Introduce a city--Suzhou

I was born in Suzhou, a city which is bordering Shanghai on the east. Suzhou is located in the eastern part of China, which is the central part of the Yangtze River Delta. It took only 30 minutes driving from Shanghai to Suzhou. I sincerely recommend that people pay a visit to Suzhou. Here, I’m pleased to share three charming aspects of Suzhou that deserve a visit.

Gardens, historical temples and other cultural sites from Suzhou are worth a visit. The temples in Suzhou are distinctive if you are a fan of Buddhism. Besides religious heritage, various Gardens also show the charm of Suzhou. The gardens represent a unique construction style in China that aims at creating a microcosm of the universe in a confined space. When you lose interests in these gardens, you can step into the ancient town. This ancient town has been praised as ‘Venice of the East’. Its narrow streets, flagging lanes and ancient houses, which lie between continuous river and pools, will make you feel romantic, mysterious and relaxing.

Suzhou is also famous for its unique arts and ingenious crafts. Since old times, Suzhou has enjoyed the fame of being the ‘Silk Capital’, which is the origin of silk. The vivid stitching and detail in many silks are so marvelous that the depicted pictures appeared to be water-color  paintings. Some were double-sided and were of exquisite fabrication. The transparent silk is set in carved wooden frames. Paper fans are appealing for many artists. Calligraphy and painting on them show the essence of Chinese ancient art.

Cuisine in Suzhou is also a tourist attraction. Suzhou cuisine is one of my most loved kinds. They are often brightly colored and very tasty with combination of flavors and cooking techniques. Suzhounese has an appetite for sweet, which appeals most of Americans. The favorite dish is called the squirrel-shaped seabass, in which crispy fried fresh fish is dripped with local sauce. The juicy and savory fillet with a partially sweet and sour stew will keep this dish all in your mind. Another delectable sweet-oriented dish is Dongpo pork, a Chinese version of Texas brisket.  Dongpo pork differs with traditional Texas brisket in pork and sauce. It selects nicely cut pork with cubic shape involved skin, lean and fat part. The braised pork is cooked in soy sauce which glazes pork that appears fatty but not greasy.

Even though the industrial revolution brought pollution to my hometown, Suzhou has successfully been one of the few cities in China to escape the ravage of industry. Most of its heritage has survived almost intact. Suzhou earned its reputation one thousand years ago, and its beauty remains sustaining. Suzhou is one of the best destinations for tourism. (Tianyu)