Ultimate guide to Suzhou, China's 'paradise on earth'

Tue, 03/06/2012 - 23:57 — Anonymous by Clarissa WeiSuzhou is often dubbed
the "Venice of the East" for the city's crisscrossing canals.A quick nap away
from Shanghai's soaring skyline aboard the high-speed train (the fastest
takes about 25 minutes), Suzhou (苏州) is a historical city that's greatly
admired for its winding canals and classical gardens. If Shanghai represents
the future of China, Suzhou is where one can experience the nation's past
and present between sipping green tea and munching on rice cakes. The
waterside city's history dates back 2,500 years to the Spring and Autumn
Period and was dubbed (perhaps with only a slight exaggeration) "paradise
on earth" -- together with Hangzhou -- in Chinese history for its pleasant
scenery, fertile soil and prosperous commerce. More on CNNGo: The 5-minute
Hangzhou guide This mini-guide provides all essential information for
visitors to navigate the 8,488-square-meter city.read more