4、Suzhou

Suzhou (苏州) is famed for its beautiful gardens and waterside architecture. The Classical Gardens of Suzhou were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997.

Suzhou was the capital of the kingdom of Wu from the 12th to 4th centuries BC. More recently, it was a center of the silk trade renowned for its gardens and canals. It has been called the Venice of the East. Suzhou was historically a haven for scholars, artists, and skilled craftsmen, and this is still the case today.

Suzhou has managed to retain much of its traditional Chinese look and many parts of the old downtown area are very beautiful. Wandering off the beaten path and into some of the old neighborhoods can be very rewarding. Suzhou is very much a water town criss-crossed with canals and bridges, and you can still see traces of the old-style lifestyle that was centered around the canals.