#lionsgrove

[sheepiesadventures]

I'm visiting the Lion's Grove Garden in Suzhou, China! This used to be someone's home!

[napsfromthepassengerseat]

a daytrip to suzhou: venice of the east

from shanghai, we took a 20 minute bullet train west to suzhou, a city founded in 514 BC, famous for its classical garden designs.

the train station is epic and huge

on our way into the city, i became fascinated with these limestone rocks called taihu rocks

first stop, i.m. pei's suzhou museum

tim and tina pondered beautifully lit art

intricate tusk carving is definitely a lost art

a street vendor selling a fruit i've never seen before

it felt like a koosh ball, tasted like a bean, and had the color of strawberry jam ..

any ideas?

sanitation is a big issue so many restaurants we've been to have this dinner set all sealed in plastic

  lion's grove garden, famous for it's elaborate mazes made from taihu rock 

beautiful stones sculpted by wind and water arranged to depict aspects of chinese geography

pagodas and waterfalls created an surprisingly serene and awe inspiring environment despite the hoards of tourist clamoring about

taihu rocks are also known as chinese scholar's rocks, inspiring artists, poets, and scholars of the time

with the creation of the grand canal and the moat that encloses suzhou, smaller water passageways run the length of the city. many boats are often found along these paths, giving suzhou the nickname, "venice of the east"

not quite sure why there are so many openings in a variety of shapes but these portals are often found in older complexes and i think they're great

walking down the small street adjacent to one of the canals, we stopped for these dessert dumplings

and saw many houses showing the marks of time passed

humble administrator's garden, considered to be the finest garden in all of southern china. i don't disagree