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BRUNO MAESTRINI

Multimedia Journalist
  • Blog
  • Stories
    • Maracanazo Argentino
    • BBQ on the Leather
    • Beijing Opera
    • Yerba Mate
    • Japan Tsunami
    • Mengxing's Quest
    • Día de los Muertos
  • Daily Life
    • Vietnam
    • Americana
    • Patagonia
  • Portraits
    • The Real Gaucho
  • Profile / Contact
  • Instagram
These octogonal windows were a favorite for portraits amongst the tourists. I have to admit they do make a nice setting.

These octogonal windows were a favorite for portraits amongst the tourists. I have to admit they do make a nice setting.

The Lingering Gardens of Suzhou

May 20, 2016 in China

The city of Suzhou is known in China for it's canals and its gardens. The "Venice of the East" has nine gardens that are together a UNESCO World Heritage Site. During my one day visit I had the opportunity to visit only the Lingering Garden 留园.

The gardens are basically big old houses built by rich people with a lot of green and water, to chill out in the humid summer of southern China. I can imagine hundreds of years ago just resting in the shade listening to the birds and the breeze passing through the trees.

Fast forward to 2016. Dozens of tour buses park outside the garden and a guide with a flag comes out with hundreds of tourists following with their little matching hats. Why? Because it's a class AAAAA tourist destination. That means Chinese tour companies will take groups there. Not because it's cool, not because people WANT to see it, but because it was determined it's supposed to be seen. I'm not saying it's not cool, because it is, but there is also a lot of cooler stuff without any A worth checking out. You can see by now that I'm not a big fan of how they decide what gets five As.

It is beautiful, go see for yourself. Ignore the tour buses.

Pond with dozens of little orange carps. The sound of water flowing can be heard but no waterfall is nearby. Hidden in a corner is a hose popping out of the water. I believe its only purpose is to generate sound. 

Pond with dozens of little orange carps. The sound of water flowing can be heard but no waterfall is nearby. Hidden in a corner is a hose popping out of the water. I believe its only purpose is to generate sound. 

A couple strolls around the part in the back where they have trees planted in vases.

A couple strolls around the part in the back where they have trees planted in vases.

A group of tourists rest sitting on a stone set of benches and table. It was a very humid day. So humid it rained a few minutes later.

A group of tourists rest sitting on a stone set of benches and table. It was a very humid day. So humid it rained a few minutes later.

Inside one of the buildings was a magnificent wood carving doorway. Hard to believe that during the Sino-japanese war this place was used as a horse breeding facility.

Inside one of the buildings was a magnificent wood carving doorway. Hard to believe that during the Sino-japanese war this place was used as a horse breeding facility.

This old lady could barely walk. Three people helped her sit down on a very unsafe rock in a very unsafe position and persuaded her to reach towards the water closer to the water lilies just to take a photo. It's a miracle she didn't fall in just because her finger had to be 3 inches from the flower. I guess that somehow makes a better picture. What do I know?

This old lady could barely walk. Three people helped her sit down on a very unsafe rock in a very unsafe position and persuaded her to reach towards the water closer to the water lilies just to take a photo. It's a miracle she didn't fall in just because her finger had to be 3 inches from the flower. I guess that somehow makes a better picture. What do I know?

A little boat lies in the corner of one of the man-made ponds. They are so small I don't believe they are for actual rides, but more for cleaning up. Although a few hundred years ago I can see a rich fellow just chilling in the water.

A little boat lies in the corner of one of the man-made ponds. They are so small I don't believe they are for actual rides, but more for cleaning up. Although a few hundred years ago I can see a rich fellow just chilling in the water.

