzhuang is a “double-pass bridge” spanning two canals. The streets are rivers, the passages are connected by bridges, and the houses are built along the rivers.





Xitang Ancient City
Xitang is a famous water city with a thousand-year history, located in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and listed world heritage UNESCO. The city is divided into two parts: old and new. In the Old Part there are well-preserved ensembles of buildings from the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. The narrow, winding streets, called "lun" in the local dialect, are an integral part of Xitang. Quiet waters, beautiful ancient bridges, of which there are more than 100, fishing boats, soft pink sunsets and sunrises reflected in the water, which shimmers with sparkling lights in the evening, create an absolutely idyllic fairy-tale picture filled with ancient poetry. The ancient city of Xitang is located in Jiashan County, Jiaxing City (Zhejiang Province), at the junction of Jiangsu and Zhejiang Provinces, and the city of Shanghai. It is located 90 km east of Shanghai and 110 km west of Hangzhou. Nine fairways intersect in Xitan, which actually divided the city into 8 parts. Numerous bridges connect them into one. Among the ancient cities, Xitan has a distinct identity and is famous for its large number of bridges, canals and canopies. The total length of the latter, stretching along the canals, is more than a thousand meters. This is the biggest difference between Xitang and similar places in China.









Fenghuang
Fenghuang is ancient city China in the Hunan province, entering which the traveler seems to be transported to another time. This city captivates with its untouched ancient beauty and mystery. Here beautiful nature combined with ancient architecture and color. Unique houses built on stilts, winding streets converging towards the center, bridges over the river - all this personifies the harmony and mysterious beauty that is so often depicted in traditional Chinese painting. No wonder this city is rightly called one of the most beautiful in China.
The history of this city goes back 1300 years, but it seems to travelers that, despite the passing centuries, this city has managed to preserve its originality. In many ways, life here hasn't changed many years later. Everything is the same as centuries ago, women wash vegetables in the river and wash clothes there. This region is surprisingly warm and hospitable. Local life It is distinguished by its special originality and color. The wonderful city comes alive especially at midday. Here you can see women carrying bamboo baskets and men pulling buffalos. And in the evening you can hear the sound of beaters from the river, with the help of which women wash clothes.
The streets of the city are full of shops with souvenirs for every taste. The entire city is riddled with canals and the Tojiang River flows through it. Fenghuang is sometimes called the Chinese Venice. The traveler will remember this forever picturesque place, attracting with its originality, unique beauty and history.

A wonderful city that combines both ancient culture and modern technology. All this easily coexists in one place and complements each other, creating its own unique atmosphere. The further away from the city, the more ancient villages and settlements you can find. Traveling to such places, you inevitably move several centuries back in time. Particularly beautiful are the ancient cities that stand on the water. The places described in this article are truly unique and unique. If you are lucky enough to get into one of these, you will feel it yourself.

Nanxun Ancient Town 南浔区

Nansun Ancient City is not as popular as other famous places of its kind, but that is what makes it so unusual. This ancient city has a calm atmosphere as there are no huge hordes of tourists here. Combined with beautiful nature and amazing architecture, this place deserves to be on the top of this list.

Once here, you will be completely imbued with this ancient city and feel its spirit. Historical buildings and beautiful nature are what awaits you here. Besides beautiful architecture here you can see the traditional procedure for creating brushes for writing and a delightful wedding performance on the water. If you don't know where to go in Shanghai or its area, then visit this place and you will be delighted.

· Location: 1½ hours from Hangzhou 2 hours from Shanghai

· Events: viewing old buildings, boating, walking, photography

· Suitable for: : those who want to see a classic Chinese water city

· Peculiarities: quiet country town, rich cultural heritage

Tongli Water Town 同里

This is a classic ancient water city located on the Yangtze River Delta. This is a real Chinese Venice. Almost all buildings are on the water. This is a very popular place, because the mixture of architecture and beautiful water canals makes this place very picturesque.

