I spent time at West Lake and the surrounding parks. It’s famous for its gardens and has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for influencing garden designs throughout China, Japan, and Korea for centuries. I’ll be spending more time here over the next few days. However, I wanted to walk along the shoreline and see what attractions were worth prioritizing for later (of which there were many).

I spent the day at Solitary Hill, located on the northwest corner of West Lake. It’s the only natural island inside the lake (the others are man-made) and occupies an area of approximately 50 acres. This park was formerly the site of a Qing dynasty imperial garden. It was renovated and reopened in 1927 to commemorate Sun Yat-sen, known as the father of modern China. (He is celebrated in both Mainland China and Taiwan.)

I visited Leifeng Pagoda, constructed in the 10th century during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. This was a notable period of political instability in China’s history, where five dynastic states ruled and collapsed in quick succession.

For my last major stop in China, I’ll be spending time in Suzhou. It was founded in the 6th century BC and is among China’s largest and most developed cities. It’s known for its canals, bridges, and manicured gardens. It’s been called by many as the “Venice of the East.”

The weather in Suzhou has been so lovely lately. I kid. Although, I can’t really complain. I haven’t experienced any intense rainfall since arriving in China. That is, until now. In this case, the only way for me to escape it was to step inside a coffee shop. Very few coffee shops open before 10 AM. Coffee culture is growing in popularity in China, but it’s not really part of their morning routine. I did, however, discover this shop inside the Cultural Salon of Suzhou. The coffee was not great, but the space was awesome. It took several hours for the storm to pass.

In the morning, I visited Shantang Street, sometimes referred to as the “First Street in Suzhou.” It was constructed in the 9th century during the Tang dynasty. This street, along with Pingjiang Road, declared a “Historical and Cultural Block of China” in 2015, make up portions of what is considered the Old Town of Suzhou. Besides the canals and bridges, I find the private homes particularly interesting. You can occasionally catch a glimpse into the daily lives of those who live here.

For my last night in Suzhou, I enjoyed a live pingtan performance. Originating in Suzhou and often performed in the Suzhou dialect, it originated during the Song dynasty but was popularized in Shanghai during the 19th century. I had never seen one before, but I stayed for the entire event and really enjoyed it! Here’s a video of a live performance done in China.

I arrived in Beijing in the evening, and it was blistering hot, nearly 100°F (36°C). When I left the metro, I worried that I’d melt away. Fortunately, I got it together and visited Ghost Street for what would be my last dinner in China (at least for now).

For my final post, I had hoped to share an amazing story about my last meal. Unfortunately, in my haste to make it to the airport, I had no time to enjoy it. Instead, I’ll share a picture of my favorite breakfast from this adventure: pork noodles, soup dumplings, and soy milk.