We are used to the fact that there are cities on the water in Europe. These are Venice and Amsterdam, Bruges and Hamburg, St. Petersburg and Stockholm, even Egyptian city El Gunna also stands on the water. Do you know in South East Asia this is also not uncommon. And in China some cities on the water are much older than their European counterparts. Architects from China have succeeded in building on the water. They built cities that could only be traveled by boat. And they are over a thousand years old. Asian cities on the water- this is not a tribute to fashion. By building such settlements, the Chinese connected their lives with the main source - lakes and rivers.

"Venice of the East" - so called Chinese cities on the water. They have long been famous for their ancient buildings and bridges, amazingly beautiful canals and colorful population, which carefully preserves the established traditions and way of life for centuries, despite the economic and technological development of the country. Today we want to introduce you to some cities in China that have retained their authenticity and charm - five cities on the water.

Zhujiajiao

"Shanghai Venice" - this is the name of a small and ancient village Zhujiajiao. The history of the town has 1700 years. It was built on the shores of Dianshanhu Lake. Wooden bridges span the canals across the city, and along the river are low-rise white houses with tiled roofs and red doors and windows carved in traditional Chinese style.

There are about 36 such bridges, and each of them is not like the other. Some are built of stone and marble, but there are many wooden bridges. The city of Zhujiajiao is also famous for its large ancient gardens. Previously, they were the property of the Chinese aristocracy and officials. The largest of the gardens is called Kezhi Garden (or Ma Family Garden). And today in this garden you can hear and see traditional Chinese theatrical performances of Suzhou Pingtan - two performers who sing and masterfully play ancient stringed instruments.

As in Venice, there are gondoliers here, so tourists can take a boat trip along the Zhujiajiao canals. Every year, the city hosts the Duan Festival, where locals compete in dragon boat rowing.

Suzhou

Historical part Chinese Suzhou located on the Chinese Grand Canal. This city was considered an important commercial and transport interchange of the Jiangnan region in ancient times. During the reign of the Ming and Qing dynasties, magnificent estates of Chinese nobility and officials were built in these places. Each of them was surrounded by a beautiful garden. Therefore, Suzhouyu has become the garden capital of China.

And today in the old part of the city you can see magnificent bridges over canals, beautiful houses surrounded by green gardens, ancient pagodas. Suzhou is a real mecca for tourists and entrepreneurs, thanks to its architecture and a large number various enterprises.

chibao

Name of the ancient city chibao translated as "seven treasures". It was founded in the Song Dynasty. The city is located just 18 km from Shanghai and is built on the Tong River Po. Small canals and bridges across them create a unique atmosphere of an ancient Chinese city. It has long been included in the tourist route.

Here travelers can see not only bridges and buildings of that era, but also ancient wells, temples and a magnificent embankment. One of the significant temples is the Buddhist Temple "Seven Treasures". This pagoda is located in the center of the city.

In Chibao, there is a legend associated with this temple: it contains 7 real treasures - the Iron Buddha of the Ming Dynasty, a golden lotus-shaped manuscript written by the emperor's concubine, a bronze bell, a golden cockerel, a thousand-year-old Catalpa tree, a jade ax and a pair of jade sticks for food. True, only 4 treasures have been documented, and the bell is still located on the territory of the temple complex.

sitang

City on the water sitang has long been listed world heritage UNESCO. The city consists of two parts - old and new, but tourists are more attracted to the old part of Sitang. It was built in the 5th century BC during the reign of Ming and Qing. In this part of the city, ancient monuments of architecture and magnificent bridges of original designs are well preserved.

The streets in the old part of the city are narrow. Therefore, sheds-galleries 2-2.5 meters wide are thrown along the canals, which shelter from heavy rain or scorching sun. On one side are benches where you can sit and relax, as well as a number of souvenir shops. The total area of ​​such canopies is thousands of meters. Such canopies-galleries Sitang differs from similar Chinese cities. In the evenings, it is very beautiful along the canals: pink sunsets are reflected in the water, and stone bridges, ancient houses with red lanterns and fishing boats create an idyllic picture.

fenghuang

In the Chinese province of Hunan, there is an incredibly beautiful town called fenghuang. Every tourist who visits it is transported to the era of Ancient China for some time. It impresses with its natural beauty and mystery. And most importantly, its ancient architecture is perfectly intertwined with picturesque nature. The town is built on stilts, with narrow winding streets that converge towards the city center and bridges that cross the canals.

