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The octagonal North Temple Pagoda (Beisi Ta) is nine storeys and 76m high and dates from the late 10th century.<br/><br/>Suzhou, the city of canals and gardens, was called the ‘Venice of the East’ by Marco Polo. An ancient Chinese proverb states: ‘In Heaven there is Paradise; on Earth there is Suzhou’.<br/><br/>The city’s love affair with gardens dates back 2,500 years and continues still. At the time of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) there were 250 gardens, of which about a hundred survive, although only a few are open to the public.
The octagonal North Temple Pagoda (Beisi Ta) is nine storeys and 76m high and dates from the late 10th century.<br/><br/>Suzhou, the city of canals and gardens, was called the ‘Venice of the East’ by Marco Polo. An ancient Chinese proverb states: ‘In Heaven there is Paradise; on Earth there is Suzhou’.<br/><br/>The city’s love affair with gardens dates back 2,500 years and continues still. At the time of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) there were 250 gardens, of which about a hundred survive, although only a few are open to the public.
Suzhou, the city of canals and gardens, was called the ‘Venice of the East’ by Marco Polo. An ancient Chinese proverb states: <i>‘In Heaven there is Paradise; on Earth there is Suzhou’</i>.<br/><br/> The city’s love affair with gardens dates back 2,500 years and continues still. At the time of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) there were 250 gardens, of which about a hundred survive, although only a few are open to the public.
Suzhou, the city of canals and gardens, was called the ‘Venice of the East’ by Marco Polo. An ancient Chinese proverb states: <i>‘In Heaven there is Paradise; on Earth there is Suzhou’</i>.<br/><br/> The city’s love affair with gardens dates back 2,500 years and continues still. At the time of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) there were 250 gardens, of which about a hundred survive, although only a few are open to the public.
Suzhou, the city of canals and gardens, was called the ‘Venice of the East’ by Marco Polo. An ancient Chinese proverb states: <i>‘In Heaven there is Paradise; on Earth there is Suzhou’</i>.<br/><br/> The city’s love affair with gardens dates back 2,500 years and continues still. At the time of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) there were 250 gardens, of which about a hundred survive, although only a few are open to the public.
Suzhou, the city of canals and gardens, was called the ‘Venice of the East’ by Marco Polo. An ancient Chinese proverb states: <i>‘In Heaven there is Paradise; on Earth there is Suzhou’</i>.<br/><br/> The city’s love affair with gardens dates back 2,500 years and continues still. At the time of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) there were 250 gardens, of which about a hundred survive, although only a few are open to the public.
Suzhou, the city of canals and gardens, was called the ‘Venice of the East’ by Marco Polo. An ancient Chinese proverb states: <i>‘In Heaven there is Paradise; on Earth there is Suzhou’</i>.<br/><br/> The city’s love affair with gardens dates back 2,500 years and continues still. At the time of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) there were 250 gardens, of which about a hundred survive, although only a few are open to the public.
Suzhou, the city of canals and gardens, was called the ‘Venice of the East’ by Marco Polo. An ancient Chinese proverb states: <i>‘In Heaven there is Paradise; on Earth there is Suzhou’</i>.<br/><br/> The city’s love affair with gardens dates back 2,500 years and continues still. At the time of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) there were 250 gardens, of which about a hundred survive, although only a few are open to the public.
Suzhou, the city of canals and gardens, was called the ‘Venice of the East’ by Marco Polo. An ancient Chinese proverb states: <i>‘In Heaven there is Paradise; on Earth there is Suzhou’</i>.<br/><br/> The city’s love affair with gardens dates back 2,500 years and continues still. At the time of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) there were 250 gardens, of which about a hundred survive, although only a few are open to the public.
Suzhou, the city of canals and gardens, was called the ‘Venice of the East’ by Marco Polo. An ancient Chinese proverb states: <i>‘In Heaven there is Paradise; on Earth there is Suzhou’</i>.<br/><br/> The city’s love affair with gardens dates back 2,500 years and continues still. At the time of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) there were 250 gardens, of which about a hundred survive, although only a few are open to the public.
