Suzhou 'Special Ops' Blitz: 2 Days - The Finale (2/2) 9

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Suzhou 'Special Ops' Blitz: 2 Days - The Finale (2/2) 1

Hello, when it comes to Suzhou, truly delightful spots worth savoring might not be as many as you expect.

If you follow the recommended "classic routes" on some travel apps (like the extremely popular "Little Red Book" in our country, or similar platforms in yours that share travel tips),

for instance, on day one, you first dive into the Suzhou Museum, followed by Zhusan Garden, then Lion Grove... before long, you will probably find yourself thinking, "Huh, they all look pretty much the same?" This is what we call "aesthetic fatigue"! Though each garden holds its unique stories and features, seeing too many classical gardens with similar styles in such short time can become overbearing.

Take Zhusan Garden as an example, which boasts a huge reputation and stands among China's leading classical gardens; indeed, it's quite magnificent.

One character of this garden is its relatively flat terrain, lacking scenic viewpoints where you could change angles and appreciate the overall layout. Hence, its design ingenuity and beautiful details can be harder to catch at a glance.

A heads-up for friends visiting Suzhou for the first time:

Don't overindulge! Although the Suzhou Gardens are magnificent gems, cramming them into one day's tour will quickly diminish your newness and wonder.
How to overcome this?
- Distribute your garden visits across different days.
- Or, interweave other types of activities. For example, after enjoying one garden, visit Pingjiang Road – a lively old street that preserved ancient charm with its commercial pedestrian avenue and numerous local shops & eateries, making your experience much more fulfilling!

Joanne Swift