Suzhou 苏州, 15-16 October 2006

We spent our 2nd day at Suzhou. It was about 1 1/2 hours drive from Shanghai to Suzhou.

Shigong Mountain 石公山














Before we reached Suzhou city centre, we paid a visit to Shigong Mountain 石公山, which located at Taihu Xishan, 太湖西山 (literally means West mountain of Huge lake). Taihu Lake is the second largest freshwater lake of China. It is around 2,427,800,000sqm (Or it is equivalent to 4 Singapores!!!) However, the mean water depth is only around 1.9m and the lake is full of all knid of fish, clams (pearl), crab and other organism...















1. "lock" the health and longevity. (make a wish at the wishing tree)
2. A view from highest point of Shigong Mountain.


Linwu Cave 林屋洞
After that, we moved to another destination, a natural underground cave called Linwu Cave, 林屋洞. This cave already has few billion years old, it was named the ninth wonderful cave of China. Million of thousands year ago, the cave was full of Taihu Lake water, and apparently mil years ago was stayed by the deities.

Tiger Hill 虎丘
Tiger Hill has 2500 years hictory, originally it is a mausoleum of King Wu (吴王) but later it became a temple.
Sword Pool of Tiger Hill 虎丘剑池
Tower of Tiger Hill, Landmark of Suzhou
The leaning pagoda of China was was constructed in the year 959. It leans to the north almost imperceptibly by 3.5 degrees. This tower has 7 storeys and 8 sides, it came from this idiom: 救人一命胜造七级浮屠.


Suzhou 苏州
Population : 6.6 million
History : estimated 2500 years
Local delicacy : Guihua Fish 桂花鱼
Special Product: Silk

Unlike Shanghai, Suzhou is a city garden. Buildings in Suzhou are not allowed to build higher than 15m (around 5 storeys high)!! Therefore Suzhou has no any skyscrapers or high rise buildings. It is a well-planned city, clean, tidy and comfortable.

Guanqian Street 观前街
Shopping area in Suzhou...


Lion Grove Garden 狮子林 (first built in 1342, rebuilt 1918)
Next morning, we visited one of the famous garden .

The Lion Grove garden was first built in 1342 by the Monk Tianru and other disciples in memory of their teacher, the monk Zhongfeng. The garden is approximately 10,000 square meters and contains 22 pavilions, 71 steles, and numerous other works of art. The garden is famous for its rockery, which is mostly made of limestone taken from Taihu lake.

The rocks have been piled up into forms resembling lions. The name of the garden "Lion Grove," came from a reference to lions in a Buddhist story which included descriptions of a rocky place in a bamboo forest (resembling the garden). How many LIONS you can find from this piece of rock art?

It is said that Emperor Qianlong 乾隆皇帝(18th century) visited the site six times and inscribed the word "真有趣" (literary means very interesting). However, "真有趣" sounds too common, hence the word ‘有’ had been deleted became "Zhenqu" 真趣 (true delight) to describe the garden's beauty. The inscription is still on display in a pavilion of the same name.

8D7N in Shanghai (上海) & Jiangnan (江南)

I used to have bad impression on package tour. However, upon my mom request, I make an exception for this trip.

My journey started at 141006 and ended at 211006, spent 8 days 7 nights in Shanghai (上海) and Jiangnan (江南), China.

Our flight departed at 0140. The distance between KL and Shanghai is approximately 4000km, we reached Shanghai Pudong international airport (浦东国际机场) around 0635.

Whew, we passed through the immigrations, collected our luggage and straight to the Shanghai Magnetic Station. We took the world FATEST land transport in the world- Maglev train to Longyang Road in Shanghai City (Pudong).

It took only 7 minutes and 20 seconds for 30km to reach Pudong and waited for our bus and luggage there at Longyang station. (Due to traffic jam, normally we need an hour to reach if travel by bus).

The highest speed of the Maglev train is 430km/h!!!!






Shanghai 上海
Population : estimated 24 million (not including 6 million mobile population)
History : only 150 years
Local Delicacy : 小笼包 (small bun with meat and soup inside)


Chenghuang Temple 城隍庙










Our 1st destination is Chenghuang Temple 城隍庙. Cheng Huang Temple means the Temple of the Town gods. It was destroyed in the Culture revolution, and what remains was the reconstruction of the old architecture shopping area with famous Shanghainese 小笼包 and shops selling Chinese art piece and different types of souvenirs.



Chinese art piece
Kites/ leather art/ carving/ dragon calligraphy







Shanghai Snack


* Apparently the 小笼包 sold in Chenghuang Temple is very famous n delicious... Hmm... Not quite sure, I did not try.

NanJing Road (南京路)
Shopping at Nanjing Road. There are many branded outlets (local and overseas) along Nanjing Road. I did not buy anything, Gucci, Prada are still expensive... However, I noticed Shanghainese living standard are quite high. Those local brand clothes are are not cheaper compare to our country.

One thing was reminded by our tour guide, we should always go to their goverment controlled outlet (国营店) for quality goods. Also, the returned small change is guranteed "real" money. However, the promoters service attitude is really bad and impolite. Sigh, stressed shopping there? Well, prepare more small change and be decisive when shopping. ",)

Qi Pu Road
After that, we go shopping again. This time to a completely different evironment. And the things here are much more cheaper!

"Business Class trishaw"

Oriental Pearl Tower 东方明珠塔 (total height = 468m)
After dinner, we moved to our last destination of the day - The PEAK of ASIA, Oriental Pearl Tower (东方明珠塔). It is 3rd tallest tower of the world and No1 in Asia (in Year 2006) !!!!
*Shanghai night scene, view from 2nd ball, 263m tall.

(to be continue...)