According to oral tradition, tea has been grown in China for more than four millennia. The earliest written accounts of tea making, however, date from around 350 CE, when it first became a drink at the imperial court.<br/><br/> Around 800 CE tea seeds were taken to Japan, where regular cultivation was soon established. Just over five centuries later, in 1517, tea was first shipped to Europe by the Portuguese soon after they began their trade with China. In 1667 the Honourable East India Company ordered the first British shipment of tea from China, requesting of their agents ‘one hundred pounds weight of the best tey that you can get’.<br/><br/> In 1826 the Dutch bought seeds from Japan for cultivation in their growing East Indian Empire, supplementing this effort in 1833 by imports of seeds, workers and implements from China. Meanwhile, also in the 1830s, the East India Company began growing tea on an experimental basis in Assam – the first one hundred boxes of Assamese tea reached Britain in 1840, and found a ready market.<br/><br/> About the same time, tea seedlings were transplanted from Assam to Sri Lanka and planted in the highlands around Kandy. By the beginning of the present century tea was very much in fashion, with plantations established as far afield as Vietnam in Southeast Asia, Georgia in Europe, Natal, Malawi, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambique in Africa, Argentina, Brazil and Peru in South America, and Queensland in Australia. Despite this proliferation, however, Sri Lanka remains the largest producer of tea in the world today, with the fragrant black leaf the mainstay of its economy.
According to oral tradition, tea has been grown in China for more than four millennia. The earliest written accounts of tea making, however, date from around 350 CE, when it first became a drink at the imperial court.<br/><br/> Around 800 CE tea seeds were taken to Japan, where regular cultivation was soon established. Just over five centuries later, in 1517, tea was first shipped to Europe by the Portuguese soon after they began their trade with China. In 1667 the Honourable East India Company ordered the first British shipment of tea from China, requesting of their agents ‘one hundred pounds weight of the best tey that you can get’.<br/><br/> In 1826 the Dutch bought seeds from Japan for cultivation in their growing East Indian Empire, supplementing this effort in 1833 by imports of seeds, workers and implements from China. Meanwhile, also in the 1830s, the East India Company began growing tea on an experimental basis in Assam – the first one hundred boxes of Assamese tea reached Britain in 1840, and found a ready market.<br/><br/> About the same time, tea seedlings were transplanted from Assam to Sri Lanka and planted in the highlands around Kandy. By the beginning of the present century tea was very much in fashion, with plantations established as far afield as Vietnam in Southeast Asia, Georgia in Europe, Natal, Malawi, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambique in Africa, Argentina, Brazil and Peru in South America, and Queensland in Australia. Despite this proliferation, however, Sri Lanka remains the largest producer of tea in the world today, with the fragrant black leaf the mainstay of its economy.
Suzhou, the city of canals and gardens, was called the ‘Venice of the East’ by Marco Polo. An ancient Chinese proverb states: <i>‘In Heaven there is Paradise; on Earth there is Suzhou’</i>.<br/><br/> The city’s love affair with gardens dates back 2,500 years and continues still. At the time of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) there were 250 gardens, of which about a hundred survive, although only a few are open to the public.
Suzhou, the city of canals and gardens, was called the ‘Venice of the East’ by Marco Polo. An ancient Chinese proverb states: <i>‘In Heaven there is Paradise; on Earth there is Suzhou’</i>.<br/><br/> The city’s love affair with gardens dates back 2,500 years and continues still. At the time of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) there were 250 gardens, of which about a hundred survive, although only a few are open to the public.
The Pan Men (Pan Gate) is part of the ancient city wall built in 514 BCE that surrounded and protected Suzhou. Pan Men was the only entrance to the wall that surrounded ancient Suzhou. The present Pan Gate was built in the 11th year of the reign of Emperor Zhizheng aka Toghon Temur (r. 1333-1370 CE) at the end of the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368).<br/><br/> Suzhou, the city of canals and gardens, was called the ‘Venice of the East’ by Marco Polo. An ancient Chinese proverb states: <i>‘In Heaven there is Paradise; on Earth there is Suzhou’</i>.<br/><br/> The city’s love affair with gardens dates back 2,500 years and continues still. At the time of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) there were 250 gardens, of which about a hundred survive, although only a few are open to the public.