Fifteen pedestrian canals divide the city into 7 small islands, and they in turn are connected by 40 bridges. The area of ​​this miracle is 33 hectares, it is divided into 5 lakes. This is truly a water city in the truest sense of the word. If you are still wondering how to spend time in Shanghai or its surroundings, then quickly get ready and go to look around this beautiful place.

· Location: close to Suzhou, 1½ hours from Shanghai

· Events: walks, viewing old buildings along the length of the canal, photographs

· Suitable for: those who want to see the classical gardens and parks of Suzhou

· Peculiarities: few tourists

Ancient City Xitan(Xitang Ancient Town)

This place is also quite popular. Here you can see unique architecture that you will not find anywhere else. This ancient town differs from others with its numerous bridges and unusual alleys.

You can take amazing pictures here, because the place is quite quiet and there are not many shops and shops. Looking into Xitang, you can see such attractions as the “Xue Family House” - a screw museum, an art gallery, and a root carving museum. You can also go fishing with the locals and have dinner on the boat.

· Location: 1½ from Shanghai, Hangzhou and Suzhou

· Suitable for: those who want to swim in the tunnels and take beautiful pictures

· Peculiarities: a large number of bridges and covered water corridors

Wuzhen Water Town 乌镇

Wuzhen is one of the most famous water towns in China. Its history began more than one thousand years ago. Ancient residential buildings, shops, shops and workshops are located on the banks of the canals. The main attractions of this place are various folk performances and shows.

Almost the entire western area was restored in the “old style”, but it is also easy to find really old houses here. Many people complain about the area being too commercial. But even despite the numerous shops, restaurants and entertainment, the atmosphere of this place is amazing. In any case, you need to see it with your own eyes. By the way, if you don't know where to eat in Shanghai, then you can go here. Here you can taste delicious snacks and enjoy the beautiful views at the same time. ancient streets

· Location: 1 hour from Suzhou, 2 hours from Shanghai

· Suitable for: those who want to see the ancient night city

· Peculiarities: restored ancient town, very picturesque at night

Zhujiajiao Ancient Town (朱家角)

This is a beautiful old city, just an hour's drive from the center of Shanghai. It is well equipped waterways, making boating here a very enjoyable experience. Here you can find both small Chinese houses and majestic Chinese residences.

The complex has 36 beautiful bridges that connect everything to each other. Not far from this place there is a large natural lake called Dianshan. Lovers of a relaxing holiday flock there. Here you can take a boat ride while admiring the amazing nature. This is an excellent place for tourism, because it has almost everything you need for an unforgettable trip.

· Location: 1 hour from Shanghai city center

· Events: boating, walking, photography

· Suitable for: those with limited time

· Peculiarities: very busy with tourists, especially on weekends.

Qibao Ancient City (QibaoAncientTown (七宝镇)

Perhaps this is the smallest ancient city on our entire list, but it deserves attention no less than the others. There are only two pedestrian streets, but there are a large number of interesting souvenir shops and traditional Chinese eateries. If you're a lover of Chinese snacks, you'll love it here.

Here you can try and see how the popular distilled liqueur is made at the Qibao winery. You can also visit quite unusual museum miniature engravings of the Zhou family.

· Location: 1 an hour from downtown Shanghai by metro

· Events: viewing ancient architecture and buying street snacks

· Suitable for: those who have limited time

· Peculiarities: very small, similar in size to a bazaar, crowded with people on weekends

Luzhi Ancient Town 甪直镇 )

This elegant water city is surrounded by five lakes. There are also a huge number of different bridges that were built by different dynasties. The number of bridges is 41, with a total of four dynasties involved. That’s why this place is also called the “Museum of Chinese Bridges.”

Many have survived ancient residences which were built by the Ming and Qing dynasties. Almost all of them have not been reconstructed, as in most other complexes. So, here you can enjoy the authentic ancient architecture to the fullest. The size of the entire ancient city is comparable to a hundred city blocks.

· Location:

· Suitable for: those who don't like crowds of people

· Peculiarities: beautiful water city, a singing woman on a boat floats along the canals, few paid activities

Water City Zhouzhuang. (Zhouzhuang Water Town)

Zhouzhuang is the most popular and famous ancient water city in this area. There is a huge flow of tourists here on weekends, so if you are planning a quiet, deserted holiday, then come on weekdays.

