Due to its many canals and water roads, Suzhou is called "Venice of the East"... According to an old saying, "Paradise in Heaven, Suzhou and Hangzhou on earth." I can't wait for it to be Spring!
About 100 km away from the vibrant city of Shanghai, Suzhou is one of the oldest towns in the Yangze area. (I can't rewrite history... but you can read about it HERE.)
Today, was slightly warmer than the past two weeks...A friend and I decided to go explore the Old Town of Suzhou.
After a 45 minute bus ride we finally arrived and to my surprise, even the old part of town is huge! I thought we could just walk around and see it all in a day... haha! Well we did walk A LOT but probably only saw a fifth! Not all of it is actually "old"..
We walked along what I now call the "wedding street" (a block with all you need to prepare for a wedding), the "place to go if you need a tool street", the shopping street... and "come here if you are craving KFC street" (seriously, it seemed like there was a KFC on every block).
After a 45 minute bus ride we finally arrived and to my surprise, even the old part of town is huge! I thought we could just walk around and see it all in a day... haha! Well we did walk A LOT but probably only saw a fifth! Not all of it is actually "old"..
We walked along what I now call the "wedding street" (a block with all you need to prepare for a wedding), the "place to go if you need a tool street", the shopping street... and "come here if you are craving KFC street" (seriously, it seemed like there was a KFC on every block).
This bridge was definitely the highlight of our day. Not far behind it is another bridge, called Wumen Bridge. That's the one we were originally headed to...
I guess there's a reason it's called the Panmen Scenic Area!
Along the canal, older men were doing Tai Chi (I think...)
I've been trying to take pictures of people, but I don't want to upset them and the whole language barriere makes it hard for me to ask if they're okay with it...
This driver was honking even when pushing his bike accross the bridge!
Notice the designed area for pushing bikes and motorcycles up and across?!?
One thing is true, there are bikes and motorcycles EVERYWHERE! oh and the motorcycles are electric (electric-cycles?) so you don't hear them.. which makes them quite dangerous... especially when the pull out of nowhere!!!
More about that another day.. :)
I guess there's a reason it's called the Panmen Scenic Area!
Along the canal, older men were doing Tai Chi (I think...)
I've been trying to take pictures of people, but I don't want to upset them and the whole language barriere makes it hard for me to ask if they're okay with it...
This driver was honking even when pushing his bike accross the bridge!
Notice the designed area for pushing bikes and motorcycles up and across?!?
One thing is true, there are bikes and motorcycles EVERYWHERE! oh and the motorcycles are electric (electric-cycles?) so you don't hear them.. which makes them quite dangerous... especially when the pull out of nowhere!!!
More about that another day.. :)
Merci Chels' de m'emmener me promener avec toi dans la "vieille ville"de Suzhou... Jolie ballade, très, très belles photos...
ReplyDeleteBisous
Chelsea,
ReplyDeleteI am another blog follower of your mom's who is excited to read about your journey. Your pictures are beautiful. I have a daughter who will be studying in Paris this summer (we are originally from the Bay Area) She will probably like to read about your daily life abroad as a student as well, so I will pass your blog address to her. Enjoy your great journey.
I enjoyed your blog Chelsey. I like learning about China through your eyes because you are talking about the things that I would like to know about it.
ReplyDeleteI'll be reading you!
Thanks for sharing your trip to China through your blog. Fascinating how colorful the streets are. In the fall I had two young boys from Taiwan staying with me as exchange students. You make me feel just a tad closer to them this morning!
ReplyDeleteI follow your mom thru Kristen ..I enjoyed your photos and observations..
ReplyDeleteThe eye contact thing is a privacy issue due to the crowded streets and close proximity...but once you are introduced an entire world opens up..
what a wonderful adventure you are having..
you have a beautiful aand observant eye............pamela singer