When you think of China what comes to your mind? Large, bustling, overpopulated cities growing by the minute in a cloud of pollution? Unfortunately that was what I thought as well- until I went. I had the chance to visit the incredible city of Shanghai recently and loved every second of it. I knew that my visit there was going to have a big city feel, so I wanted to go somewhere close that felt like the real, authentic, ancient China. After doing some research I decided on Suzhou- the ‘Venice of the East’. From the moment I got a glimpse of their picturesque canals and structures I was hooked. My favorite part of Suzhou was the small area named Tongli. This special place left me breathless. Gorgeous ancient buildings and sprawling trees lined the winding canals. I got on a boat and was gently paddled along the canals and under the trees. Every minute of Tongli didn’t feel real, it felt like a dream. Here are a few of my favorite pictures to inspire you to visit this magical place, even if it is only for a day.
