Suzhou, China and Leaving Shanghai at night

Suzhou is a traditional city of 3 million people west of Shanghai, known for its canals and gardens. We took a 45 minute boat ride down the narrow canals in the city, went to a silk embroidery factory, and walked through the beautiful Humble Administrator's Garden. Suzhou had many bridal shops and traditional Chinese dress shops, unlike the western attire we saw on Nanjing Rd in Shanghai.

The silk embroidery factory produces high quality single-sided and double-sided pictures.  The needlework is so fine that the finished pieces look like photographs.

Riding down the canal in Suzhou

Houses back up to the canals

Tour boat passing under the bridge

Working on a silk embroidery

Beautiful embroideries; some single sided, some double sided

You can see through the top part of this embroidery piece.

Cranes are a symbol of peace and longevity
in Chinese culture

Sales room at the silk embroidery factory; we bought 3 small pictures

Humble Administrator's Garden in Suzhou

Zig zag (non linear) walkways are used to keep evil spirits away.

Pudong side of the river lit up at night

Harbor cruise boats all lit up at night

The "pirate ship" changed colors every few seconds as it cruised the Shanghai harbor