It is good to paint in this city, because it is here that the harmony of all Chinese traditions is combined, which are carefully preserved by the local population. Fenghuang is already 1300 years old, and despite its age, the city retains its original appearance. In the mornings or evenings in the river, women wash clothes, wash vegetables and fruits, men go fishing. At lunchtime, the city is lively: women with bamboo baskets on their heads are in a hurry somewhere, and men are engaged in cattle breeding. People in the city are very friendly, hardworking and simple-minded. In city shops, you can buy a couple of home-made souvenirs as a keepsake of the originality of the city on the water of Fenghuang.

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A beautiful 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 farther away from the city, the more ancient villages and settlements can be found. Traveling to such places, you willy-nilly move several centuries back in time. Especially beautiful are the ancient cities that stand on the water. The places that are described in this article are really inimitable and unique. If you are lucky enough to get into one of these, then you yourself will feel it.

City on the water	Distance	Peculiarities	Commerce
Nansun	Shanghai 2h Suzhou 1½h Hangzhou 1½h	Traditional Chinese and Oriental architecture, indigenous people, many cultural attractions. Previously was the richest city.	Least commercial. Quiet.
	Shanghai 1½h Hangzhou ½h	Small water city with traditional architecture and bridges, indigenous people, easy to reach from Suzhou.	Least commercial. Quiet.
	Shanghai 1½h Suzhou 1h	A large number of bridges, many paths for water walks.	Least commercial. Quiet.
	Shanghai 2h Suzhou 1h	Restored old city, with modern hotels.	Commercial. Large flow of people.
Zhujiajiao	Shanghai 1½h Hangzhou 1h	Near Shanghai. Suitable for a half day excursion.	Strongly commercial. Huge flow of people.
	Shanghai ½h	Very small, many old houses with beautiful architecture.	Huge flow of people.
	Shanghai 1½h Suzhou ½h	Few entertainment and shops, a singing woman on a boat.	Least commercial. Quiet.
Zhouzhuang	Shanghai 2h Suzhou 1h	Very popular city, dirty water in summer.	Strongly commercial. Huge flow of people.

Nanxun Ancient Town 南浔区 )

The ancient city of Nanxun is not as popular as others Famous places kind of, but that's what makes it so unusual. This ancient city filled with a calm atmosphere, as there are no huge hordes of tourists. Combined with beautiful nature and amazing architecture, this place deserves to be the first on this list.

Once here, you will be completely imbued with this ancient city and feel its spirit. Historical Buildings and the most beautiful nature is what awaits you here. Apart from 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 the classic Chinese water city

· Peculiarities: quiet rural town, rich cultural heritage

Tongli Water Town (同里)

This is a classic ancient water city, which is located on the Yangtze River Delta. This is a real Chinese Venice. Almost all buildings are on the water. This is very popular place, because the mixture of architecture and beautiful water channels 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 really a water city in the truest sense of the word. If you are still thinking about how to spend time in Shanghai or its surroundings, then pack up 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 classic gardens and parks of Suzhou

· Peculiarities: few tourists

Ancient City Sitan(Xitang Ancient Town 西塘 )

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

Here you can take amazing pictures, because the place is quite quiet and there are not many shops and shops. Looking into Sitang you can see attractions such as " family house Xue "- a museum of screws, an art gallery, a museum of carving on the roots. Also, you can 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 cities in China. Its history began over one thousand years ago. Ancient houses, 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 has been restored to the "old style", but it is also easy to find really old houses here. Many people complain about the excessive commercial component of the area. But even despite the many shops, restaurants and spectacles, 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 at the same time enjoy great views ancient streets

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

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

· Peculiarities: restored old 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 which makes 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 with each other. Not far from this place is a large natural lake Dianshan. Lovers go there a relaxing holiday. Here you can ride a boat, admiring the amazing nature. This is perfect place for tourism, because there is almost everything you need for an unforgettable trip.

· Location: 1 hour from downtown Shanghai

· 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 a large number of interesting souvenir shops and traditional Chinese eateries. If you are a Chinese food lover, you will love this place.

Here you can try and see how the popular distilled liquor is made at the Qibao winery. You can also visit a rather unusual museum of miniature prints of the Zhou family.

