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China July 2009 part II: Suzhou

We traveled from Hangzhou in about 2 hours to Suzhou. A very efficient and computerised bus station, frequent service and punctual departure.
In Suzhou we found accommodation in a Home Inn hotel, an affordable hotel chain in China. Within walking distance from the old city center.

Suzhou is a very old town, the center of the Wu culture. Famous for its classical gardens, which are now on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.
Such a classical garden is more an art form than a park. It is a harmonious combination of pavilions and halls with water, rock and vegetation. Artificial, but very beautiful.

First we visited the Taoist temple of Mystery, Xuanmiao Guan, in the middle of the town center. It was founded in the 3rd century but has been destroyed and rebuilt many times. Very attractive, busy with stalls, monks, visitors.

The Beisi Ta (North temple pagoda) is a landmark of the town, with its 76m high pagoda.
From there we walked to our first garden, the Humble Administrator's Garden (Zhuozheng Yuan), passing on our way the Suzhou Museum, designed by the famous architect IM Pei, a native of Suzhou. The Glass Pyramid at the Louvre is one of his works.

This Zhuozheng Yuan was disappointing, and not worth the money (RM 35 pp!). There was such a big crowd, that it was almost impossible to appreciate the beauty of the design.

The next day we visited the Pan Men complex with the Ruiguang Ta pagoda. The Pan Men (Coiled gate) is part of the old city wall, built in 514. There is also a water gate. And the most famous bridge of Suzhou is located here, the Wumen Qiao bridge.

The weather was not very good, but it added to the atmosphere of Suzhou with its characteristic white and grey houses.

In the afternoon we visited a much quieter garden, Ou Yuan, the Garden of Couple's Retreat. it was a real pleasure to walk around in this beautiful garden. It is located in a charming part of the old town, with many canals and bridges.

There are many more gardens, we decided to visit another, quiet one, near to our hotel. The Dark Blue Wave Pavilion, Canglang Ting. It is one of the oldest gardens of Suzhou, built in 1044. The Dark Middle Ages in Europe, it is impossible not to be impressed by the Chinese civilisation.
Fascinating door designs.

We had decided to spend the last few days of our trip in the "water village" of Tong Li. See part III