The Pan Men (Pan Gate) is part of the ancient city wall built in 514 BCE that surrounded and protected Suzhou. Pan Men was the only entrance to the wall that surrounded ancient Suzhou. The present Pan Gate was built in the 11th year of the reign of Emperor Zhizheng aka Toghon Temur (r. 1333-1370 CE) at the end of the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368).<br/><br/> Suzhou, the city of canals and gardens, was called the ‘Venice of the East’ by Marco Polo. An ancient Chinese proverb states: <i>‘In Heaven there is Paradise; on Earth there is Suzhou’</i>.<br/><br/> The city’s love affair with gardens dates back 2,500 years and continues still. At the time of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) there were 250 gardens, of which about a hundred survive, although only a few are open to the public.
Wu Yun (died 484 BCE), better known by his courtesy name Zixu, was a general and politician of the Wu kingdom in the Spring and Autumn Period (722–481 BCE). Since his death, he has evolved into a model of loyalty in Chinese culture. He is the best known historical figure with the Chinese family name 'Wu' (伍). All branches of the Wu clan claim that he was their 'first ancestor'.<br/><br/> Suzhou, the city of canals and gardens, was called the ‘Venice of the East’ by Marco Polo. An ancient Chinese proverb states: <i>‘In Heaven there is Paradise; on Earth there is Suzhou’</i>.<br/><br/> The city’s love affair with gardens dates back 2,500 years and continues still. At the time of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) there were 250 gardens, of which about a hundred survive, although only a few are open to the public.
Wu Yun (died 484 BCE), better known by his courtesy name Zixu, was a general and politician of the Wu kingdom in the Spring and Autumn Period (722–481 BCE). Since his death, he has evolved into a model of loyalty in Chinese culture. He is the best known historical figure with the Chinese family name 'Wu' (伍). All branches of the Wu clan claim that he was their 'first ancestor'.<br/><br/> Suzhou, the city of canals and gardens, was called the ‘Venice of the East’ by Marco Polo. An ancient Chinese proverb states: <i>‘In Heaven there is Paradise; on Earth there is Suzhou’</i>.<br/><br/> The city’s love affair with gardens dates back 2,500 years and continues still. At the time of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) there were 250 gardens, of which about a hundred survive, although only a few are open to the public.
The Ruiguang Pagoda (Ruiguang Ta) was built in 247 CE and is the oldest pagoda in Suzhou.<br/><br/> Suzhou, the city of canals and gardens, was called the ‘Venice of the East’ by Marco Polo. An ancient Chinese proverb states: <i>‘In Heaven there is Paradise; on Earth there is Suzhou’</i>.<br/><br/> The city’s love affair with gardens dates back 2,500 years and continues still. At the time of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) there were 250 gardens, of which about a hundred survive, although only a few are open to the public.
The Ruiguang Pagoda (Ruiguang Ta) was built in 247 CE and is the oldest pagoda in Suzhou.<br/><br/> Suzhou, the city of canals and gardens, was called the ‘Venice of the East’ by Marco Polo. An ancient Chinese proverb states: <i>‘In Heaven there is Paradise; on Earth there is Suzhou’</i>.<br/><br/> The city’s love affair with gardens dates back 2,500 years and continues still. At the time of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) there were 250 gardens, of which about a hundred survive, although only a few are open to the public.
Dating from the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127), Suzhou’s Twin Pagodas (Shuang Ta, Shuangta) are tall, narrow identical, seven-storey octagonal brick structures. One is named ‘Clarity Dispensing Pagoda’, and the other “Beneficence Pagoda’.<br/><br/>Suzhou, the city of canals and gardens, was called the ‘Venice of the East’ by Marco Polo. An ancient Chinese proverb states: ‘In Heaven there is Paradise; on Earth there is Suzhou’.<br/><br/>The city’s love affair with gardens dates back 2,500 years and continues still. At the time of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) there were 250 gardens, of which about a hundred survive, although only a few are open to the public.