· Location: 1 an hour from downtown Shanghai by metro

· Events: viewing ancient architecture and buying street food

· Suitable for: those with limited time

· Peculiarities: very small, like the size of a bazaar, full of people on weekends

Luzhi Ancient Town 甪直镇 )

This elegant water city is surrounded by five lakes. There is also a huge variety of bridges that were built by different dynasties. The number of bridges is 41, in total four dynasties were involved. From that, this place is also called the "Museum of Chinese Bridges."

There are many ancient residences that 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 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 do not like crowds of people

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

Water City Zhouzhuang. (Zhouzhuang Water Town 周庄 )

Zhouzhuang is the most popular and famous ancient water city in this area. There is a huge flow of tourists on the 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 acquainted with the ancient folk arts and crafts. Although the whole complex has long since become commercial and attracts huge flows of tourists, the views here are still amazing. Especially these places are loved by photographers. Morning shots come out especially well here.

· Location: close to Suzhou, 1½ hour from Shanghai

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

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

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

Walking in such places, you begin to unwittingly understand how hard it is to get used to such a distant and unusual country as China. To better understand the Chinese mentality and easily explain to people what you want, you cannot do without an interpreter. 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 go to Shanghai on business matters, we are happy to guide you to the best factories, plants and exhibitions in Shanghai. Contact us and you will soon become another satisfied customer.

Numerous "zhous" surrounded the mass of Shanghai: Suzhou, Hangzhou, Yangzhou... All of them represent the classic China that we used to represent from films and books about the times of dynasties. Gardens, canals, lotuses - defeated nature, placed at the service (read - for the delight) of Chinese nobles and dignitaries.

Suzhou gardens and walks along the lake in Hangzhou attract no less tourists than Forbidden City and Great Chinese Wall. Against this background, Zhouzhuang, bearing the title of "Chinese Venice", stands somewhat in the background. The label is obviously worn out - that's what both Suzhou and Yangzhou are called. But the practice of visiting shows that this time the label is stuck successfully.

The history of the city dates back to 1086. Most of the buildings of the historical center are from the 14th-16th centuries. But Zhouzhuang became famous and popular among tourists only in the mid-80s. In 1984, the Chinese artist Chen Yifei paints the painting “Remembrance of hometown”, which depicts the Double Bridge (aka Shuangqiao Bridge) in Zhouzhuang.

The painting went to an exhibition in New York, where it caught the eye of the oil oligarch Armand Hammer (Occidental Petroleum Corporation). He bought the painting and later presented it to Deng Xiaoping.

So, overnight, both the bridge and the city became extremely popular among Chinese tourists. By the end of the 90s. not known to anyone a decade earlier, Zhouzhuang already received 2.5 million tourists annually. In 1998, the city was included in the UNESCO list, which means that money came for restoration (plus what the Chinese government allocates).

Now this is a classic "tourist trap" - the city center has been polished and restored.

Each building is either a museum, or a restaurant, or a souvenir shop. Actually, myself historical Center and there is one big muse under open sky. Suffice it to say that the entrance to the historical part of the city costs 100 yuan (330 rubles).

Zhouzhuang is only 30 km from Suzhou and about 60 km from Shanghai. Buses run from Suzhou, and they don’t sell a ticket to a “white person”, but send it to a special ticket office, where you immediately pay 100 yuan for a ticket to the city center. With this ticket, the bus takes you to Zhouzhuang for free. From the bus station to the entrance to Old city You have to walk 600 meters.

There are several arches built from scratch in front of the entrance to the old city. Someday they will be called that: the buildings of the era of the CCP dynasty.

It is better to come to Zhouzhuang in the evening, when the wave of Chinese tourist groups has already subsided and you can walk around the city without pushing the crowd with your elbows.

Inside the old city, all prices triple, so it makes sense to buy water, or even just eat in advance. The basis of local cuisine is fish dishes.

There are 14 bridges in the old city, which you cross constantly, in whatever direction you go.

It really looks like Venice. Only gondoliers in pointed hats.

By the way, gondolas are made right there.

The ticket, in addition to entering the city itself, gives the right to visit all the museums and temples that are located in it. In the city, follow the signs that tell you the direction and distance to the desired attraction.

I especially liked the temple, located on the very edge of the city. We were lucky - there was not a single tourist here.

Wandering through such complexes alone is a pleasure.

In general, in China, the sights that we managed to visit without the presence of tourist groups leave the most favorable impressions.

