Suzhou Courtyard

Sitting reading poetry in a courtyard under the glow of moonlight with a cup of green tea. Bamboo leaves being rustled in the late evening breeze. Just short of the classical robes of a Ming Dynasty scholar, I certainly would not have looked out of place in a historical Chinese drama.

If not for the iPod at my side playing jazz by Buble. Unfortunately I don't have any suitable guzheng music downloaded! ALthough this would have been perfect.


What can I say? The Sung Dynasty poets have it right. Even now, there's a heaven on earth and that's in Suzhou. 上有天堂下有苏杭. Even second time around, it hasn't lost any of its quaint charms. Tranquil classical gardens with narrow cobbled streets and slow meandering canals. Little market shops peddling wares much as they have for hundreds of years ( though now probably mass-produced by the fantastic Made in China factory ).

No surprise it took a surprisingly modern high-speed train only minutes to traverse the distance between Shanghai and Suzhou. Something that probably used to take days by horse and palanquin now takes little less than half an hour.


Whoa. I think we have come to the right place!
To suit the spirit of the occasion, we registered online at an old-fashioned inn situated by an ancient canal. A place that far exceeded our expectations.

Our rooms were situated in refurbished wooden apartments hidden right at the back in a private courtyard. Seriously atmospheric. Just think back to every historical Chinese drama you've ever seen with white-washed pavilions, classical rock gardens and bamboo outcrops. Half expected battling wuxia fighters to come flying down from the blue-tiled rooftops.

Fortunately it all came with the basic modern amenities. Wouldn't appreciate such scenery if it didn't come with indoor plumbing.