Happy Weekend!

So, we're off to Venice in the morning! Well, the "Venice of China" that is. We're hoofing it to the canal town of Suzhou for a three day weekend thanks to the Chinese Holiday Grave Sweeping Days that fell on Monday and Tuesday of this week. Basically, it's similar to Memorial Day. We aren't sure if this is holiday related, but it seemed to coincide with people singing at the top of their lungs from their balconies randomly throughout the holiday. The daily barrage of fireworks was also ramped up a fair bit all week. Our Chinese teacher told us yesterday that we're going to Suzhou too early in the year--that it's far better in May or June--just our luck. But she did give us tips on restaurants and sites to see, none of which are in our guide books, so we're hoping to get a less touristy version of the town.

The center of Suzhou's old town is a UNESCO World Heritage site, dating back some 2500 years. By the 14th century it was China's leading silk producting city, attracting other wealthy artisans, scholars, actors and painters, who constructed beautiful retreats and gardens for private contemplation. Nearly 70 of its 12th-15th  century gardens still exist--they have fantastic names like "Garden of the Master of the Nets" and the "Humble Administrator's Garden" and "Garden to Linger In." There's also a brand new museum (designed by I.M. Pei) in town. Everything from silk to yarn to furniture to art is on the wish list as we explore this weekend! Here's a few pictures I grabbed online. Hopefully we get some good shots of our own!


Garden of the Master of the Nets




Suzhou, as I've just learned from a friend back home (thanks Luci!) is the sister city of Portland! Certainly makes the world seem smaller and more connected. I didn't know any of this, but turns out everything in Lan Su Chinese Garden in Portland was constructed by artisans back in Suzhou. Even 500 tons of rock were sent to Portland. Then sixty-five men (along with two cooks!) came over to construct it all.



Garden to Linger In