There are a few versions of story explaining the weird name given to this small yet one of the finest garden in Suzhou. Some said the officer that resided there decided to give up bureaucracy and become a fisherman, but other said that the name is given such because of its location near to WangShi road.

Whatever the explanation it is, I agree with the claim that this is the best if not one of the finest Suzhou garden. Quoting Lonely Planet China - "it is worth a visit as it's better than all the others COMBINED".

I wasn't expecting much because it is the last garden during my trip to Suzhou. At this moment, I do not know why I had put it on the last in my list. If not, I would have visited it twice.

This garden was first constructed in the Song Dynasty in 1140 AD, and now even has a replica in Museum of Metropolitan of Art New York.

















It was quite cloudy, and the all the pictures that I took at this garden turned out dark and dull. Hmm, I wish I could go there again on a bright sunny day.

Walking into a Suzhou garden is like entering a Chinese painting. Unlike Japanese garden where tidiness comes first, Suzhou gardens are more towards letting the garden grows and shapes itself, at least that was what I could see.

This garden is in the UNESCO world heritage list, with history of more than 400 years. Like other famous garden in Suzho, the Lingering Garden seeks to create stunning natural landscape within limited space.




Light is one of the important key in creating beautiful Suzhou garden. Most corridors and rooms are designed to let only adequate lights in.


The use of limited space can been seen at this narrow corridor. Mirrors are used to reflect the image of the opposite side creating life paintings on the wall and making the narrow corridor looks spacious.


As Suzhou is pretty humid throughout the year, moss often grow on walls, creating dramatic effect to the garden. I really like those dirty walls covered with green and yellowish moss.


Moss that painted the wall.















I fell in love with the beauty Lingering Garden.

Oct 20, 2007

Remaking Hero

I stepped into a Chinese restaurant and took my early lunch at Yuyuan, each moment hoping that the rain would stop. It didn't.
(later, I learned from the news that it was a typhoon that hit the southern part of China)

I became very restless, and started wandering in that 3-floors restaurant. Wandering in a restaurant is definitely a no-no, but I braved myself and reached the top floor where some 10 or more workers were having their lunch and preparing for work. I thought I would be told off, but they didnt say a word.

It was at 3rd floor, that I restlessness disappeared when I looked out from the window.
I saw a scene of drops of rain trickling down the roof.

A scene that very much resembled the first fighting scene between Jet Li and Donnie Yen in Hero.

I smiled, a bless, I told myself.









And, a scene of the fight .. from Hero

DIning at Xin Tian Di would probably take away your arm and leg.

This expensive area, developed by Hong Kong real estate companies, by re-developing old "shi ku men" houses (stone gate), has earn its status as "romantic old -Shanghai in modern world" and the place for the "hi-so" to hang out on weekends.





















Night scene of the skyline in Pudong area in Shanghai is surely something you cant afford to miss.


Occasionally, ferry with huge advertising LCD display sails by HuangPu river, disturbing your view of Pudong. :)


Oriental Pearl Tower, the rather odd structure in Pudong.


"The design of the building is based on a verse of the Tang Dynasty poem Pipa Song by Bai Juyi about the wonderful sprinkling sound of a pipa instrument, like pearls, big and small falling on a jade plate" -Wikipedia


Closer shot.


My next dream, is to walk across the highest observation bridge in the world when Shanghai World Financial Building (still in construction) is opened to public.

Oct 5, 2007

Modern Shanghai

If you want to see a city that grows at the rate of more than 10% a year, you should come to Shanghai. The hustle and bustle of the city alone can tear you down. With the population already surpassing 25 millions, and keep swelling, the energy of the city is unbelievable.

There are activities at almost every corners of the city : old buildings are being knocked down, people are fast-moving and loud, bus and cars honk at every minute and never stop at pedestrian crossing, taxi drivers that don't drive but fly a car, etc.... the clock seems to tick faster in Shanghai.

Upon my arrival, the very first destination, was Shanghai Bund, which is also the first destination most tourists will head or should head to. It is in Shanghai Bund, where you can see the old and modern Shanghai all at once.


Laying beyond HuangPu river which basically divides the delta into Puxi (xi=west) and Pudong (dong=east), is the icon of modern China, the Pudong Skyline.


Pudong area was once a boggy farmland, which supplies Shanghai with farm and poultry products. Development of Pudong started roughly around 1990.


Glittering in the evening sun, is Jin Mao Tower (middle) which is the tallest building in China and the soon to be finished Shanghai World Financial Centre, which will take away the title from Jin Mao Tower. On top of Shanghai World Financial Center building is a circular opening, where a observation bridge will be built across it, making it the highest observation platform from a building in the world.


As Pudong is facing the east , the skyline glitters like diamond in the evening. Very beautiful.


I eagerly waited for night to fall in Shanghai.

Next post, Shanghai's night view.