How to Enjoy a Cruise on the Grand Canal in Suzhou – An Entrancing Experience for Visitors
The captivating city of Suzhou, renowned for its bridges, canals, and gardens, will always be an interesting metropolis to explore, offering many engrossing experiences for the visitor. Among these not-to-be-missed experiences would be taking a cruise on the city’s Grand Canal; on one of these cruises, you would have the opportunity to observe the interesting old buildings whilst also gaining an insight into the local way of life. More information about this experience is provided below.
Take note of the history
The remarkable Suzhou Grand Canal would be counted among China’s outstanding creations. It forms part of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, a canal that stretches over a distance of no less than 1,200 miles, making it the lengthiest manmade watercourse on the globe.
The construction of the Suzhou Grand Canal commenced during the Spring and Autumn Periods and was completed during the reign of the Tang Dynasty. Over time, it contributed significantly to Suzhou’s economic development, having functioned as an important waterway for the transport of goods and people. Even today, thousands of ships make their way through the Suzhou Grand Canal. You will see that it is lined by both old and modern buildings, reflecting the role the canal has played over the years supporting the development of the city of Suzhou.
Understand what to observe
If you undertake a cruise on the Suzhou Grand Canal, you will have the chance to observe many captivating sights. One of these would be the Pan Gate Scenic Area which happens to be renowned for its long history and cultural attractions. Important landmarks here would include the Ruiguang Pagoda and Panmen Gate Tower.
Other sights to look out for on your cruise would be the Xu Gate and Chang Gate. You would also be enthralled by Shantang Street which would have the distinction of having been one of China’s foremost localities during the Qing and Ming dynasties. At this time, many people visited Shantang Street to conduct business, engage in sightseeing and reside there. Another noteworthy attraction would be the Xiang Gate which was formerly known for its craftspeople. In the past, this locality was also renowned for the excellent swords manufactured here.
Experience the cruise
Experiencing the cruise on the Grand Canal in Suzhou | Image via unsplash
Many visitors to Suzhou take the opportunity to undertake a cruise on the Grand Canal. Although some parts of the canal are no longer used, it would be possible to tour certain sections extending through the city. As your cruise vessel makes its way through the canal, you will encounter sights such as quaint river dwellings, several stone bridges, and ancient city gates; added to this are a couple of Suzhou’s most admired attractions, the West Garden Temple and Hanshan Temple. Even more entrancing would be a night cruise on which you could admire the lovely illuminations of the city. A choice of accommodation to consider from which you could easily visit the Grand Canal would be Pan Pacific Suzhou which may be regarded as an appealingly located Suzhou hotel for your sightseeing adventures.
Enjoy a pingtan performance
On your Suzhou Grand Canal cruise vessel, you may have the opportunity to experience a distinctive pingtan performance that would capture the imagination of the culture lover. The ancient form of entertainment known as pingtan may be described as a combination of ballad singing and storytelling accompanied by music performed on stringed instruments. One of these instruments would be the pipa, or Chinese lute. Typically, pingtan artists would perform both the singing as well as the music simultaneously. Pingtan would often feature classic Chinese stories, but there would also be performances based on more modern narratives. There could hardly be a better way to spend an evening in Suzhou than enjoying such a performance whilst admiring the picturesque scenery on your Grand Canal cruise.