This place is famous for its well-preserved ancient residences. Here you can get to know ancient folk arts and crafts better. Although the entire complex has long since become commercial and attracts huge flows of tourists, the views here are still amazing. Photographers especially love these places. Morning photos come out especially well here.

· Location: close to Suzhou, 1½ hours from Shanghai

· Events: architecture viewing, ferry rides, street walks, photographs

· Suitable for: those who want to see the classical gardens of Suzhou and take a ferry ride

· Peculiarities: the most popular water city in China, a lot of tourists, a lot of paid entertainment

Walking through such places, you begin to understand how difficult it is to get comfortable in such a distant and unusual country like China. To better understand the Chinese mentality and easily explain to people what you want, you cannot do without a translator. Our company can provide you with a professional who will help you not only reach an understanding with your interlocutor, but will make you feel as comfortable as possible in this country.

We also organize events in which you can get acquainted with the business side of Shanghai. If you need to travel to Shanghai for work matters, we will be happy to give you tours of the best factories, factories and exhibitions in Shanghai. Contact us and you will soon become another satisfied customer.

Another place that certainly deserves close attention and mandatory visit. This is the city of Suzhou, located in the Yangtze River Delta. On the branches, as well as the canals built between them, a real city has grown here, and what a city - an entire region! After all, in addition to Suzhou itself, you can also go to neighboring towns, for example, to Tongli.

The city of Suzhou is located just an hour's drive from Shanghai. In principle, it would even be possible to get here in one day. If Suzhou itself were not so interesting, then 2-3 days would not be so much for it and its surroundings.

Immediately upon leaving the station we come across a canal and a fortress wall. Already cool!

The city of Suzhou is huge. You probably didn’t really know about this one, but there’s even a metro here! It was here that I came up with a joke about “what is overpopulation in Chinese? This is when you go to an indistinguishable point on the map, and there are not only 40-story residential skyscrapers, but also a metro line!

And we, in fact, are going to the center!

Here he is old town. It is a rectangle of approximately 2 by 3 km with canals and ancient buildings along them, delighting both foreigners and the Chinese themselves.

This is really Venice!

No, cooler than Venice!

It seems like a tourist place, but ordinary Chinese live in the houses. They immediately cook, wash, etc.

Would you like to live here? Every morning, look out the window, drinking green tea, looking at the flowing water.

Gondola rides on waterways are popular.

On the outskirts of the historical center you can find a fake fortress wall. It’s clear from everything that she’s a remake, but the Chinese are hogging it.

Actually, it's romantic here...

So, Suzhou is a large industrial city. Fans of smelly industrial zones will find it interesting here. Even though I’m a fan, I didn’t go to see them - I don’t have much time, alas..

Well, the industrial architecture of the early 20th century also deserves attention.

I went to the suburbs of Suzhou - the town of Tong Li.

Everything here is even more flamboyant than in Suzhou itself.

More authentic, untouched. This is becoming more and more rare for China..

These are the narrow cobbled streets, where simple peasant people live, just like hundreds of years ago.

Old town. All pedestrian.

You can wander through these labyrinths all day.

This is absolutely class!

Everything here is simple, no frills. The question is, how long will this town last without global reconstruction?

It’s such a pity that I poorly organized my time, came here for only a couple of hours (it got dark very early, and I was here about a year ago).

In those same canals, ordinary Tunlin residents wash their clothes.

The next morning I decided to leave Suzhou further to Qingdao, but was severely disappointed. Suzhou did not let me go.

Well, think for yourself, can such a spiritual place be let go so easily? Despite the fact that we haven’t even seen industrial zones yet?

In Suzhou itself, canals are also actively used by locals as natural reservoirs.

Here they do laundry and wash dishes. And so it has been for hundreds of years.

The cleanliness of the water does not seem to bother Suzhou residents.

They are still here and catching something... Is it really fish?