Dating from the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127), Suzhou’s Twin Pagodas (Shuang Ta, Shuangta) are tall, narrow identical, seven-storey octagonal brick structures. One is named ‘Clarity Dispensing Pagoda’, and the other “Beneficence Pagoda’.<br/><br/>Suzhou, the city of canals and gardens, was called the ‘Venice of the East’ by Marco Polo. An ancient Chinese proverb states: ‘In Heaven there is Paradise; on Earth there is Suzhou’.<br/><br/>The city’s love affair with gardens dates back 2,500 years and continues still. At the time of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) there were 250 gardens, of which about a hundred survive, although only a few are open to the public.
Dating from the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127), Suzhou’s Twin Pagodas (Shuang Ta, Shuangta) are tall, narrow identical, seven-storey octagonal brick structures. One is named ‘Clarity Dispensing Pagoda’, and the other “Beneficence Pagoda’.<br/><br/>Suzhou, the city of canals and gardens, was called the ‘Venice of the East’ by Marco Polo. An ancient Chinese proverb states: ‘In Heaven there is Paradise; on Earth there is Suzhou’.<br/><br/>The city’s love affair with gardens dates back 2,500 years and continues still. At the time of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) there were 250 gardens, of which about a hundred survive, although only a few are open to the public.
Dating from the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127), Suzhou’s Twin Pagodas (Shuang Ta, Shuangta) are tall, narrow identical, seven-storey octagonal brick structures. One is named ‘Clarity Dispensing Pagoda’, and the other “Beneficence Pagoda’.<br/><br/>Suzhou, the city of canals and gardens, was called the ‘Venice of the East’ by Marco Polo. An ancient Chinese proverb states: ‘In Heaven there is Paradise; on Earth there is Suzhou’.<br/><br/>The city’s love affair with gardens dates back 2,500 years and continues still. At the time of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) there were 250 gardens, of which about a hundred survive, although only a few are open to the public.
Suzhou, the city of canals and gardens, was called the ‘Venice of the East’ by Marco Polo. An ancient Chinese proverb states: ‘In Heaven there is Paradise; on Earth there is Suzhou’.<br/><br/>The city’s love affair with gardens dates back 2,500 years and continues still. At the time of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) there were 250 gardens, of which about a hundred survive, although only a few are open to the public.
The octagonal North Temple Pagoda (Beisi Ta) is nine storeys and 76m high and dates from the late 10th century.<br/><br/>Suzhou, the city of canals and gardens, was called the ‘Venice of the East’ by Marco Polo. An ancient Chinese proverb states: ‘In Heaven there is Paradise; on Earth there is Suzhou’.<br/><br/>The city’s love affair with gardens dates back 2,500 years and continues still. At the time of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) there were 250 gardens, of which about a hundred survive, although only a few are open to the public.
The octagonal North Temple Pagoda (Beisi Ta) is nine storeys and 76m high and dates from the late 10th century.<br/><br/>Suzhou, the city of canals and gardens, was called the ‘Venice of the East’ by Marco Polo. An ancient Chinese proverb states: ‘In Heaven there is Paradise; on Earth there is Suzhou’.<br/><br/>The city’s love affair with gardens dates back 2,500 years and continues still. At the time of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) there were 250 gardens, of which about a hundred survive, although only a few are open to the public.
The octagonal North Temple Pagoda (Beisi Ta) is nine storeys and 76m high and dates from the late 10th century.<br/><br/>Suzhou, the city of canals and gardens, was called the ‘Venice of the East’ by Marco Polo. An ancient Chinese proverb states: ‘In Heaven there is Paradise; on Earth there is Suzhou’.<br/><br/>The city’s love affair with gardens dates back 2,500 years and continues still. At the time of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) there were 250 gardens, of which about a hundred survive, although only a few are open to the public.
