Suzhou & Hangzhou

Shanghai is close to two small cities, Suzhou and Hangzhou, which provide elements that are hard to find in the large city of Shanghai – tranquility and natural beauty. Take a day trip to either city; both are about one hour away by train. In Suzhou, the best things are free. The gardens, which have entrance fees upwards of 30 RMB, are packed and resemble none of the characteristics of a Western garden: replace flowers and bushes with pagodas and courtyards. Instead, take advantage of the air conditioning and free entrance to the Suzhou museum, which includes hundreds of cultural relics, a lotus pond and a maze-like walkthrough of typical Chinese courtyards. Also, Suzhou Grand Park has open admission and is a great place to watch locals fish, synchronize dance, and enjoy the shade of centuries-old trees. Several temples and pagodas are spread throughout Suzhou, which are excellent for photo-taking and memory-making. Hangzhou's most famous landmark is West Lake, which can be seen on the back of a one yuan bill of RMB. The town also has a few bars with character, so consider staying one night in Hangzhou.

Canals between rows of beautiful houses and offices contribute to Suzhou's claim to being "heaven on earth." [Daniel Byrnes/China.org.cn]