• The cannonball is running between Shanghai and Suzhou. This train passed all stations on the way, and arrived at Suzhou by one hour. The distance of Shanghai and Suzhou is 100km. Soft sheets of the extra charge were 22 Yuen, and hard sheets of a general seat were 15 Yuen. A soft sheet is completely in another also the gate, and exists also in the waiting room only for a soft sheet. There is a woman who checks the thicket as a conductor when getting on the train and takes care of the passengers and serves drink and food while the vehicle is going. It was possible to get tickets from Shanghai to Suzhou but when getting off at Suzhou station and tried to buy return ticket, however only a hard sheet remained. Mysterious thing has happened when our guide called an elderly woman who stood on the street near the station, the ticket of soft sheets could be obtained. Being able to buy the reserved ticket along the road though overcapacity has been already expressed it is unbelievable to get the tickets just before 30 minutes of the departure.

• Suzhou has one million people in the city among 5.7 million total population.

• In Tiger Hill, the China king has made for a burial place of his parents in B.C. 550. They were buried here and in the legend it is said that after three days of their burial a white tiger appeared then it was named Tiger Hill. The Cloud Stone Temple tower was built in 7 layers in height 48m of 8-corner in 961 on the hill. It seems to have begun to incline from Ming dynasty because of the subsidence. It is inclining by 15° now. It is "Leaning Tower of Pisa" of the Orient.

• Rivers and canals were found all over and then Suzhou is called the city of water or Venice of the Orient. 43% of the land is covered with water among gross area 8,500 square km. One of the amazing things is the grand canal which connects from Beijing, Suzhou and Hangzhou to as much as 1,800�q in the total extension. The present canal has been completed as a grand canal in the age of Yuen dynasty (1271-1368). Because Beijing is connected with Hangzhou, it is called Jing-Hang Great Canal. It is a typical landmark where China is represented as well as Great Wall. Also near the Cold Mountain Temple, this canal passed with the river width in this part exceeds 20 m. Average depth of the canal is 3m, and the average width of 9m. It sailed to north-south with the shallop with a shallow bottom.

• The Cold Mountain Temple was created in the dynasty of 502-519. It came to be called the Cold Mountain Temple because high priest Cold-mountain and Jyutoku in the age of Tang Dynasty to move and live from the Mt. Tian-dai. A present building was rebuilt in Qing dynasty. The sound of the bell of the Cold Mountain Temple at the midnight has been famous since old days. There is a bell that golden Buddha is enshrined inside in the precincts. It is said that it rejuvenates at the age of ten when this bell is tolled once as the watch-night bell. It becomes the big event to hear the sound of the watch-night bell every year when receiving the new year, and therefore bell toll charge becomes as high as 900 Yuen of extra charge as the watch-night bell, our guide said. And many Japanese tourist are coming to the bell toll. The bell was tolled this time and it rejuvenated at my age of ten though it was not new year's eve.

• The lion woods is called one of the Suzhou 4 large noted gardens. High priest Ten at Yuen dynasty (1271-1368) recalled Middle-hill priest and the garden of the Zen style was constructed. The Middle-hill priest used to have trained at the place called the lion cliff before then it is named a lion woods after this. The artificial hill was piled up by a lot of the great lake stones being produced from the vicinity of the great lake, and it becomes like a labyrinthine cave.

• The North Temple tower was built in the dynasty of 220-280 for the king to reward his mother's appreciation. And the tower dominates in the temple. It is said to be created in the dynasty of 502-557. It is 8 corners and 9-story tower and height is 76 m. Up to 6-story was repaired in the south Sung Dynasty of 1127-1279 and 7-9 stories were done in the Ming dynasty of 1368-1644.

Tiger Hill is the mausoleum built in 971 for the king Wu to have made for his father. It inclines 15 degree. Height 48 m and 8 corners of 7 stories.
Suzhou is called as the Water City or Venice of the Orient. River cruise by a boat was fun. Willow trees of the both sides of the river is Suzhou speciality.
The wide river and the stone bridges with the history of hundreds of years are suitable sceneries for the capital of water. It is picturesque.
Amazingly, 43% of the land of total 8,500 square km is covered with water.
House stand in a row in both shores and the river as the water transport has been used for hundreds of years. The structure can be used for washing and to use the river directly.
It becomes symmetric scenery settled because houses and the bridges in both shores are projected onto the surface of the water when coming to the place where the river width is a little narrow.
When passing under the bridge, the lanterns are being decorated by the houses in both shores and they are lit up in the evening and becoming restaurants?
There is not only the bridge but also a bridge like gangway bridge in the place where the river width is narrow.			Get off from the boat in this place.
The Tower of the Cold Mountain Temple.	It was created in the years of 502-519.	It is famous of the poem.	The Bodhisattva is enshrined.
The stone-print of the priests.	Buddha statues are queuing up behind.	The Cold Jyu Hall is named after high priests Cold-mountain and Jyutoku in the age of Tang Dynasty.
t is said that it rejuvenates at the age of ten when this bell is tolled once as the watch-night bell.		A hall next to the tower.	Tower of the Cold Mountain Temple.
Tourists were throwing coins for happiness.	Smoke that burns the smell makes the vicinity white.	The tower of the Cold Mountain Temple on leaving	The great canal connects Beijing, Suzhou and Hangzhou
The lion woods is called one of the Suzhou 4 large noted gardens. The artificial hill was piled up by a lot of the great lake stones being produced from the vicinity of the great lake, and it becomes like a labyrinthine cave.
The pond and the rocks are mainly composed.	This side is a room only men used.	The opposite is for women and tools are small.	This room faces the pond, and becomes for the relaxation.
Going to the North Temple tower.	The censer at the entrance.	Unique image of Buddha of entrance the North Temple tower	Tower has 8 corners and 9 layers, Height is 76 m.
Buddha Hall next to the North Temple tower. The golden Buddha is sitting in center of the hall.			The statue in marble when turning behind.
Plum Garden is in the back of the North Temple tower. The North Temple tower and the bower viewed from the plum garden is sometimes used as a picture.

2005/01/01