The octagonal North Temple Pagoda (Beisi Ta) is nine storeys and 76m high and dates from the late 10th century.<br/><br/>Suzhou, the city of canals and gardens, was called the ‘Venice of the East’ by Marco Polo. An ancient Chinese proverb states: ‘In Heaven there is Paradise; on Earth there is Suzhou’.<br/><br/>The city’s love affair with gardens dates back 2,500 years and continues still. At the time of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) there were 250 gardens, of which about a hundred survive, although only a few are open to the public.
Suzhou, the city of canals and gardens, was called the ‘Venice of the East’ by Marco Polo. An ancient Chinese proverb states: ‘In Heaven there is Paradise; on Earth there is Suzhou’.<br/><br/>The city’s love affair with gardens dates back 2,500 years and continues still. At the time of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) there were 250 gardens, of which about a hundred survive, although only a few are open to the public.
Suzhou, the city of canals and gardens, was called the ‘Venice of the East’ by Marco Polo. An ancient Chinese proverb states: ‘In Heaven there is Paradise; on Earth there is Suzhou’.<br/><br/>The city’s love affair with gardens dates back 2,500 years and continues still. At the time of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) there were 250 gardens, of which about a hundred survive, although only a few are open to the public.
The octagonal North Temple Pagoda (Beisi Ta) is nine storeys and 76m high and dates from the late 10th century.<br/><br/>Suzhou, the city of canals and gardens, was called the ‘Venice of the East’ by Marco Polo. An ancient Chinese proverb states: ‘In Heaven there is Paradise; on Earth there is Suzhou’.<br/><br/>The city’s love affair with gardens dates back 2,500 years and continues still. At the time of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) there were 250 gardens, of which about a hundred survive, although only a few are open to the public.
The octagonal North Temple Pagoda (Beisi Ta) is nine storeys and 76m high and dates from the late 10th century.<br/><br/>Suzhou, the city of canals and gardens, was called the ‘Venice of the East’ by Marco Polo. An ancient Chinese proverb states: ‘In Heaven there is Paradise; on Earth there is Suzhou’.<br/><br/>The city’s love affair with gardens dates back 2,500 years and continues still. At the time of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) there were 250 gardens, of which about a hundred survive, although only a few are open to the public.
The Suzhou Confucian Temple (Chinese: 苏州文庙), also named the Suzhou Stone Inscription Museum and Suzhou Prefecture School (Chinese: 苏州府学; a state-run school), was built by Fan Zhongyan, the Prefect of Suzhou, in 1035 CE. It was the first temple school in China and is notable for containing the four greatest steles of the Song Dynasty.<br/><br/>Suzhou, the city of canals and gardens, was called the ‘Venice of the East’ by Marco Polo. An ancient Chinese proverb states: ‘In Heaven there is Paradise; on Earth there is Suzhou’.<br/><br/>The city’s love affair with gardens dates back 2,500 years and continues still. At the time of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) there were 250 gardens, of which about a hundred survive, although only a few are open to the public.
The Suzhou Confucian Temple (Chinese: 苏州文庙), also named the Suzhou Stone Inscription Museum and Suzhou Prefecture School (Chinese: 苏州府学; a state-run school), was built by Fan Zhongyan, the Prefect of Suzhou, in 1035 CE. It was the first temple school in China and is notable for containing the four greatest steles of the Song Dynasty.<br/><br/>Suzhou, the city of canals and gardens, was called the ‘Venice of the East’ by Marco Polo. An ancient Chinese proverb states: ‘In Heaven there is Paradise; on Earth there is Suzhou’.<br/><br/>The city’s love affair with gardens dates back 2,500 years and continues still. At the time of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) there were 250 gardens, of which about a hundred survive, although only a few are open to the public.
The Suzhou Confucian Temple (Chinese: 苏州文庙), also named the Suzhou Stone Inscription Museum and Suzhou Prefecture School (Chinese: 苏州府学; a state-run school), was built by Fan Zhongyan, the Prefect of Suzhou, in 1035 CE. It was the first temple school in China and is notable for containing the four greatest steles of the Song Dynasty.<br/><br/>Suzhou, the city of canals and gardens, was called the ‘Venice of the East’ by Marco Polo. An ancient Chinese proverb states: ‘In Heaven there is Paradise; on Earth there is Suzhou’.<br/><br/>The city’s love affair with gardens dates back 2,500 years and continues still. At the time of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) there were 250 gardens, of which about a hundred survive, although only a few are open to the public.