 
Prev / Next

  • September 2018
    • Sep 3, 2018 La Tomatina: The Great Spanish Tomato War of 2018 Sep 3, 2018
  • July 2018
    • Jul 2, 2018 A Turkish wedding full of joy and emotion Jul 2, 2018
  • April 2018
    • Apr 2, 2018 Carrying the weight of tradition in Spain's Holy Week Apr 2, 2018
  • March 2018
    • Mar 26, 2018 The Buddhist temples of Kyoto are full of cute Japanese kids Mar 26, 2018
  • February 2018
    • Feb 8, 2018 8 hours in Portugal: a quick visit Feb 8, 2018
  • June 2017
    • Jun 27, 2017 Baisha: Life in an ancient Chinese town Jun 27, 2017
  • August 2016
    • Aug 29, 2016 Gasoline in a bottle and the beach in Cambodia Aug 29, 2016
    • Aug 11, 2016 Siem Reap: rain and shine; night or day. Aug 11, 2016
    • Aug 8, 2016 Groceries and a haircut: the typical Cambodian market Aug 8, 2016
  • July 2016
    • Jul 26, 2016 The happiness in Cambodian villages is contagious Jul 26, 2016
    • Jul 18, 2016 Bayon: the temple of 200 faces Jul 18, 2016
    • Jul 4, 2016 Drought: the Cambodian village floating on dry water Jul 4, 2016
  • June 2016
    • Jun 28, 2016 Panic at sea: the story of how we hit and sank a fishing boat Jun 28, 2016
    • Jun 22, 2016 The ruins of the great city of Angkor Jun 22, 2016
  • May 2016
    • May 25, 2016 Chinese couples take wedding photos to the next level May 25, 2016
    • May 23, 2016 The Canals of Suzhou May 23, 2016
    • May 20, 2016 The Lingering Gardens of Suzhou May 20, 2016
    • May 10, 2016 People and blood in the streets of Suzhou May 10, 2016
  • April 2016
    • Apr 29, 2016 Ruins of the Old Summer Palace Apr 29, 2016
    • Apr 21, 2016 The Dongyue "Temple of Hell" Apr 21, 2016
    • Apr 12, 2016 Yu Yuan, the happiness gardens of Shanghai Apr 12, 2016
    • Apr 7, 2016 The ancient town of Qibao Apr 7, 2016
  • March 2016
    • Mar 30, 2016 The Marco Polo Bridge and the start of WWII Mar 30, 2016
    • Mar 23, 2016 The ancient Terracota Army of the first emperor of China Mar 23, 2016
    • Mar 21, 2016 Small Goose Pagoda 小雁塔 Mar 21, 2016
    • Mar 16, 2016 Xi'an City Walls Mar 16, 2016
    • Mar 9, 2016 Wolong Temple 卧龙寺 Mar 9, 2016
    • Mar 7, 2016 Giant Wild Goose Pagoda 大雁塔 Mar 7, 2016
    • Mar 3, 2016 The Shaanxi History Museum Mar 3, 2016
  • February 2016
    • Feb 29, 2016 Forest of Stone Steles Museum Feb 29, 2016
    • Feb 24, 2016 Landmarks of Xi'an, the Drum and Bell Towers Feb 24, 2016
    • Feb 21, 2016 Burning "money" during Spring Festival, the Chinese New Year Feb 21, 2016
    • Feb 17, 2016 A Muslim Quarter in the ancient capital of China, Xi'an Feb 17, 2016
    • Feb 5, 2016 Pagoda of the Old Man Wansong 万松老人塔 Feb 5, 2016
    • Feb 1, 2016 Five Pagoda Temple 五塔寺 Feb 1, 2016
  • January 2016
    • Jan 24, 2016 A cold day at the Xiang Shui Hu Great Wall Jan 24, 2016
    • Jan 17, 2016 Tianning Temple 天宁寺: a thousand-year-old treasure Jan 17, 2016
    • Jan 9, 2016 Skating on a chair: a cold afternoon in Beijing Jan 9, 2016
    • Jan 4, 2016 A day in the parks Jan 4, 2016
    • Jan 1, 2016 The first Catholic tomb in China: Jesuit Priest Matteo Ricci Jan 1, 2016
  • December 2015
    • Dec 27, 2015 Christmas in China and Santacon Dec 27, 2015