They wash all sorts of objects. For example, parrot cages

Perhaps this is more interesting than all the palaces and monasteries that could be here :)

If I had known, of course, that I couldn’t leave, I would have walked here yesterday, and today I would have gone to Tunli in the morning. But what's done is done.

These are the richer areas.

And there are narrow narrow streets.

As I already said, Suzhou was the capital of China in the Middle Ages. The emperors of the Ming Dynasty lived here, and many of them planted stunningly beautiful gardens!

The Imperial Gardens are one of the key features of Suzhou. There are about 7 of them, it is advisable to see as many as possible. I was able to get into the main and largest garden.

In general, as we know, the Chinese are, in principle, prone to a sense of beauty. That's why they always did well in places like gardens.

Copies of small trees.

A ticket to the garden costs 70 yuan. 700 rubles with our money. It’s unlikely that I would voluntarily go to this garden for that amount of money. But we managed to sneak through the exit behind the guards’ backs :)

But the garden is cool!

Landscape decorations.

It wouldn't be a group of tourists... However, since I got here for free, why should I complain?

Gazebos. Chinese kings once rested here.

Where would we be without flowers?

And we will return to the city, to the usual Chinese areas.

How often do you see forests sticking out of canals?

Stationery shop. We can immediately see that Xijinping is never Stalin. Is it conceivable for us to have such a combination?

There are also leisure clubs with mahjong here.

Moreover, there are canals with ancient buildings not only in the center. An ordinary street is about 2-3 km south of it, and here you go,

The picture here is spoiled in places by “I don’t care about anyone.” Alas, the rise in the general standard of living in China has brought to the top such an uneducated village, which shows its rural habits in the city, having bought expensive cars. The problem is familiar to us, we have already begun to slowly move away from it, but the Chinese are still lagging behind.

Well, these are standard tenement blocks on the outskirts of Suzhou. Through them I tried to get onto the highway to hitchhike to Qingdao. But I got lost, got lost, and in the end the highway ended up at the 5th floor level in this place. So I didn’t leave Qingdao that day, I just wandered around with my backpack. But I looked into such a nice place.

Life is in full swing!

In general, Suzhou Cheryomushki.

Well, this blacksmith, as they say, made my day!

Quote from Kandy_sweet "Chinese Venice" - cities on the water

Chinese bamboo flute

Chinese water cities, often called the “Venice of the East,” are famous for their ancient buildings, bridges, picturesque canals and local residents, whose life has remained virtually unchanged over the past centuries, despite the economic boom that is sweeping all of China today.

Zhujiajiao

One of the oldest water villages in China, Zhujiajiao, is located just 30 km from the center of Shanghai in the western suburbs on the shores of Lake Dianshanhu. This is one of the most beautiful historical places in China, with a history of more than 1,700 years. They say this is the Venice of Shanghai - a perfectly preserved ancient village on the river bank. On Great Northern Street there is the Kezhi Garden. This is one of the largest home gardens in southern China.
They say Zhujiajiao is the city of bohemian Shanghai youth. A kind of outlet and salvation, a monastery where you can hide from the hustle and bustle of a multimillion-dollar city. Thanks to them, many old houses here have turned into amazing cafes, pubs, theaters and clubs, decorated and painted in every possible way. Art and creativity are simply in the air!

Suzhou

The historical center of Suzhou, around which the modern city has grown, stands on the Great China Canal between Shanghai and Wuxi, near Lake Taihu, and for many centuries was the most important transport and commercial center of the Jiangnan region - the richest part of the country.
During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the city was built up with the estates of capital officials and turned into the garden capital of China.
A World Heritage Site, Suzhou's historic center is still famous for its beautiful stone bridges like Bao Daiqiao, pagodas and elaborate gardens. With the rise of Shanghai in the late 19th century, Suzhou lost its importance as a central city in the region, but due to its architecture and the large number of businesses around the city, it remains a mecca for both tourists and entrepreneurs.

Chibao

Chibao Ancient Year is located in the Minhang District of Shanghai (18 km from the city center), with a population of about 14 million people, with a total area of ​​21.3 km2. The ancient city of Chibao was built during the Song Dynasty (960–1126). The word "Chibao" is translated as "seven treasures".

