Suzhou

Then on to Suzhou, canals and parks, well private gardens really which are the pinnacle of Chinese landscaping and a good opener to Japan in a week or so. They are great places to sit, listening to the rain splashing into the ponds that reflect the pagodas and pavilions around them. We risk life and limb on bikes for the day. Cycling in a Chinese city is dangerous, not really from vehicles – you are generally on separate paths. No one takes any notice of the bikes/ cars/ buses around them. People pull out into the road with no signal, warning or sideways glance to see what is coming.