And behind the wall of the complex - already a completely different China - they don’t think about tourists there, but they catch fish in the same conical hats, with the same old-fashioned methods.

I don't know what's more authentic...

February 10, 2013, 04:16 PM

Often referred to as the "Venice of the East", China's waterfront cities are famous for their ancient buildings, bridges, picturesque canals, and local residents whose way of life has hardly changed over the past centuries, despite the economic boom that has swept all over China today. Zhujiajiao
One of the oldest settlements on the water in China - Zhujiajiao, is located just 30 km from the center of Shanghai in the western suburbs on the shores of Dianshan Lake. This is one of the most beautiful historical sites China, has more than 1700 years of history. They say this is Shanghai Venice - a well-preserved ancient village on the banks of the river. Kezhi Garden is located on Big North Street. This is one of the largest backyard gardens in southern China. They say that Zhujiajiao is a city of bohemian Shanghai youth. A kind of outlet and salvation, a monastery where you can hide from the bustling bustling city of many millions. Thanks to them, many old houses here have turned into amazing cafes, pubs, theaters and clubs, decorated and painted in every way. Art and creativity are in the air!









Suzhou
The historical center of Suzhou, around which has grown modern city, stands on the Great Chinese Canal between Shanghai and Wuxi, not far from 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, the historic center of Suzhou is still famous for its beautiful stone bridges like Baodaiqiao, pagodas and elaborate gardens. With the rise of Shanghai at the end of the 19th century, Suzhou lost its importance. central city in the region, however, thanks to its architecture and the large number of businesses around the city, it remains a mecca for both tourists and entrepreneurs.




chibao

The ancient year of Chibao is located in the Minhang District of Shanghai (18 km from the city center), with a population of about 14 million people, with 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 districts in Shanghai. it is cut by the channels 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, and the embankment and picturesque bridges, as well as ancient buildings and buildings, narrow streets, huge shady trees. On the territory of the ancient city is the Temple of the Seven Treasures (“Qibao Temple,”), built in 907–960, is a Buddhist pagoda located in the center of the area. Among the inhabitants of Shanghai there is an old legend about the real seven treasures that exist and are securely hidden on the territory of the temple and monastery: the iron Buddha of 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 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 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 the most picturesque and famous Chinese cities on the water, located in Kunshan County, just 30 km southeast of Suzhou. The ancient city stands on the Jinghan Canal, which connects Suzhou with Shanghai. The city is widely known for its romantic atmosphere, charming views and well-preserved ancient residential buildings, elegant bridges and rich cultural heritage. Zhouzhuang City is known as China's first settlement on the water, with a history of just over 900 years. It is called the "Venice of the East". It attracts tourists with its labyrinthine canals, Qing and Ming buildings and local customs. The city is located on an area of ​​about 0.4 km2. However, despite the seemingly insignificant territory, here you can see about 100 ancient classical courtyards, more than 60 arches of brick carving and 14 ancient bridges. It is important to note that the bridges here are very diverse, but the most typical are the twin bridges of Shuangqiao. 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 and in its own way unique place in Zhouzhuang is the “double-pass bridge”, thrown over two channels. The streets are rivers, the passages are connected by bridges, and the houses are built along the rivers.





Xitan ancient city
Xitang is a famous city on the water. thousand years of history, is located in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city is divided into two parts: old and new. Well-preserved ensembles of buildings from the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties remained in the Old Part. Narrow, winding streets, which are called "lun" in the local dialect, are an integral part of Xitan. Quiet waters, beautiful old bridges, of which there are more than 100, fishing boats, pale 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, Shanghai City. It is located 90 km east of Shanghai and 110 km west of Hangzhou. In Xitan, nine fairways intersect, which actually divided the city into 8 parts. Numerous bridges connect them into one. Among the ancient cities, Xitan is distinguished by its bright originality and is famous for its large number of bridges, canals and canopy galleries. The total length of the latter, stretched along the canals, is more than a thousand meters. This is the biggest difference between Xitan and similar places in China.









fenghuang
Fenghuang is an ancient city of China in the Hunan province, getting into which, the traveler seems to be transported to another time. This city captivates with its untouched ancient beauty and mystery. Here beautiful nature fit with ancient architecture and colour. Unique houses built on stilts, winding streets converging to 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 is 1300 years old, but it seems to travelers that, despite the past centuries, this city has managed to maintain its originality. In many ways, life here has not changed over the years. 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 a special originality and color. A particularly wonderful city comes alive at noon. Here you can see women carrying bamboo baskets, men pulling buffaloes. And in the evening, the sound of mallets is heard from the river, with the help of which women wash their clothes.
The streets of the city are full of shops with souvenirs for every taste. The whole city is permeated with canals, the river Tojiang flowing through it. Fenghuang is sometimes called China's Venice. The traveler will forever remember this picturesque place, which attracts with its originality, unique beauty and history.

