We woke up in paradise. Seriously. Suzhou, China, is known as the city of paradise. (At least according to our guide, Ivy.)
Ivy works for Rewards Travel China. She showed us, and 40 other tourists, around Shanghai and several other cities in the eastern part of China.
READ ABOUT OUR THREE DAYS IN BEIJING HERE, HERE, AND HERE.
After we left our hotel in Suzhou, we headed toward the water. The city is also known as the “Venice of the East” because of its canals and bridges. We paid extra to take an optional cruise along the city’s grand canal. The cruise is $30 per person. You can prepay for the tour, or pay your guide after you arrive in Suzhou.
This is a tour I suggest you take. I felt that the price was reasonable. There are some really good photo ops along the canal. If you decide not to take the tour, you will be left on your own for an hour to walk around the area.
According to the Suzhou tourism website, the entire 1,200 miles of the Grand Canal is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The site also says it’s the longest man-made waterway in the world. Much of the canal is no longer used. But at one point, the 2,000 year-old canal system connected Beijing to Suzhou to Hangzhou.
Tour guide, Ivy, attended University in Suzhou and still has family living there. The gave us a tour of the city and explained what life is life. She also pointed out different landmarks as we floated along the canal. If you’re a movie fan, and love “Mission: Impossible III,” this may look familiar. All of the canal scenes from the movie were filmed along the waterway in Suzhou.
After the 30-45 minute canal tour ended, Ivy guided us through the city’s busy market. Suzhou is just 62 miles northwest of Shanghai. But the city can support itself. More than eleven million people call Suzhou and it’s surrounding area home. Many rely daily on its busy market to buy and sell all kinds of food, clothes, and supplies. It’s a staple of their local economy.
I also think it’s interesting that the official language of the city is Mandarin Chinese, but not everyone living in Suzhou speaks it. Ivy says her grandmother lives in Suzhou. She speaks a local dialect called “Suzhounese.” Apparently only people who grew up in Suzhou know it. Ivy says her grandmother refuses to move to Shangahi to live with her because she wouldn’t be able to communicate with anyone living in Shangahi — which is less than an hour away.
The city of Suzhou was founded in 514 B.C. It’s now one of the country’s fastest growing cities. It’s obviously evolved through the centeries, but it’s easy to see the city’s rich heritage. A subtle example is on display along the Grand Canal. The colors along the waterways are muted. The vibrancy you’ll see in the spring and summer come from the trees and flowers instead of painted homes and buildings.
Ivy pointed this out from the canal as we sailed along the waterway. It’s easier to see in the fall and winter when the vegetation isn’t all blooming. The buildings are white and black. Ivy said it symbolizes ink on a piece of paper. You can also tell that these buildings have lined the canal for generations.
Following the cruise and market tour, we headed to see another aspect of Chinese culture. Their famous silk. I probably wouldn’t have included the stop at the silk factory in my own itinerary, but it was a mandatory stop with our travel package through Rewards Travel China.
During the stop, employees showed us how silk is made, but at no point would I consider this a factory. It was more like a demonstration area connected to a showroom and store. We sat through another sales pitch. This time we learned to tell the difference between silk and polyester.
There was plenty of time to shop for everything from silk comforters to shirts and socks. Keep in mind that sizing is very different in China. Try on everything you hope to buy to make sure it fits. I’ve also heard from some women who bought the silk comforters. They say that the comforters don’t fit the beds in the U.S. very well. If you plan on buying one, take measurements of your current comforter with you on the trip. The silk factory we stopped at did offer a nice perk. They would mail your purchases straight to your home so you didn’t have to worry about stuffing it into your luggage.
While others in our group shopped, we headed upstairs. There are restrooms and a little cafe area where you can grab a drink or a quick snack.
The silk showroom served us lunch in a huge restaurant in the same building. It was like the other included meals on the trip. There was a huge selection, but no one ever told us exactly what we ate. The meal also included water, soda, and beer.
After lunch, we were on the move again. We walked off what we ate during a trip to Suzhou’s beautiful Lingering Garden. According to our guide, Ivy, the garden is 500 years old. It is also recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We visited in December, but could still appreciate its beauty.
After we snapped as many pictures as possible, we found ourselves back on the bus. This time we headed toward Wuxi. Get comfortable, the drive is several hours long.
Along the way to our hotel, we stopped at the Lingshan Grand Buddha. It feels like it’s located in the middle of nowhere, but it’s near Wuxi, China. The park was built to host the 2009 Buddhist Conference.
The park is gigantic. It’s so large that there is a tram to take you from the entrance to the Buddha. The Buddha is also massive and just as impressive. It’s made of tin and bronze and stands nearly 300 feet tall! That makes it one of the largest Buddha statues in the country. You will be able to see it towering over the trees long before you reach the statue. Climb the steps and rub its feet for good luck or stay at the bottom and snap pictures.
There is more to see in the Lingshan area than the massive Buddah. There is an entire park to walk around with your admission.
It includes a musical fountain that opens and spins while depicting the birth of the Buddah.
You will also have a chance to tour the Brahma palace on the grounds. There was a fire inside the palace in 2017. Repairs were made and it reopened just days before we arrived.
Continuing to Wxui, we stopped at a convenience store to stock up on snacks. The hotel in Wuxi wasn’t near restaurants or stores.We we’re glad we had the snacks. Room service wasn’t really an option for us. The menu included delicacies like jellyfish head!
We we’re glad we had the snacks. Room service wasn’t really an option for us. The menu included delicacies like jellyfish head!