The Suzhou Confucian Temple (Chinese: 苏州文庙), also named the Suzhou Stone Inscription Museum and Suzhou Prefecture School (Chinese: 苏州府学; a state-run school), was built by Fan Zhongyan, the Prefect of Suzhou, in 1035 CE. It was the first temple school in China and is notable for containing the four greatest steles of the Song Dynasty.<br/><br/>Suzhou, the city of canals and gardens, was called the ‘Venice of the East’ by Marco Polo. An ancient Chinese proverb states: ‘In Heaven there is Paradise; on Earth there is Suzhou’.<br/><br/>The city’s love affair with gardens dates back 2,500 years and continues still. At the time of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) there were 250 gardens, of which about a hundred survive, although only a few are open to the public.
The Suzhou Confucian Temple (Chinese: 苏州文庙), also named the Suzhou Stone Inscription Museum and Suzhou Prefecture School (Chinese: 苏州府学; a state-run school), was built by Fan Zhongyan, the Prefect of Suzhou, in 1035 CE. It was the first temple school in China and is notable for containing the four greatest steles of the Song Dynasty.<br/><br/>Suzhou, the city of canals and gardens, was called the ‘Venice of the East’ by Marco Polo. An ancient Chinese proverb states: ‘In Heaven there is Paradise; on Earth there is Suzhou’.<br/><br/>The city’s love affair with gardens dates back 2,500 years and continues still. At the time of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) there were 250 gardens, of which about a hundred survive, although only a few are open to the public.
The Suzhou Confucian Temple (Chinese: 苏州文庙), also named the Suzhou Stone Inscription Museum and Suzhou Prefecture School (Chinese: 苏州府学; a state-run school), was built by Fan Zhongyan, the Prefect of Suzhou, in 1035 CE. It was the first temple school in China and is notable for containing the four greatest steles of the Song Dynasty.<br/><br/>Suzhou, the city of canals and gardens, was called the ‘Venice of the East’ by Marco Polo. An ancient Chinese proverb states: ‘In Heaven there is Paradise; on Earth there is Suzhou’.<br/><br/>The city’s love affair with gardens dates back 2,500 years and continues still. At the time of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) there were 250 gardens, of which about a hundred survive, although only a few are open to the public.
The Suzhou Confucian Temple (Chinese: 苏州文庙), also named the Suzhou Stone Inscription Museum and Suzhou Prefecture School (Chinese: 苏州府学; a state-run school), was built by Fan Zhongyan, the Prefect of Suzhou, in 1035 CE. It was the first temple school in China and is notable for containing the four greatest steles of the Song Dynasty.<br/><br/>Suzhou, the city of canals and gardens, was called the ‘Venice of the East’ by Marco Polo. An ancient Chinese proverb states: ‘In Heaven there is Paradise; on Earth there is Suzhou’.<br/><br/>The city’s love affair with gardens dates back 2,500 years and continues still. At the time of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) there were 250 gardens, of which about a hundred survive, although only a few are open to the public.
The Suzhou Confucian Temple (Chinese: 苏州文庙), also named the Suzhou Stone Inscription Museum and Suzhou Prefecture School (Chinese: 苏州府学; a state-run school), was built by Fan Zhongyan, the Prefect of Suzhou, in 1035 CE. It was the first temple school in China and is notable for containing the four greatest steles of the Song Dynasty.<br/><br/>Suzhou, the city of canals and gardens, was called the ‘Venice of the East’ by Marco Polo. An ancient Chinese proverb states: ‘In Heaven there is Paradise; on Earth there is Suzhou’.<br/><br/>The city’s love affair with gardens dates back 2,500 years and continues still. At the time of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) there were 250 gardens, of which about a hundred survive, although only a few are open to the public.
