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12 March 2008

China sites and sights- Suzhou and Hangzhou





After leaving Beijing, we traveled by air, south, landing in Shanghai, and then by bus to Suzhou and Hangzhou, "small towns" by Chinese standards, "only" 6-7 million people in each.

The temple at Tiger Hill is famous for being the "leaning tower of China," though you can hardly discern that in the photo. It lilts 7 inches on one side, stopped now by shoring the foundation. The guide told us about building on sandy ground. That made us smile. The kids and I learned that lesson long ago... (Matthew 7:25-27)

The Lingering Gardens in Suzhou is among the top 4 gardens in China. Planned to the smallest detail, it wanders and intrigues. K admired the carefully manicured bonsai trees.

Canals run through Suzhou, and such, it is known as "Venice of the East." As we traveled by boat through the canal, we saw a woman dying her hair, laundry being dryed, residents walking along the way.

In Hangzhou we visited a tea plantation, and sampled the finest of green tea. Tea grows, terraced along the side of the mountain. It was a rainy day, and the mist lay heavy over the landscape.

We also visited a Buddhist temple in Hangzhou, where the smoke of incense offerings hung in the air.

A few more sights and sites of China.

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