Shanghai - Suzhou Excursion
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The elegant classical gardens, the old-fashioned houses and delicate bridges hanging over flowing waters in the drizzling rain, the beautiful lakes with undulating hills in lush green, this is Suzhou, ¡°Venice of the Orient¡±, a city of eternal and poetic charm. Two hours drive from Shanghai, we arrive at Suzho. We'll visit the dreamy Classical Chinese Gardens (designated UNESCO's World Cultural Heritage) here, such as the largest Humble Administrator's Garden and several other small ones, followed by a Pedi-cab Tour in the Old Town. Suzhou is considered the center of silk and embroidery in China. We will visit the Silk Museum before heading to the Embroidery Institute where we will have the opportunity to partake in the art of embroidery making. Lastly we will relax in a charming tea house of Suzhou Opera Museum listening to the soothing music and Kun Opera (the oldest form of opera in China and UNESCO's World Verbal Cultural Heritage).
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Humble Administrator's Garden
Suzhou 's largest garden, the humble Administrator's Garden is also considered the city's finest. It was established in the 16 th century by a retired magistrate, Wang Xian Chen. The central part of the garden imitates the scenery of China south of the lower Yangzi river, and wavy corridors rise up and down over the water as if going over waves. The main hall of the garden, Hall of Distant Fragrance, is named after the perfume of the large lotus pond nearby that delicately wafts in. The whole garden is a perfect example of the ideal of Classical Chinese Garden designs: the harmony between human and nature, and incorporate universe into limited space.
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Silk Museum & Embroidery Institute
The Silk Museum traces the history of silk production and its use from its beginnings in about 4,000 BC to the present day. Exhibits include old looms with demonstrations of their workings, samples of ancient silk patterns, and a section explaining the art of sericulture. The most interersting exhibit is its room full of live silk worms, eating mulberry leaves and spinning cocoons. The Embroidery Institute creates exquisitely fine silk embroidery, esp. the double-sided embroidery -- for example, a cat with green eyes on one side and blue on the other.
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Kun Opera Museum
Housed in a beautiful Ming dynasty theater of latticed wood, this museum is a fascinating and highly visual. Its display halls are filled with examples of old musical instruments, delicate hand-copied books, masks and costumes. Traditional Suzhou Opear, known as Kun Opera, is renowned as the oldest form of Chinese Opera, with a history of about 5,000 years. The adjacent teahouse stages daily shows of Kun Opera and Music.
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