Not far from Shanghai, in the province of Jiangsu, is the beautiful city of Suzhou, which has firmly established its second name - the Chinese Venice, the city of gardens and canals. The historical center of Suzhou, around which the modern urban district is located, stands on the Great Chinese Canal between Shanghai and Wuxi, which was built for two thousand years, and for many centuries was the most important transport and commercial center of the Jiangnan region - the richest part of the country. For us, Suzhou has become a city of dogs and many small craft shops. The Venetian Marco Polo visited Suzhou in the 12th century, it was he who came up with the name for this locality— Chinese Venice. Rich officials of the Celestial Empire planted their gardens here, now these gardens are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Today, Suzhou is a modern city with a metro and skyscrapers, which has preserved a cozy old center with low houses on the canals and magnificent gardens hidden behind high walls.

How to get to Suzhou

There is no airport in the city, and the nearest one is in Shanghai. The distance from Shanghai to Suzhou is 80 km, which is a little less than an hour by train. Cheap flights from Moscow to Shanghai .

We arrived in Suzhou by high-speed train from Shanghai and at first we thought we would see a small provincial town Jiangsu province. It turned out that this is a modern metropolis. The fare on the Shanghai-Suzhou train is 39.5 yuan. You can read about Chinese trains and how to buy tickets for them in the article.

From the station, you can walk to the Northern Pagoda and Humble Official's Garden, or take the metro to it or other attractions. There is a tourist information center at the station where you can get a free Suzhou map with a subway map and attractions.

Suzhou metro map

The Suzhou Metro has been operating since 2012 and it is immediately noticeable, especially when compared to Shanghai. The subway is very clean and bright. At one of the stations, Seryozha went to a vending machine where something was sold for one yuan, and decided to buy it without fail. It turned out to be paper handkerchiefs!

You can buy tickets in the machine, as in other subways in Chinese cities. How to do this, you can see in the article. Suzhou Subway Map:

From Shanghai, you will arrive at the train station, which is located at the Suzhou Railway Station.

Where to stay in Suzhou, city hotels

In fact, if you go to see most of the gardens in Suzhou, one day is not enough for you! Therefore, it is worth considering staying in Suzhou for a few days. You can choose for yourself cozy hotel. Suzhou city hotels.

What to see in Suzhou, city attractions, center map

Suzhou attractions map:

Canals of Suzhou

Suzhou was built in 541 BC. e. King He Lu. In terms of its historical and cultural significance, Suzhou ranks third after Beijing and Xi'an. It is also one of the four tourist cities under the special environmental protection of the Chinese government. Three other cities enjoying this privilege are Beijing, Hangzhou and Guilin. In 1997, Suzhou attracted the attention of the world community - that year, UNESCO decided to add its classical gardens to the list of world cultural heritage. Suzhou is located on the navigable Great Canal of China - on one of the oldest hydraulic structures that have survived in the world today. The canal was built over two thousand years - from the VI century. BC e. until the 13th century n. e. At present, it is one of the most important inland water arteries of the PRC, which connects major ports the countries of Shanghai and Tianjin.

The length of the canal is 1782 km, and with branches to Beijing, Hangzhou and Nantong - 2470 km. The width in the narrowest part in the provinces of Shandong and Hebei is 40 m, in the widest part in Shanghai it is 350 m. lakes. For the most part, the canal passes through a flat area, but in some places there are hills. Therefore, the canal is equipped with a system of locks invented in the 10th century. In 2014, the Grand Canal was included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Suzhou is often called the Venice of China. True, gondolas do not float through the canals, but pleasure boats and various barges float. Some even seem to live on:

The historical part of Suzhou is surrounded by a fairly wide bypass canal, enclosing it in a rectangle. You can sail on it on a pleasure boat.

Suzhou and Venice are sister cities, as evidenced by a gift from the Italians, a gondola that strangely adorns the lawn in the park at the Panmen Gate.

