Our day was dedicated to exploring Suzhou, a city renowned for its classical gardens and so interlaced with waterways that it’s often called the “Venice of the East.”
The morning began with a visit to the famous Lingering Garden, and for me, this was a personal highlight. I absolutely loved walking through this UNESCO World Heritage site, which truly felt like stepping into a classical Chinese painting. I remarked to a fellow traveller that it would be a lovely place to simply sit and contemplate things over a couple of hours, followed by a cup of tea.
The only challenge was that our visit coincided with the Dragon Boat Festival public holiday, so the tranquil paths were teeming with crowds. While finding a quiet corner for contemplation was nearly impossible, the garden’s beauty was still profoundly evident.
From that serenity, we moved to an insight into one of China’s most famous industries with a stop at a silk spinning factory.
The tour was led by a wonderfully engaging guide whose deadpan delivery of corny jokes made the experience truly memorable. “Silk worms just eat and sleep,” she explained with a perfectly straight face, “…like my husband. But he doesn’t produce silk.”
She was a masterful salesperson, and her presentation of the factory’s products was pure theatre. Demonstrating the benefits of silk pillows, she asked, “Do you know how a silk pillow can stop your husband from snoring?” She paused, looked around the group, and continued, “You just hold one over his face for five minutes!”
Having clearly watched some American television commercials, she ran through the shopping list of different silk products, punctuating each item with a gleefully delivered, “But wait, there’s more!” She’d announce a special price for one thing, then add that something else was “also free,” at one point even making a joking reference to getting a free set of steak knives. She was so funny and such a good salesperson that I was almost tempted to buy a full set of silk sheets and a doona cover.
During our time in the region, we were also offered an optional activity: a cruise along a section of the ancient Grand Canal. For me, this was non-negotiable. I had fond memories of a canal cruise from a trip with my friend, Sue, in 2014, and I was eager to experience it again. The boat tour offers a unique perspective, gliding through narrow waterways under gracefully arched bridges, offering a secret glimpse into the city’s backyards.
The timing of our visit was perfect, as it coincided with the Dragon Boat Festival. After the cruise, we disembarked into streets teeming with people celebrating. The air was thick with excitement, and the laneways were packed with stalls.
The festive atmosphere had made us hungry, and after a look around, we found a spot for lunch where I had some delicious shumai and dumplings.
After eating, we were given some free time to explore on our own. As I wandered, I saw an artist offering to draw caricatures. On a whim, I decided to sit for one. For about four or five dollars (20 Yuan), it felt like a fun, spontaneous thing to do. I really enjoyed the quiet engagement with the local artist as he/she/they sat, focused, carefully sketching a drawing of me.
I took the drawing back to show some others from my tour group. “You know who you look like?” one of them said, laughing. “I know,” I replied. “I look like Norman Gunston, don’t I?” We all had a good laugh about that.
In the afternoon, we boarded the coach for the 40-kilometre journey to the nearby city of Wuxi.
Well, there’s something I didn’t know about you.
The caricature has your forehead and head too big and your face too long. If asked who does it look like, I wouldn’t say you, or Gunston.