China (Suzhou, Jiangsu) Sept 2010 D-7

Map of Suzhou, Jiangsu, China

Hostel: Mingtown Suzhou International Youth Hostel - CNY70 double bed per person (1 night)

Train: Yanzhou>Suzhou - CNY99 (hard seat)
Food & groceries: CNY43
Bus & taxi: CNY22
Entrance fee: CNY160
Total expenses incurred: CNY394

From Qufu, our group took a taxi (CNY20) to Yangzhou in order to board a train to Suzhou. We arrived Suzhou in the late afternoon and checked into our hostel.

The classical Suzhou Gardens are gazette as UNESCO sites hence the reason for me to pay a visit to this city.

1) Shi Zi Lin (Forest of Lions Garden), Suzhou, Jiangsu - founded in 1336 by a Buddhist monk and later owned by relatives of a renowned American architect. This garden has 4 small lakes, a multitude of buildings and rocks resembled to that of lions

2) Zhuozheng Yuan (Humble Administration's Garden), Suzhou, Jiangsu - dating back to the 15th century, this garden is Suzhou's best, second only to the Garden of the Master of the Nest. Streams, ponds, bridges and islands of bamboo dominate the 5 hectares garden

3) Liu Yuan (Lingering Garden), Suzhou, Jiangsu - dating back to the Ming dynasty, this garden is one of the largest in Suzhou.

4) Hanshan Si (Cold Mountain Temple), Suzhou, Jiangsu - named after the poet-monk Han Shan. The temple was burned down a few times and rebuilt. An old trading site for silk, wood and grain. 

" Suzhou, Jiangsu is well known for its classical gardens, silk and beautiful women. Suzhou's gardens are looked upon as works of art - a fusion of nature, poetry and painting for mankind to appreciate and admire

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