Paddling along a Suzhou canal 1996. [Photo by Bruce Connolly/chinadaily.com.cn]
The area's man-water relationship going back well over 2,000 years was a daily fascination for me. I originally planned on a couple of days in Suzhou but ended up staying a week, for Lake Tai was beckoning.
Obviously I have described a unique city as it was in 1996. Suzhou has changed, just as China has rapidly moved forward over the past two decades. It will be fascinating to return in spring 2018 and revisit the locations 22 years later!
The author is senior blogger of China Daily website.
