Shanghai

After an early morning pickup from our hotel we drive outside Shanghai to Suzhou a city famous for its classic gardens and canal system, often referred to as the 'Oriental Venice'.

                                 The Garden of the Master of the Fishing Net.

                         The canal was constructed over 1000 years ago in the Sui Dynasty.

                  We had an extensive cruise on the canal seeing many different aspects of life.

 It must be very hot here in the summer, with the extensive air conditioners, even on our canal boat. We were lucky to have relatively cool weather and no need for air conditioning.

                          Most of the canal boats are motorized, tho a few still use a sweep.

After our cruise on the canal we visited a Silk Spinning Mill, that demon straits silk production from the larvae to the spinning and the final production of finished products such as clothing and bed covers.