Shanghai (and Suzhou), China

            Today, 13 Oct 2013, since we were scheduled for an all-day excursion, we left our comfortable bed at 5:30 AM.  Although we intended to have a quick breakfast with our friend, Anna, another interesting woman (Zina?) sat down at our table.  Born in the Philippines, Zina has lived in numerous places in the USA, including North Dakota, Hawaii, and California.  At any rate, we became so engrossed in conversation that we had to rush away in order to be on time for the 7:20 AM meet-up for our tour.

Our tour guide, Gavin, a native of Suzhou, China, was very enthused about showing us his city.  Because he studied in Wisconsin, his English was very easy to understand.  Our tour started with a bus ride through Shanghai before taking the highway for a one-hour drive through the countryside to Suzhou, China.  Suzhou, settled about 600 BC, is famous for its silk production, legendary temples, and beautiful gardens.  The city also boasts more historic bridges and canals than any other city in China and was called by Marco Polo the “Venice of the East.”

Our first stop was the Suzhou Embroidery Research Institute.  Long renowned for its elegant beauty and craftsmanship, Suzhou embroidery has received international acclaim.  We watched artisans at work, visited the small museum where their masterpieces are on display, and browsed the very beautiful, but expensive, hand-woven silk merchandise in the gift shop.  If you think of “embroidery” as being simple cross-stitch needlework, you haven’t seen Suzhou embroidery.  Their small stitches are made with fine silk thread; tiny stitches of up to 24 colors are used in some parts of the “picture,” resulting in a true piece of art.  Both sides of the work are identical; there is no “back.”

Grand Canal Cruise

Next, we were driven to the Grand Canal, where we boarded one of three small boats available for our group and cruised along the largest man-made waterway on earth.  Built over 1,300 years ago to transport food and other products, the Grand Canal ranks alongside the Great Wall of China as the country’s greatest engineering achievement.  Originally, the canal served as a moat around the city.  Cruising on the canal offers the best views of the ancient city as well as the 2,500-year-old Panmen Gate. 

Chinese Lunch

After our canal ride, we were served a delicious multi-course family-style meal of traditional Chinese dishes at the local Bamboo Grove Hotel.



Humble Administrator Garden

Our last stop was the beautiful Humble Administrator Garden, the most famous garden in China, created in 1509 during the Ming Dynasty.  Stretching out over 12 acres, the Garden is divided into three distinct sections of pavilions, terraces, towers, and bridges set among a maze of pools and an island.  Gavin warned us that is was very easy to get lost in the garden and suggested that we stay with the group.  We did!

While eating lunch, we sat by a couple who lived in Bettendorf, Iowa many years ago.  And while following our guide through the Garden, we met a woman who graduated from Monmouth (Illinois) High School in 1966 (but did not live there very long).  Indeed, it’s a small world.  On the bus trip back to Shanghai, Sally conversed with a woman who was born in Berlin, Germany in 1935, but who has been a resident of Australia since 1954.  After a long, exhausting day, we returned to the ship.  Back in our cabin by 5:30 PM, we quickly cleaned up for dinner; and afterward, we returned to our cabin for an early night.