Welcome to Eastern China
Changshu
Changshu is traditionally a market town and due to its mild climate and fertile land, the area has been agriculturally developed for thousands of years. Technically a county subordinate to Suzhou rather than a city in itself, like most of Jiangsu Province it is developing quickly and international businesses are starting to open up there. Known for its scenery, it is also among the most prosperous counties in the whole country. A harbor is being developed on the Yangtze River to serve Suzhou and Wuxi.Changshu doesn't yet have a railway station so visitors arrive by bus or car. A convenient highway makes it accessible for day trips from Shanghai or Suzhou. If you do not have access to your own car or driver, plan ahead and book taxis when you are traveling out of town as buses often stop operating quite early.Changshu's weather is mild with four distinct seasons, a rainy season in early summer and extremely hot in July and August. Winter is notably more pleasant than in Shanghai despite the distance being relatively small.
Hangzhou
Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province, is located around 180 km southwest of Shanghai. Listed as one of the Seven Ancient Capitals of China, the city was founded more than 2,200 years ago, although there is evidence of occupation on the site dating back more than 5,000 years. It has long been one of the most prosperous cities in China.Renowned for its historic relics and natural beauty, Hangzhou is especially scenic. On his visit in the 13th century, the Venetian adventurer Marco Polo pronounced Hangzhou the finest city he had ever seen. Despite recent urban developments, the city still retains its historical and cultural heritage and tourism remains an important factor for Hangzhou's economy.Xiaoshan International Airport is around 30km from the city and is easily accessibly by taxi or shuttle bus. Most air traffic is domestic although there are links to Hong Kong, Tokyo, Seoul, Bangkok and Singapore. The city is linked by several major roads to nearby urban centers and there are two railway stations with good rail links to other parts of China. Four bus stations offer regular services to towns within Zhejiang and surrounding provinces. There are also waterways linking Hangzhou with Suzhou, Wuxi, and Zhouzhuang. Within Hangzhou, an extensive bus network links areas of the city and taxis are plentiful. The construction of a proposed subway system has recently been approved and is expected to become operational in 2010.Annually Hangzhou experiences four distinct seasons and the average temperature is around 16 degrees Celsius. Summers are warm and winters are relatively cool, with average temperatures remaining above zero. Sheltered from summer storms by its inland position, Hangzhou merits its inclusion in the ancient Chinese proverb that it is best to: “be born in Suzhou, live in Hangzhou, eat in Guangzhou and die in Liuzhou”.
Nanjing
Few cities in China are more culturally and historically significant than Nanjing. Capital of China for centuries, and again for brief periods in the twentieth century, it is also remembered for the Nanjing Treaty in 1839. The Taiping rebellion, one of the bloodiest civil wars in world history, began here and its leaders were based in the city for a decade. It was also here that Sun Yat-Sen was inaugurated as the first Provisional President of the Republic of China in 1912. The Nanjing Massacre in 1937 made the city a byword for war crimes – yet this is not a city weighed down by its past. It is modern and thriving, and its city centre lake area and the nearby Purple Mountain make for an easy get-away from urban life.The international airport is 35km from downtown Nanjing and a modern railway station is located in the city centre. Trains on the Shanghai line, which also serves Wuxi and Suzhou, are comfortable and, heading away from Shanghai, cross the remarkable Yangtze River Bridge. The city itself has an efficient subway system, recently opened and still being expanded. Good buses and taxis also make it very easy to get around.With temperatures reaching as high as 40 degrees Celsius, Nanjing is known for its hot summers, while its winter temperatures can reach below zero. January often sees the city blanketed in snow. Spring and fall are usually the best times to visit.
Ningbo
One of China's oldest cities with a history dating back of 4800 B.C, Ningbo ( literally Tranquil Waves) is always one of China’s leading seaports and was once dubbed the Beginning of the Silk Road Oversea. Today, it is world’s fourth largest trading port in terms of tonnage. Wearing all the trappings of a booming international business hub, it is now the economical powerhouse for Zhejiang Province and Yangtz River Delta. With its geographical advantages, Ningbo is a transportation center with canal, road, and rail links, and steamer services to places such as Shanghai. Even today, it is still the staging post to the nearby Putuoshan, the only Buddhist Island in China. Long a center of religion, Ningbo has many temples and Buddhist monasteries such as Tiantong, Asoka, Baoguo, Wulei, Seven Pagodas, etc, among which many enjoy very high reputation across Southeast Asia. Today’s Ningbo is a hybrid of a modern bustling metropolis and an ancient cultural town. Under the ever-changing skylines are the numerous stylish, trendy, chic nightlife destinations and boutique stores peppering around the city or condensed in such places as Tianyi square or Wanda World, vibrating the city’s entertaining and lavishing scenes, while you can still find cherished cultural heritages like Town God Temple, the Old Bund, or the city symbol Tianyi Pavilion. Tianyi Pavilion is the oldest well-preserved private library now under state protection. This charming place, with its gold-plated, wood-paneled buildings, beautiful bamboo groves, pool and rockery, still preserves an atmosphere of seclusion, contemplation and study.
Suzhou
Suzhou dates from 514 BC and is known as the Venice of the Orient thanks to its network of canals. Most famous for its amazing gardens, which are landscaped in extraordinary detail, the city is also a thriving business town and has always been considered a cultural center. It shares Lake Tai with Wuxi and has the amazing engineering triumph that is the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal cutting through it. An intriguing mix of old and new, the city is easily explored on foot.Suzhou has no airport so most visitors start from Nanjing or Shanghai. Trains from both cities are fast and comfortable, or you can take a shuttle bus from Shanghai's Hongqiao Airport. Once in Suzhou, if touring gardens or heading to Tiger Hill, it is best to organize a driver or use taxis, though buses are also plentiful.The climate in Suzhou is excellent. Mild with four distinct seasons, expect rain in early summer and warmer weather in July and August. The best time for viewing the gardens is spring and early summer.
The name refers to the many pavilions in which the visitor can pause and admire the scenery, the Mandarin Duck Hall and its gate being the most famous. The walkways follow the usual zig-zag pattern across water and through flowers and trees, and at the back of the park is the rather surprising sight of a giant rock which apparently originated in Lake Tai.
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