The city of Chibao has attracted tourists since ancient times. This is one of the oldest and most famous areas in Shanghai. it is cut by the canals of the Tong River Po, which flows directly through the city. Numerous and picturesque bridges and canals - all this creates a unique atmosphere of the ancient city of Qibao. Here you can see old wells, an embankment and picturesque bridges, as well as ancient buildings and buildings, narrow streets, and huge shady trees.
On the territory of the ancient city is the Seven Treasures Temple (“Qibao Temple”), built in 907–960. This is a Buddhist pagoda located in the center of the area. Among the residents of Shanghai there lives an old legend about the real seven treasures existing and securely hidden on the territory of the temple and monastery: an iron Buddha from the Ming Dynasty, a bronze bell also from the Ming Dynasty, a golden manuscript in the shape of a lotus written by the emperor’s concubine in the 10th century, a thousand-year-old Chinese tree A catalpa, a jade axe, a golden cockerel and a pair of jade chopsticks. Interestingly, only the first four treasures have been documented, and only one treasure has ever been found. This is an ancient bell, which is now located on the territory of the Temple of the Seven Treasures.

Zhouzhuang – Venice of the East

Zhouzhuang is one of China's most picturesque and famous water cities, located in Kunshan County, just 30 km southeast of Suzhou. The ancient town stands on the Jinghan Canal, connecting Suzhou with Shanghai. The city is widely famous for its romantic atmosphere, enchanting views and well-preserved ancient residential buildings, elegant bridges and rich cultural heritage.
The city of Zhouzhuang is known as the first water settlement in China, whose history dates back just over 900 years. It is called the “Venice of the East”.
It attracts tourists with its labyrinth of canals, buildings from the Qing and Ming eras and local customs. The city is located on an area of ​​about 0.4 km2. However, with a seemingly insignificant territory, here you can see about 100 ancient classical courtyards, more than 60 arches of brick carvings and 14 ancient bridges. It is important to note that the bridges here are very diverse, but the most typical are the paired Shuangqiao bridges. These strong, stone, simple bridges were built during the Ming Dynasty. They consist of one arched stone span and one beamed stone span. Another interesting and unique place in Zhouzhuang is the “double-passage bridge” spanning two canals. The streets are rivers, the passages are connected by bridges, and the houses are built along the rivers.

Xitang Ancient City

Xitang is a famous water city with a thousand-year history, located in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The city is divided into two parts: old and new. In the Old Part there are well-preserved ensembles of buildings from the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. The narrow, winding streets, called "lun" in the local dialect, are an integral part of Xitang. Quiet waters, beautiful ancient bridges, of which there are more than 100, fishing boats, soft pink sunsets and sunrises reflected in the water, which shimmers with sparkling lights in the evening, create an absolutely idyllic fairy-tale picture filled with ancient poetry.

The ancient city of Xitang is located in Jiashan County, Jiaxing City (Zhejiang Province), at the junction of Jiangsu and Zhejiang Provinces, and the city of Shanghai. It is located 90 km east of Shanghai and 110 km west of Hangzhou. Nine fairways intersect in Xitan, which actually divided the city into 8 parts. Numerous bridges connect them into one.

Among the ancient cities, Xitan has a distinct identity and is famous for its large number of bridges, canals and canopies. The total length of the latter, stretching along the canals, is more than a thousand meters. This is the biggest difference between Xitang and similar places in China.

Fenghuang

Fenghuang is an ancient city of China in the Hunan province, entering which the traveler seems to be transported to another time. This city captivates with its untouched ancient beauty and mystery. Here beautiful nature is combined with ancient architecture and color.

Unique houses built on stilts, winding streets converging towards the center, bridges over the river - all this personifies the harmony and mysterious beauty that is so often depicted in traditional Chinese painting. No wonder this city is rightly called one of the most beautiful in China.

