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Here we go to Suzhou
By Chen Ye |
April 28, 2010, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THERE is an old saying, "Up above there is heaven, down below there are Suzhou and Hangzhou."
Suzhou, described by Marco Polo as the "Venice of the East," is a major travel and tourism destination in Jiangsu Province. It is famous for its classic gardens and natural scenery, fresh air, delicious food and many leisure activities.
It is expected to become a major tourist destination for visitors to the six-month World Expo 2010 opening in Shanghai on Saturday.
It is also becoming a highly desirable site for conferences.
As many people are interested in low-carbon living, visitors to Suzhou can rent bicycles to tour the fascinating city. The municipal government encourages bicycle transport.
Suzhou is near Taihu Lake in the Yangtze River Delta, with Shanghai to the east (less than 100 kilometers) and Zhejiang Province to the south. Suzhou has a well-developed transport network and can be easily reached from all parts of China.
World Expo puts Suzhou on the recommended list of "popular and charming nearby cities."
Suzhou covers almost 8,500 square kilometers.
Suzhou has launched many new bicycle travel tours, providing a fresh experience for return visitors and attracting Expo visitors who want to learn more about China in a low-carbon way.
There are many notable bike routes, such as the one along Pingjiang Road and the one around New Suzhou Museum, where visitors can learn about Suzhou and Chinese culture.
Pingjiang Road is known as the city's major ancient street that runs along the river.
In the warm weather, visitors can rent a bike from a youth hostel in the charming watertown area, go north along Renmin Road, then take Ganjiang Road E., then Lindun Road going north.
It's a refreshing tranquil trip in pure air and only takes around half an hour to get to the New Suzhou Museum, where a whole new experience begins.
After touring the museum, visitors can bike to other places of interest. With a 200-yuan (US$29) bike rental deposit, they get two free hours of rental. Thereafter it costs 1 yuan per hour.
Another bike route takes visitors along Shantang Street and to Tiger Hill. Bicycles can be rented from some youth hostels in the center of Suzhou old town. It costs just 25 yuan for a whole day, with a free bottle of water.
The route goes north along Ganjiang Road W., turns left at Xizongshi Road and passes through an old stone gate, and across Dusunqiao Bridge. Then visitors can ride along Shantang Street and arrive at Tiger Hill.
Pagoda
Huqiu Pagoda, or Tiger Hill Pagoda, was built during the Song Dynasty (AD 960-1279) as a Buddhist temple. It was burned down during the "cultural revolution" (1966-76) but the seven-story, 48-meter-high brick pagoda with eight sides remains, though the wooden exterior is burnt.
It is one of the few remaining examples of this type of pagoda and Tiger Hill is of great historical and cultural importance. Admission is around 60 yuan. For those unwilling or unable to climb, electric conveyance is available for 20 yuan a person.
Gardens
Other spots to visit during Expo are the Humble Administrator's Garden, Lion Forest Garden, Liuyuan Garden, Canglang Pavilion and Panmen.
Considered a classic, the Humble Administrator's Garden on Dongbei Street is open from 7:30am to 5:30pm. Tours run every five to 10 minutes. It is said that it cost a boatload of silver and took nearly 16 years to build.
The tour includes a recreated ancient Chinese marriage ceremony, a display of traditional root carving and a boat ride through the garden's canals. The extraordinary collection of bonsai trees at the end of the garden furthest from the main entrance is worth a trip.
Tickets cost 70 yuan. (50 yuan in the off-season: December-February, June-August.)
Lion Forest Garden is just off Lindun Road near the Humble Administrator's Garden, and is open from 7:30am to 5:30pm.
It is one of the four great gardens of Suzhou and is admired for its collection of bizarrely shaped and eroded rocks that were greatly appreciated by Chinese literati. Many are shaped like lions that feature in Buddhist lore.
The garden was originally part of a Buddhist monastery and is a good place to learn more about Buddhism. The layout includes many twists and turns and it is easy to get lost in the winding paths.
Tickets cost around 30 yuan.
The other two great gardens in Suzhou are Liuyuan Garden and Canglang Pavilion.
Panmen, the ancient defensive city gate, was built by the state of Wu in the Warring States Period (476-221 BC) around 2,500 years ago.
The fortification is renowned for its unique construction that covered both water and land to repel invaders. The remaining wall is 300 meters long and 5 meters high.
Panmen leads to a large and beautiful garden with ponds and pavilions. Visitors can take a boat ride and see an original foot bridge over the Grand Canal.
Nearby spots
Informal bike tours are also offered to nearby scenic spots like Taihu Lake, Yangcheng Lake, Tongli and Zhouzhuang watertowns. Tours are arranged by young people in Suzhou who advocate a low-carbon lifestyle.
When visitors arrive, they can contact the local cycling clubs about a one-day or two-day tour. They can either bring their own bikes or rent them.
Bike rental
Specialized Bicycles: Ganjiang Road E., near Pingjiang Road and next to China Merchants Bank
Trek Cycles New City Plaza: Xiandai Road, close to Xinghai Street
If you go:
It takes about 30 minutes to Suzhou by bullet train, and ticket costs 26-31 yuan a person.