Along the canals in Suzhou are low white houses where people live.

Park and Panmen Gate

Suzhou is a city of gardens and parks. We decided to start our tour from the park at the Panmen Gate, which is located in the southwest of the city and has come down to us since the time of ancient Suzhou. In ancient times, Suzhou was decorated with 16 gates: 8 land and 8 water, which were destroyed over time. Built in the 6th century, the Panmen Gate was and remains the only gate on land and water. Their name means "gate of the coiled dragon". The current gate was built in 1351 during the Yuan Dynasty (1206-1368) and repaired several times in later dynasties.

The nearest subway station to the gate and the park is Nanmen. You still have to walk from it for about 15 minutes. On the way from the metro, we met shopping streets with various shops. The formidable guards of the celestial lions of the Buddha are not at all respected here, goods are piled right on top of them.

Carcasses of birds on the street did not surprise us anymore.

And this is a special dish for steamed Chinese dumplings.

At the entrance to the park, we are met by such a gate and a cow. Entrance to the park is paid, the cost is 40 yuan.

The famous gate is now part of the Panmen Landscape Park, less well known and less visited by tourists than the humble official's and master of nets' well-publicized gardens. But in fact, Panmen Park is beautiful and interesting and not as crowded as others.

In the park, you can see the oldest pagoda in Suzhou - Ruiguang or Auspicious Glow Pagoda. The pagoda has 7 tiers. The pagoda is said to have been built in 247.

Kimono, bought for Japan, unfortunately, has not yet gone there, but found itself in Suzhou.

In addition to the pagoda in the park, you can see temples, canals and bridges and feed the fish.

Despite January, flowers bloom in the park.

Dragons adorn the temple.

The park is quite large and we spent a lot of time on it. Then we had a plan to visit a couple more gardens, and we went by metro.

Near the Panmen Gate is the Wumen Bridg. It was built in 1084 and is the tallest ancient bridge in Suzhou.

Near the park is the Pan Pacific Suzhou Hotel, stylized as an ancient city ​​wall. The Pan Pacific Suzhou Hotel in Suzhou.

If you stay at this hotel, entrance to the park is free.

north temple pagoda

After visiting Panmen Park, we took the subway to two other garden parks and got off at the Beisita subway station. It turned out that the station was named so in honor of the pagoda, which is located nearby. North Temple Pagoda - Its Chinese name is Beisita. It is the tallest pagoda in Suzhou and was built from 1131 to 1162.

Humble Official's Garden (Zhuozhengyuan)

From the pagoda of the northern temple, we went to the Garden of the humble official (ruler) - the Hamble Administrator's Garden. This is the most famous and visited garden in Suzhou. But when we came to him, we saw only walls and closed gates. The garden was no longer in operation. Arriving in Suzhou for lunch, we had time to visit only one garden - Panmen. AT winter time gardens close early.

The Humble Ruler's Garden was built in 1509 during the Ming Dynasty by the former state censor Wang Xianchen, who, according to legend, was removed from office for taking bribes. The garden is considered one of the outstanding examples of traditional Chinese landscape gardening art. The main part of the garden is a huge pond with bulk islands connected to each other by zigzag covered bridges. chief architectural structure The central part of the garden of the park is the pavilion of "elusive aromas", inside which you can feel the aroma of lotuses growing in the pond. The garden got its name from classic character, a “humble official” who devoted himself to gardening, from the work of the poet Yue Pan “The Bachelor”. “… I enjoy a quiet life, building my house and growing trees in the garden… I water the garden and grow vegetables for myself… after my retirement, such a secluded life makes me happy…”

The garden consists of east, west and central parks, as well as the residences of the former owners of the garden. Entrance to the park in the low season is 70 yuan, and in the high season (April to October) - 90 yuan. The garden is open from 7 am to 5:30 pm. Lotuses bloom in the park from June to September. Beisita metro station. Website of the Humble Official Park (Zhuozhengyuan).

Lion Grove Garden (Shizilin)

It is located near the humble official's garden. But when we got to it, it was already closed too. This garden was founded in 1342 by a Buddhist monk named Tianzhu in honor of his teacher Zhi Zheng. It is said that Zhi Zheng reached nirvana on the Lion Peak of Tianmu Mountain, located in Zhengjiang Province, which is why the garden was called the Lion Grove. characteristic feature of this picturesque park are artificial stone slides, reminiscent of various lions in their shapes, and green spaces, curved in a spiral and forming a labyrinth. The garden is open from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm, admission is 40 yuan. Beisita metro station. Website of the Lion Grove (Shizilin) ​​park.

