China Day Two - Suzhou

Sketches from the canal boat

After a busy morning exploring China's most prominent Silk Factory and the beautiful gardens of Suzhou, we clambered off dry-land and sank into a frightfully low boat on Suzhou's intricate canal system that rivals western Venice. With a notably illiterate conductor attempting to flog us postcards the entire journey, we peered through the cloudy windows - the air outside making our eyes stream with its bitter coldness if we attempted to slide the windows open.

Along the journey a jumble of new and old buildings slid past our eager eyes. We slipped under low bridges made famous by the silver screen and finally docked at a stone platform littered with drying ginger. Needless to say, the rich aroma that arose was a precursor for the fragrant mix that spiked the air as we dodged the bikes (almost 9 million) that rode precariously down the narrow alleys - each corner revealing exciting dishes steaming heavily from doorways.

All along the way figurines and postcards were thrusted into our hands, with a member of my party famously being chased down the entire street and onto the coach by a fan-and-silk-handkerchief-wielding woman.

It is in Suzhou that I learnt my most valuable phrase: Bu Yao - I don't need it thank you