China 2003: Suzhou - Venice of the East...

"Circumstances do not make the man, they reveal him..." - James Allen

(Canals, bridges and classical gardens)

Suzhou, an ancient cultural city built 2,500 years ago, is known as ‘the Venice of the East’. The old town is built around a network of canal streets, criss-crossed by 300 bridges. Many private gardens built by scholars, poets and cultured Mandarins since the Song Dynasty make the city known for classical gardens. The Humble Administrator’s Garden built during 1506 and 1512 in the Ming Dynasty, it covers an area of 4.8 hectares, three quarters of which are water. It is regarded as one of the four major gardens in China along with the Summer Palace in Beijing, the Mountain Summer Resort in Chengde and The Garden Linger in Suzhou.

(Historic garden with water pavilion)

The ancient Grand Canal is a wonder of the ancient Chinese civilisation, with a history of 2,400 years. At 1,700 km in length, the canal starts from Beijing and ends at Hangzhou. The Garden to Linger In is well arranged and elegant. It was built during the reign of Emperor Jia Qing of the Ming Dynasty.

(A rock pagoda)

So little do I now expect,
So little hope or fear,
I draw a circle round myself
And find my pleasure there.

Alone I read, I dream, I like
My music loud, I wait
For something that will never come,
I fault my faultless fate.

👈 2004: Rome, Italy 

2003: Shanghai, China 👉

China 2003: Shanghai - Paradise for adventurers...

"When we can't piece together the puzzle of our own lives, remember the best view is from above. Let him help put you together..."

(Full moon from the water front)

(07 - 13 October 2003)

I was in Shanghai for a Banknote and Security Printing Seminar with another officer from Bank Negara. After the seminar dear hubby flew in from KL and we had a few days exploring Shanghai and Suzhou.

Shanghai, with a population of more than 13 million, is the largest city in China. It is often likened to a dazzling pearl in the centre of the east coast, where the golden channel of the the Yangtze River flows to the sea.Shanghai has long and colorful history, dating as far back as the third century B.C. Shanghai grew in a lop-sided way but over nearly half a century since the founding of the People's Republic the Chinese government has made great effort to rebuild Shanghai into a metropolis city.

(The Hilton, Shanghai)

Shanghai is well known for its shops stocked with goods of every kind, of excellent quality and serviced with expertise and courtesy. Nanjing Road, Huaihai Road and the old Chenghuangmiao shopping market are ideal shopping areas.To wonder through the crowded alleys and lanes in the market is to experience the very heartbeat of Shanghai - the dynamism of commerce. '

(Dinner and cultural show)

When you look back on your life
Wondering why you chose
not to cross the bridge,
Will you also wonder
what would happen if you did?

👈 2003: Suzhou, China

2003: Salzburg, Austria 👉