One of the cities on the Grand Canal, Suzhou, China, is often seen as a day trip from Shanghai (it's two hours by train).
Suzhou is best known for its Chinese gardens dating from the 11th century. Each is intended to represent an idealized model of the natural world. For instance, the rocks of one garden represent mountains; the ponds of another symbolize oceans. Some of the gardens are quite small, but others, like the paradoxically named Garden of the Humble Administrator, are grand, spacious parks. Our favorites are the Lion Garden and the Master of Nets (Fisherman's) Garden, where ancient Kunqu Opera performances are staged some nights.
If you're going on a day trip from Shanghai, you'll have to rush to try to see all of Suzhou's sights in one day, so we recommend one night in Suzhou.
Opened to the public in October 2006, the 160,000-sq-ft/14,865-sq-m Suzhou Museum represents Chinese-American architect I.M. Pei's most recent work. (Pei's other architectural efforts include the glass pyramid at the Louvre in Paris, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio, and the East Building of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.)
As with all of Pei's structures, the architecture is so beautiful it threatens to distract visitors from the art it holds. The museum features two-story, white-washed walls and gray slate roofs in the traditional style of Suzhou City. Plenty of steel and glass is incorporated into the design to give a modern twist to traditional style. If traveling to Suzhou, or even to nearby Shanghai, Pei's masterpiece should be at the top of your list.
The museum presents more than 30,000 cultural relics, including artifacts, Ming and Qing Dynasty paintings and calligraphy, and ancient arts and crafts. It's located at Dongbei Street and Qimen Road. http://www.szmuseum.com.