The Suzhou Confucian Temple (Chinese: 苏州文庙), also named the Suzhou Stone Inscription Museum and Suzhou Prefecture School (Chinese: 苏州府学; a state-run school), was built by Fan Zhongyan, the Prefect of Suzhou, in 1035 CE. It was the first temple school in China and is notable for containing the four greatest steles of the Song Dynasty.<br/><br/>Suzhou, the city of canals and gardens, was called the ‘Venice of the East’ by Marco Polo. An ancient Chinese proverb states: ‘In Heaven there is Paradise; on Earth there is Suzhou’.<br/><br/>The city’s love affair with gardens dates back 2,500 years and continues still. At the time of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) there were 250 gardens, of which about a hundred survive, although only a few are open to the public.
The Suzhou Confucian Temple (Chinese: 苏州文庙), also named the Suzhou Stone Inscription Museum and Suzhou Prefecture School (Chinese: 苏州府学; a state-run school), was built by Fan Zhongyan, the Prefect of Suzhou, in 1035 CE. It was the first temple school in China and is notable for containing the four greatest steles of the Song Dynasty.<br/><br/>Suzhou, the city of canals and gardens, was called the ‘Venice of the East’ by Marco Polo. An ancient Chinese proverb states: ‘In Heaven there is Paradise; on Earth there is Suzhou’.<br/><br/>The city’s love affair with gardens dates back 2,500 years and continues still. At the time of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) there were 250 gardens, of which about a hundred survive, although only a few are open to the public.
The Suzhou Confucian Temple (Chinese: 苏州文庙), also named the Suzhou Stone Inscription Museum and Suzhou Prefecture School (Chinese: 苏州府学; a state-run school), was built by Fan Zhongyan, the Prefect of Suzhou, in 1035 CE. It was the first temple school in China and is notable for containing the four greatest steles of the Song Dynasty.<br/><br/>Suzhou, the city of canals and gardens, was called the ‘Venice of the East’ by Marco Polo. An ancient Chinese proverb states: ‘In Heaven there is Paradise; on Earth there is Suzhou’.<br/><br/>The city’s love affair with gardens dates back 2,500 years and continues still. At the time of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) there were 250 gardens, of which about a hundred survive, although only a few are open to the public.
Suzhou, the city of canals and gardens, was called the ‘Venice of the East’ by Marco Polo. An ancient Chinese proverb states: ‘In Heaven there is Paradise; on Earth there is Suzhou’.<br/><br/>The city’s love affair with gardens dates back 2,500 years and continues still. At the time of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) there were 250 gardens, of which about a hundred survive, although only a few are open to the public.
Suzhou, the city of canals and gardens, was called the ‘Venice of the East’ by Marco Polo. An ancient Chinese proverb states: ‘In Heaven there is Paradise; on Earth there is Suzhou’.<br/><br/>The city’s love affair with gardens dates back 2,500 years and continues still. At the time of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) there were 250 gardens, of which about a hundred survive, although only a few are open to the public.
Suzhou, the city of canals and gardens, was called the ‘Venice of the East’ by Marco Polo. An ancient Chinese proverb states: ‘In Heaven there is Paradise; on Earth there is Suzhou’.<br/><br/>The city’s love affair with gardens dates back 2,500 years and continues still. At the time of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) there were 250 gardens, of which about a hundred survive, although only a few are open to the public.
Blue Wave Pavilion takes its name from a waterside pavilion built in 1044 by the poet Su Shunqin. It is the oldest garden in Suzhou, with a wilder design than the others, with rockeries and artificial hillocks decorated with bamboo.<br/><br/>Suzhou, the city of canals and gardens, was called the ‘Venice of the East’ by Marco Polo. An ancient Chinese proverb states: ‘In Heaven there is Paradise; on Earth there is Suzhou’.<br/><br/>The city’s love affair with gardens dates back 2,500 years and continues still. At the time of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) there were 250 gardens, of which about a hundred survive, although only a few are open to the public.
