June 15 After another garden in Suzhou, we visited the No. 1 Silk Factory(slow link). As in China #1. We saw silk worms and their cocoons, the separating of the silk cocoons, processing of silk, and many silk products. All culminating in a silk fashion show or a duvet cover, the ultimate finale was unclear to me. Now back to Shanghai for an overnight train to Beijing and our home for a few weeks.
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June 14 We left Shanghai to visit the towns of Zhujiajiao and Suzhou.
Zhujiajao was a small well-preserved canal town. We spent the afternoon walking around the canals, small lanes and shops.
Suzhou is a much more substantial and significant city and a historic center of trade and silk. Suzhou is also a city of great private gardens. We visited the Humble Administrator’s Garden, the Lingering Garden and the Keeper of Nets Garden. All very beautiful and spatially choreographed traditional Chinese gardens. We spent the night in Suzhou and go back to Shanghai tomorrow to get the overnight train to Beijing.
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