Bach's Chinese Rail Tour : May 24, 2013 Suzhou and Hangzhou by Bullet Train

May 24, 2013

Suzhou and Hangzhou by Bullet Train

Our guide William picked us up at 9 AM for a full day of touring. Our driver took us first to the Linggering Garden which was unbelievable beautiful. The garden was divided into 3 large sections – East, Middle and West. No matter where we stood in the garden we saw a magnificent picture. Next we went to the Ancient City Gate where the original wall was built about 2500 years ago. On top of this wall was built the exiting wall with guard towers and entrance gate to the city canal system from the famous Grand Canal. At the entrance gate were 2 heavy gates that could be lowered to prevent boats from entering the city canals. Also tolls were once collected at this gate on boats entering the city of Suzhou. After a delicious lunch, we took a canal boat that took us through the city to Tiger Hill. This was an interested ride as we passed by houses, restaurants and office buildings that were built right on the edge of the canal. We climbed Tiger Hill at the top of which was a very old pagoda that has now has a noticeable lean to it.

Then we were taken to Suzhou Railway Station to catch a high speed train to Hangzhou where we were met by out next guide, Daniel and were taken to our hotel that was near West Lake. We had a long day but were so happy with what we had seen.

View of a very tall high rise office building under construction from the dining room, of the beautiful Suzhou Crowne Plaza Hotel that is on Taihu Lake.

View from the other side of the dining room at the Suzhou Crowne Plaza Hotel with high rise apartment buildings in the background.

The open interior of the Suzhou Crown Plaza Hotel. This hotel was the best that we stayed in on our whole trip

Dorothy and Con stand before a number of e-bikes that have replaced bicycles as a means of popular transport.

Dorothy and Con before a UN plaque designating the Linggering Garden as a world heritage site.

A decorative building covering a historic well in the Linggering Garden

Dorothy and Con before a lagoon with lotus flowers.

View of a high pagoda from the Linggering Garden

Very pretty lagoon at the Linggering Garden

Artisticly placed bridge in the Linggering Garden

Dorothy and Con before a lagoon with a beautiful house in the background.

Dorothy and Con framed by an opening in the wall with a beautiful garden view.

A pretty building next to the lagoon.

A crooked walkway around the lagoon.

Another pretty building next to the lagoon.

A theater building next to a lagoon at the Linggering Garden.

A very intricate carving over the door entrance.

The seats for the owners to hear a performance in the theater building.

Colored birds at a feeder near a pond.

Dorothy and Con admiring the beauty of the the Linggering Garden

A decorative bridge over a lagoon.at the Linggering Garden.

A beautiful covered bridge at the Linggering Garden

Dorothy in front of stores outside of the Linggering Garden.

Dorothy and Con in front of a very tall pegoda.

Dorothy and Con in front of the guard building at the canal entrance to the city.

The ancient city gate at the old wall to the city.

The bridge over the Grand Canal and the canal leading to the city canal system.

Dorothy and Con working the mechanism to lift the gate that allows entry into the city canal system.The building in the background is the guard house.