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Shanghai, China

Garden City Suzhou

  • 9 Hours
  • Moderate Activity
  • #
    SHA-002

Highlights

  • Stroll through the Garden of the Master of the Nets, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
  • Gain an understanding of Suzhou’s importance in the booming silk trade.
  • Behold intricate silk embroidery with the same image on both sides of the fabric.
  • Cruise the picturesque Grand Canal and disembark at the 2,500-year-old Panmen Gate.

Description

Explore the lifestyles, traditions and scenic natural beauty that have shaped the lives of Suzhou’s people for centuries. Although it will take two hours reach Suzhou, it will be well worth the effort. You will begin by visiting the Garden of the Master of the Nets, the smallest but most impressive of the Suzhou residential gardens. The inner garden was the model for the Ming Hall Garden at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Suzhou is also known for its outstanding silk, especially its double-sided silk embroidery, samples of which you may see at the Silk Embroidery Research Institute. A traditional Chinese lunch at the contemporary Bamboo Grove Hotel follows, after which you will settle in for a boat ride on the picturesque Grand Canal. That serene journey will end at the 2,500-year-old Panmen Gate, the only water and land gate in China.

Helpful Hints

  • Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
  • Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.
  • The drive to and from Suzhou is nearly 2-hours in each direction. This tour involves approximately 2½-hours of walking/standing with many steps along the way. Tour is not available for wheel chair guests and not recommended for those with walking or mobility concerns.