Blue Wave Pavilion takes its name from a waterside pavilion built in 1044 by the poet Su Shunqin. It is the oldest garden in Suzhou, with a wilder design than the others, with rockeries and artificial hillocks decorated with bamboo.<br/><br/>Suzhou, the city of canals and gardens, was called the ‘Venice of the East’ by Marco Polo. An ancient Chinese proverb states: ‘In Heaven there is Paradise; on Earth there is Suzhou’.<br/><br/>The city’s love affair with gardens dates back 2,500 years and continues still. At the time of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) there were 250 gardens, of which about a hundred survive, although only a few are open to the public.
Blue Wave Pavilion takes its name from a waterside pavilion built in 1044 by the poet Su Shunqin. It is the oldest garden in Suzhou, with a wilder design than the others, with rockeries and artificial hillocks decorated with bamboo.<br/><br/>Suzhou, the city of canals and gardens, was called the ‘Venice of the East’ by Marco Polo. An ancient Chinese proverb states: ‘In Heaven there is Paradise; on Earth there is Suzhou’.<br/><br/>The city’s love affair with gardens dates back 2,500 years and continues still. At the time of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) there were 250 gardens, of which about a hundred survive, although only a few are open to the public.
Blue Wave Pavilion takes its name from a waterside pavilion built in 1044 by the poet Su Shunqin. It is the oldest garden in Suzhou, with a wilder design than the others, with rockeries and artificial hillocks decorated with bamboo.<br/><br/>Suzhou, the city of canals and gardens, was called the ‘Venice of the East’ by Marco Polo. An ancient Chinese proverb states: ‘In Heaven there is Paradise; on Earth there is Suzhou’.<br/><br/>The city’s love affair with gardens dates back 2,500 years and continues still. At the time of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) there were 250 gardens, of which about a hundred survive, although only a few are open to the public.
The Suzhou Confucian Temple (Chinese: 苏州文庙), also named the Suzhou Stone Inscription Museum and Suzhou Prefecture School (Chinese: 苏州府学; a state-run school), was built by Fan Zhongyan, the Prefect of Suzhou, in 1035 CE. It was the first temple school in China and is notable for containing the four greatest steles of the Song Dynasty.<br/><br/>Suzhou, the city of canals and gardens, was called the ‘Venice of the East’ by Marco Polo. An ancient Chinese proverb states: ‘In Heaven there is Paradise; on Earth there is Suzhou’.<br/><br/>The city’s love affair with gardens dates back 2,500 years and continues still. At the time of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) there were 250 gardens, of which about a hundred survive, although only a few are open to the public.
The Suzhou Confucian Temple (Chinese: 苏州文庙), also named the Suzhou Stone Inscription Museum and Suzhou Prefecture School (Chinese: 苏州府学; a state-run school), was built by Fan Zhongyan, the Prefect of Suzhou, in 1035 CE. It was the first temple school in China and is notable for containing the four greatest steles of the Song Dynasty.<br/><br/>Suzhou, the city of canals and gardens, was called the ‘Venice of the East’ by Marco Polo. An ancient Chinese proverb states: ‘In Heaven there is Paradise; on Earth there is Suzhou’.<br/><br/>The city’s love affair with gardens dates back 2,500 years and continues still. At the time of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) there were 250 gardens, of which about a hundred survive, although only a few are open to the public.
Suzhou, the city of canals and gardens, was called the ‘Venice of the East’ by Marco Polo. An ancient Chinese proverb states: <i>‘In Heaven there is Paradise; on Earth there is Suzhou’</i>.<br/><br/> The city’s love affair with gardens dates back 2,500 years and continues still. At the time of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) there were 250 gardens, of which about a hundred survive, although only a few are open to the public.
The Ruiguang Pagoda (Ruiguang Ta) was built in 247 CE and is the oldest pagoda in Suzhou.<br/><br/> Suzhou, the city of canals and gardens, was called the ‘Venice of the East’ by Marco Polo. An ancient Chinese proverb states: <i>‘In Heaven there is Paradise; on Earth there is Suzhou’</i>.<br/><br/> The city’s love affair with gardens dates back 2,500 years and continues still. At the time of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) there were 250 gardens, of which about a hundred survive, although only a few are open to the public.