Just west of Shanghai is a hidden gem known as the Grand Canals of Suzhou (locally called Jing-Hang).  During my travels to Asia, I was fortunate enough to discover and experience this wonderful treasure. Rich with history, the canals pre-date the canals of Venice, Italy, by several hundred years. It is the longest — as well as oldest — canal in the world, dating all the way back to the Sui Dynasty in the fifth century. And just like Venice, it is also a UNESCO World Heritage site.

My daughter Tisha and I traveled along the canals on one of the many barges that ply these waterways. These traditional water workhorses are the lifeblood of this community, transporting people, goods and livestock on a daily basis. It was fascinating to see traditional homes with distinctive architectural features and matching red lanterns hanging from every roof, window and porch. Many of these homes are several hundred years old and amazingly well-preserved. The hustle and bustle of life continued along the canals as we passed through. Locals paid us no attention as they went about their business. Local gathering places, parks and markets were abundant at every turn. Our sense of adventure propelled us (pun intended) to get off our barge and explore the side streets. We found the markets teeming with live animals waiting to be served for dinner that evening. Ducks, chickens, rabbits, turtles and snakes were abundant. It definitely doesn’t get any fresher than that! And like so many great travel destinations, street food vendors were serving many local delicacies. We decided to skip the fried scorpions and opted for the more palatable fried dumplings, which we were told were a local specialty. Bellies full, we headed back to our barge.

As the day came to a close, I was left with a satisfying sense of awe and wonder. I’m certain it was the same feeling Marco Polo felt when he visited the area in the late 1200s. Without a doubt, the Grand Canals of Suzhou are a must-see if you are ever in this part of China. Not only is it an easy drive from Shanghai, it is also the jumping-off point to one of the great tea-growing regions of China. The many scenic tea fields and tea villages around Hangzhou are just a few miles away, all producing the most popular green tea in China, Longjing tea. Or as local legend calls it, Dragon Well tea. But that’s a whole other story . . . .

— Bill Lodzinski, director of sales