Drive car: Inner-Ring Road-Shanghai-Nanjing Expressway-Suzhou; it takes about one hour.
Suzhou, described by Marco Polo as the "Venice of the East," is a major travel and tourism destination in Jiangsu Province. It is famous for its classic gardens and natural scenery, fresh air, delicious food and many leisure activities.
It is expected to become a major tourist destination for visitors to the six-month World Expo 2010 opening in Shanghai on Saturday.
It is also becoming a highly desirable site for conferences.
As many people are interested in low-carbon living, visitors to Suzhou can rent bicycles to tour the fascinating city. The municipal government encourages bicycle transport.
Suzhou is near Taihu Lake in the Yangtze River Delta, with Shanghai to the east (less than 100 kilometers) and Zhejiang Province to the south. Suzhou has a well-developed transport network and can be easily reached from all parts of China.
World Expo puts Suzhou on the recommended list of "popular and charming nearby cities."
Suzhou covers almost 8,500 square kilometers.
Suzhou has launched many new bicycle travel tours, providing a fresh experience for return visitors and attracting Expo visitors who want to learn more about China in a low-carbon way.
There are many notable bike routes, such as the one along Pingjiang Road and the one around New Suzhou Museum, where visitors can learn about Suzhou and Chinese culture.
Pingjiang Road is known as the city's major ancient street that runs along the river.
In the warm weather, visitors can rent a bike from a youth hostel in the charming watertown area, go north along Renmin Road, then take Ganjiang Road E., then Lindun Road going north.
It's a refreshing tranquil trip in pure air and only takes around half an hour to get to the New Suzhou Museum, where a whole new experience begins.
After touring the museum, visitors can bike to other places of interest. With a 200-yuan (US$29) bike rental deposit, they get two free hours of rental. Thereafter it costs 1 yuan per hour.
Another bike route takes visitors along Shantang Street and to Tiger Hill. Bicycles can be rented from some youth hostels in the center of Suzhou old town. It costs just 25 yuan for a whole day, with a free bottle of water.
The route goes north along Ganjiang Road W., turns left at Xizongshi Road and passes through an old stone gate, and across Dusunqiao Bridge. Then visitors can ride along Shantang Street and arrive at Tiger Hill.
Pagoda
Huqiu Pagoda, or Tiger Hill Pagoda, was built during the Song Dynasty (AD 960-1279) as a Buddhist temple. It was burned down during the "cultural revolution" (1966-76) but the seven-story, 48-meter-high brick pagoda with eight sides remains, though the wooden exterior is burnt.
It is one of the few remaining examples of this type of pagoda and Tiger Hill is of great historical and cultural importance. Admission is around 60 yuan. For those unwilling or unable to climb, electric conveyance is available for 20 yuan a person.
Gardens
Other spots to visit during Expo are the Humble Administrator's Garden, Lion Forest Garden, Liuyuan Garden, Canglang Pavilion and Panmen.
Considered a classic, the Humble Administrator's Garden on Dongbei Street is open from 7:30am to 5:30pm. Tours run every five to 10 minutes. It is said that it cost a boatload of silver and took nearly 16 years to build.
The tour includes a recreated ancient Chinese marriage ceremony, a display of traditional root carving and a boat ride through the garden's canals. The extraordinary collection of bonsai trees at the end of the garden furthest from the main entrance is worth a trip.
Tickets cost 70 yuan. (50 yuan in the off-season: December-February, June-August.)
Lion Forest Garden is just off Lindun Road near the Humble Administrator's Garden, and is open from 7:30am to 5:30pm.
It is one of the four great gardens of Suzhou and is admired for its collection of bizarrely shaped and eroded rocks that were greatly appreciated by Chinese literati. Many are shaped like lions that feature in Buddhist lore.
The garden was originally part of a Buddhist monastery and is a good place to learn more about Buddhism. The layout includes many twists and turns and it is easy to get lost in the winding paths.
Tickets cost around 30 yuan.
The other two great gardens in Suzhou are Liuyuan Garden and Canglang Pavilion.
Panmen, the ancient defensive city gate, was built by the state of Wu in the Warring States Period (476-221 BC) around 2,500 years ago.
The fortification is renowned for its unique construction that covered both water and land to repel invaders. The remaining wall is 300 meters long and 5 meters high.
Panmen leads to a large and beautiful garden with ponds and pavilions. Visitors can take a boat ride and see an original foot bridge over the Grand Canal.
Nearby spots
Informal bike tours are also offered to nearby scenic spots like Taihu Lake, Yangcheng Lake, Tongli and Zhouzhuang watertowns. Tours are arranged by young people in Suzhou who advocate a low-carbon lifestyle.
When visitors arrive, they can contact the local cycling clubs about a one-day or two-day tour. They can either bring their own bikes or rent them.
Bike rental
Specialized Bicycles: Ganjiang Road E., near Pingjiang Road and next to China Merchants Bank
Trek Cycles New City Plaza: Xiandai Road, close to Xinghai Street
If you go:
It takes about 30 minutes to Suzhou by bullet train, and ticket costs 26-31 yuan a person.
Drive car: Inner-Ring Road-Shanghai-Nanjing Expressway-Suzhou; it takes about one hour.
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