Network Master's Garden

The Net Master's Garden is a small, but at the same time, the most exquisite landscaped garden in Suzhou. This garden is also sometimes referred to as the Fishing Master's Garden. The garden is located on an area of ​​0.6 hectares. This graceful building is a typical example of an official residence during the reign of the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911). The garden that we see today was laid out on the site of the former mansion of one of the officials who served here during the reign of the Song Dynasty (960-1279). The new owner of the Net Master's Garden, Song Zong Yuan, chose this name for his garden in memory of the former name of this place - Fisherman's Refuge. This garden is small, but remarkable in every sense. It has a very picturesque pond located in its center. Many beautiful plants grow around the pond, there are specially installed stones. There are also pavilions and stone bridges in the garden. The garden is open from 7:30 am to 5:00 pm, admission is 40 yuan.

The net master's garden looks very different after dark, when the lanterns are lit. The atmosphere in the garden becomes truly magical. In the garden in the evenings pass various shows, such as, for example, performances of Kunqiu (Suzhou Opera). Artists come in national costumes, perform old folk songs and dances, play ancient musical instruments. Performances are held in many halls, pavilions and rooms at the same time, so visitors have the opportunity to get acquainted with different types art in one evening. Evening performances in the garden take place from 19:30 to 22:00 every evening from mid-March to mid-November. Visitors can buy tickets for just visiting the garden, as well as special tickets for evening performances (100 yuan). The nearest metro stations are Yangyu Xiang and Chayuanchang. Site of the park master of networks.

tiger hill

On Tiger Hill is the local leaning tower, Yunyan ta Pagoda. The seven-story Yunyan Pagoda was built in 961. It began to "fall" to the north-west of the central axis from the middle of the 17th century. Tiger Hill, also known as Stormy Sea Hill, is located in the northwestern part of Suzhou. Its height is 36 m. According to one of the legends, somewhere in the bowels of a hill near the Sword Lake, the tomb of Emperor He Lu, who ruled in 722-464, is hidden. BC. They say that when the emperor was buried, a white tiger came to the entrance to the tomb and stayed to guard the rest of the deceased. This is one of the most popular attractions in Suzhou - annually it is visited by 1.5 million tourists. Entrance to the park costs 80 yuan in high season and 60 yuan in low season. You can get to the park by buses No. 1 and No. 2, departing from railway station. Tiger Hill Park website.

Suzhou City Museum

The Suzhou City Museum was designed by the legendary architect Bei Yuming, creator of the famous glass pyramid of the Louvre in Paris. It attracts attention not only with its exhibits, but also with its appearance, which combines traditional Chinese style and futurism. Located next to the humble official's garden. Opening hours: from 9:00 to 17:00 from Tuesday to Sunday. The entrance is free. Website of the Suzhou City Museum.

Silk Museum in Suzhou

Suzhou is called the city of silk - silk and embroidery were made here for the imperial court. The Suzhou Silk Museum (Suzhou Sichou Bowuguan) was the first in China. The museum has a small silk factory that works as a show for tourists. There is also a silk shop where you can buy Suzhou Chinese embroidery and silk embroidery kits. Website of the Silk Museum in Suzhou.

Dogs in Suzhou

Traveling in China, at first we practically did not see dogs, while in European countries Very often you will meet dogs and their owners. We met our first dogs at the bus station in Guilin. Read about our adventures in Guilin in the article. The topic of dogs in China is complex, once during the "cultural revolution" in the 1960s. dogs were in disgrace and began to be considered a sign upper class and luxury items. Often, fearing the possible consequences, dog owners themselves got rid of their four-legged "class symbols". And taking into account the fact of an acute shortage of food in the country, the dogs were literally doomed. Some Chinese dog breeds almost disappeared, such as the Shar-Pei and the Tibetan Mastiff. Now the Chinese are again acquiring pets, but in some places dogs are still eaten. In some cities, there are laws limiting the number of dogs in a family to one, and rules for registering dogs in the city are being introduced. Apparently due to these reasons, we did not see as many dogs as, for example, in Italian cities. For us, Suzhou became the "City of Dogs", where four-legged pets could be seen very often. Here is a dog basking in the sun outside a shop in Suzhou.

