Besides being famous for its gardens, Suzhou is also known for its canals. At one time there was a grid of canals serving the many merchants and artisans in the city. Some of them have survived into the 21st century. I found this one by accident the second day I was in the city, when I was walking from our hotel to the Suzhou Museum and avoiding a traffic-clogged street.
A light rain fell that whole day. We'd been told that late March would typically be rainy in Suzhou, but this was considered an ideal time to visit because the appearance of the city in the rain would bring to mind a traditional Chinese black and white ink drawing. After spending most of the afternoon outside and getting plenty damp, I wasn't so sure that I was enamored of the idea that rain enhanced the beauty of the scenery.
Shi Po Bridge across the same canal is supposed to be more than a thousand years old, as evidenced by the carving that's from the Song dynasty. It might be more accurate to say that there has been a bridge here for more than a thousand years, because it appears that much of it has been rebuilt.
I'm picturing people a few hundred years ago walking down those steps to get some water to do laundry or take a bath. Oh my.
Here's a tea shop/cafe along the canal, meant mostly for tourists, I think. Judging from the lack of business, I wasn't the only one who needed to keep walking in order to keep warm.
This canal intersected with the one in the previous photos. I like the idea of the pavilion at the crossroads.
Anything Mao can be had at most every souvenir stall I've seen in China. This particular choice of display seems fitting for a leader who was all about utilitarianism. I wondered if the vendor was taking advantage of the rain to wash off the dust and lure a buyer.
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