From Beijing my family and I flew to Hangzhou, renowned for its beautiful West Lake. We were also able to make the journey (described above) to nearby Suzhou and Tongli, two canal towns typical of the Yangzte River Delta region, also known as Jiagnan.
The Jiangan (meaning south of the Yangtze River) Region, during Ming and Qing times, was one of the wealthiest regions in China, made even more so by the construction of the Grand Canal that linked Beijing to Suzhou and allowed for a flow of goods and taxes from this fertile region to the dry capital. Both Hangzhou and Suzhou are still imbued with a stately natural elegance that can be felt most strongly in the gardens, such as those around West Lake in Hangzhou, and the Humble Administrator's Garden in Suzhou. As we explored the gardens and greenery of the West Lake, I could almost imagine the wondrous and mysterious city that Marco Polo described in his famous travel records.
Tongli, a small village outside Suzhou, is more completely preserved and is now a kind of tourist village. We rented a boat to show us around, and also happened upon the China Sex Museum (more to come later), oddly placed within this tiny town.
The Jiangan (meaning south of the Yangtze River) Region, during Ming and Qing times, was one of the wealthiest regions in China, made even more so by the construction of the Grand Canal that linked Beijing to Suzhou and allowed for a flow of goods and taxes from this fertile region to the dry capital. Both Hangzhou and Suzhou are still imbued with a stately natural elegance that can be felt most strongly in the gardens, such as those around West Lake in Hangzhou, and the Humble Administrator's Garden in Suzhou. As we explored the gardens and greenery of the West Lake, I could almost imagine the wondrous and mysterious city that Marco Polo described in his famous travel records.
Tongli, a small village outside Suzhou, is more completely preserved and is now a kind of tourist village. We rented a boat to show us around, and also happened upon the China Sex Museum (more to come later), oddly placed within this tiny town.
A River Scene in Tongli
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