The history of this city goes back 1300 years, but it seems to travelers that, despite the passing centuries, this city has managed to preserve its originality. In many ways, life here hasn't changed many years later. Everything is the same as centuries ago, women wash vegetables in the river and wash clothes there. This region is surprisingly warm and hospitable. Local life is distinguished by its special originality and color. The wonderful city comes alive especially at midday. Here you can see women carrying bamboo baskets and men pulling buffalos. And in the evening you can hear the sound of beaters from the river, with the help of which women wash clothes.

The city was founded back in five hundred and fourteen BC. Suzhou developed rapidly as trade routes passed through its territory. The main product that was exported was silk. Even today it remains the main pride of the city, since silk better than in Suzhou cannot be found anywhere in the world.
A canal runs through the entire city, the length of which is two thousand kilometers. Its construction began in the seventh century AD. Five million people built the canal. The canal supplies water to most of the country and provides jobs for two thousand citizens.
Today the city is an industrial, economic center that combines sophistication and sophistication. ancient architecture and the modernity of new buildings that characterize Suzhou as a “city of the future.”

How to get there

There is no airport in Suzhou. The city can be reached within an hour from Shanghai Airport. You can also travel by train from Beijing and Ninjing. The city has three bus stations, which can be reached from Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Nanjing. From Shanghai you can get to the city by ferry - this is a rather pleasant experience, as tourists are treated to excellent scenery throughout the journey by water.

Kitchen

True gourmets live in Suzhou. Local residents serve all dishes with sauces, the taste of which is amazing in variety. All dishes local cuisine a little sweet. For example, baked duck in some restaurants in the city is served with cherry sauce.
At the local market you can get acquainted with the delicacies for which the city is famous. This is where you can taste hairy crab with the famous soy sauce. Sweets and confectionery are considered the highlight of Suzhou cuisine. Here confectioners use rice flour to prepare delicacies. Among the drinks, the most valuable is the “Spring Snail Tea”. It has a refined taste and a delicate aftertaste that everyone will like.

Why is the city called the Chinese Venice?

Suzhou is surrounded by the Yangtze canals - this is the central waterway of the city. All residential buildings in Suzhou face the river on one side and the street on the other. The streets are connected to each other by graceful bridges. Lovers of romantic adventures will be pleased with the opportunity to spend a wonderful evening traveling by boat along the river to Hangzhou. There are a huge number of lakes here. To all visitors local residents It is recommended to listen to melodic recitation, which is the reading of poetry, prose, to the accompaniment.

Best time to visit Suzhou

It is best to visit the city in the autumn or spring seasons. This is directly related to the decrease in the influx of tourists who visit Suzhou in the thousands every year. In the spring season, the city is fragrant with blooming gardens. It is quite possible to travel around the city on your own. It is better to choose daytime for this, as the city sleeps at night. For nightly entertainment, you can choose to stroll through the ornate streets where locals prepare various delicacies.

Sights, places to stay

Suzhou is famous for its parks, which represent artistic compositions of trees and shrubs of various shapes. It is worth visiting the Blue Waves Park, which is surrounded by mountains and includes alpine slides, a rock garden, and bamboo groves.
The largest park is the Garden of the Humble Official. In the middle of it there is an artificial lake, on the banks of which there are many tents where you can relax and have a snack. Its banks are connected by dozens of bridges. Mandarin ducks live here; they are considered symbols of strong love.
Also worth visiting is Hanshan, a temple in Suzhou with an ancient bell tower whose bells can be heard throughout the city. In addition to a romantic getaway, you can and should do shopping in this city. It is worth visiting the central market, where you can buy the famous silk and products made from it.
Fashionistas will definitely find unique clothes that cannot be found anywhere in the world. They will also love the huge selection of handmade fans. Suzhou fans are a unique accessory that has symbolic meaning and can attract good luck, prosperity, and love to its owner.
It is also worth visiting the silk museum to learn the history of its production in the country. It is also worth paying attention to purchasing hand embroidery, which has its own individual structure and subtle symbolic overtones.
Gourmets will be able to please themselves with different varieties of green tea, the quality of which is the highest in the world. The local Disney park will open its doors for vacationers with children. Not only children, but also adults will like it here. The city is always friendly to its guests.