And here the dog, along with the owner, is waiting for a traffic light at a pedestrian crossing.

Dogs in suits:

store guard:

The dog is a guard in the store. Suzhou. China.

On a walk:

And this kid was walking alone in the night city:

In one shop we met such a wonderful cat:

Suzhou Stores

There are a lot of interesting shops and shops in Suzhou. On the way to the gardens, we saw a lot of them.

Here, for example, is a store where you can buy fans, there is a master who makes them right there.

What kind of fans you will not see, from cheap to very expensive handmade.

There was also a feathered worker in this shop, who greeted all visitors and said: “Ni Hao!”. Watch a video about Suzhou, where there is both this bird and short review Suzhou.

Food in Suzhou

Suzhou is famous for its exquisite cuisine, which originates from the "boat dishes" of the Tang Dynasty. At that time, many noble people arranged feasts on boats, so that they could enjoy not only delicious food, but also beautiful scenery. Since the kitchens on the boats were small, the chef tried to compensate for the small portions with taste. And in our time, Suzhou cuisine has retained its characteristics: sweetness, lightness, high-quality ingredients. Vegetable and fish dishes are especially popular. When we wanted to eat, we went to an eatery for locals. At first they tried to give us a small menu in English with the most expensive dishes, but we looked at what the visitors eat and asked for the same. They ate their favorite dumplings again and took a sample of the soup, which also turned out to be with dumplings!

On the street, Serezha could not resist and decided to try street food - a local oriental sweet. But she turned out to be somewhat insipid.

Where to go from Suzhou

The surroundings of the city are also very interesting.

City on the water Zhouzhuang

Zhouzhuang is one of the most picturesque and famous Chinese cities on the water, located in Kunshan County, just 30 km southeast of Suzhou. The ancient city stands on the Jinghan Canal, which connects Suzhou with Shanghai. The city is widely known for its romantic atmosphere, charming views and well-preserved old houses, elegant bridges and rich cultural heritage. The streets of the city are canals, on the banks of which houses with white walls and curved tiled roofs are built. Centuries ago, residents moved along these streets exclusively by boat. One of the city's most famous bridges, the Shuangqiao (Double Bridge), is considered the symbol of Zhouzhuang. The bridge was built in the Ming era during the reign of Emperor Wanli (1573 - 1619) and consists of two bridges - Shideqiao and Yunanqiao, forming the letter "G" and connecting two rivers - Yinzi and Nanbei.

City on the water Tunli

The tiny water town of Tongli is only 18 km from Suzhou on the road to Taihu Lake. You can come from Suzhou by bus from the northern or southern bus stations. Tongli is an excellent example of Chinese cities on the water: only 15 rivers pass through the historical center, connected by fifty bridges. Boats continue to be the main vehicle for 10 thousand local residents inhabiting central District. Thanks to this, an unusual silence reigns in the city, so unusual after visiting Shanghai. The main attraction of the city are the bridges built in different eras and reflecting different architectural styles. 49 bridges connect seven islands formed by 15 rivers and 5 lakes on which the city stands. Each bridge has its own unique poetic name. The most famous bridges are Taiping (Bridge of Great Tranquility), Jili (Bridge of Prosperity) and Changqing (Bridge of Eternal Festival). In the city they are called "Triple Bridge".

Tongli is often referred to as the "Architectural Museum of the Ming and Qing Dynasty". Indeed, the city has retained its ancient appearance, and among the old traditional Chinese houses where the Chinese continue to live, there are interesting architectural monuments- estates with gardens and temples built along the banks of rivers.

It's funny that such a romantic and ancient place as Tongli was chosen to open China's first museum of sexual culture, apparently to lure tourists from neighboring Zhouzhuang. The museum is divided into four parts: "Sex in primitive society", "Marriage and women", "Sex every day" and "Non-traditional sex". Inside, about 2000 exhibits are exhibited, giving insight into the development of sexual culture in China from ancient times to the present day. Entrance to the museum from 18 years old and costs 20 yuan.

We liked the city, in good weather, taking into account visiting the suburbs, you can come here for 3 days, at least. The next day we went to the city, to be continued ...

For more information about the route we ended up with in China, read the article. You can see a map of this route there. Also in this article we talk about each city, which hotels we stayed in, how much the trip cost, and where you could save.