After Beijing, my family and I spent a couple of relaxing days in Suzhou. My mom brought one of her suits to a tailor and had a gorgeous copy made for her in a winter material. We also indulged in some massage therapy. Clare and I had a 1-hour Japanese shitzu body massage which was heavenly! However, I think our favorite experience was visiting the famous Master of the Nets Garden. The garden is considered to be a perfect example of small, classical Chinese garden landscaping and it feels like a tiny jewel tucked away in the bustling town center. After walking down a winding alley you enter the Master of the Nets' house and can view the pavilion halls and furniture before exploring the garden.


Chinese gardens are very interesting because they are so different from our Western idea of a garden. The landscape incorporates aspects of architecture, philosophy, art and literature. Unlike European gardens which seek to control the landscape with geometry and show man's place as ruler over nature, Chinese gardens reflect Taoist thought where man is just one small part of the world. Chinese gardens recreate the world by emphasizing an asymmetrical layout of pavilions, water features, hills and rocks. Mountains and rivers are very important in Chinese culture and are symbolized by the ponds and misshapen rocks that form the center of the garden's design. The symbolism continues with choosing which plants to have in the garden and the names of the gardens and pavilions. I look forward to revisiting the Master of the Nets garden once I have more knowledge about Chinese culture so I can more fully understand its harmonic beauty!

Frommer's description: "Jinshanling is one of the all-time Great Wall hikes. It's not as steep as Simatai and is more heavily restored, but with fewer visitors. The hike from here east to the Miyun Reservoir is roughly 10km and takes 3 to 4 hours. The middle part of the hike, as the people fall away and the Wall begins to crumble, can be truly sublime."

What Frommer's should have said: "While the Jinshanling Great Wall is beautiful be warned that the hike should only be attempted by skilled hikers experienced with rough terrain. Most of the Wall has not been restored and challenges the hiker to find, sometimes on all fours, a way up or down the curving, rubble filled path. Remember to always have a full water bottle for everyone in your party. Water will be sold in the first few towers but as the wall becomes more challenging, vendors disappear. Not for the faint of heart or those who have little athletic experience."

Well as you can tell, climbing the Great Wall was a challenge that while we survived left us wondering why we didn't choose the more touristy part to hike... especially since it was 90 degrees or hotter. The scenery was gorgeous and very magnificent from the few glimpses I caught while clinging to the Wall trying not to fall over. The history buff in me wanted to know more about the history of the Wall and its construction rather than have a near death experience climbing it. Okay maybe I exaggerate a little but it was pretty grueling and left all of us dehydrated and weak at the end. It also took us 5 hours not 3 to 4 :(

But mom is right, it is something I will never forget!