Grand China Waterway Cruises

China Cultural Tour

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History Suzhou was named Wu in the ancient times. First built in 514B.C., the city has a rich history of 2,500 years. The old city has generally retained the unique characteristics of the past. We can see its double-chessboard layout in which "the streets and rivers go side by side, while the water and land routes run in parallel"; We can also see its "3 longitudinal. 3 horizontal and one ring like" river course; its small bridges over slowly flowing waters: its "red brick walls with black tiled roofs" and its "historical interests and well-known gardens". Historically this is a remarkable place rich in outstanding talents and natural resources. The city is praised as "the earthly heaven" for its fully developed traditional culture and its scenic gardens. ****************************************************************************  SuZhou is Famous for Garden Architectures The most Beautiful Gardens in China To view each of these beautiful Chinese Gardens click below: Zhuozhengyuan Liuyuan Wangshiyuan HuanxiuShanzhuang   Shizilin   Canglangting   Ouyuan   Yipu Tuisiyuan Yiyuan   Qiyuan  ************************************************************************** Su Embroidery Art Together with Xiang Embroidery, Shu Embroidery and Yue Embroidery, Su Embroidery is famed as one of Nation's Top 4 Embroideries. Su Embroider has a long history. From Ming Dynasty, there were embroidering girls all over towns and villages, schools multiplied and skilled people doing embroidery came forth one after another. Su Embroidery has been famous for a long time for its "exquisiteness, elegance and cleanness". Skilled ones doing embroidery pulled threads and excelled nature. Su Embroidery is beautiful in pattern, elegant in color and refined and unique in embroidering. Su Embroidery has characteristics such as "smoothness" the surface of embroidery is smooth and submissive, "uniform" the outline edge is uniform, "exquisiteness" needle is used skillfully and threads are slender, "denseness" the arrangement of lines is tight and no needle trace is protruding, "softness" the degree of depth of color is suitable and "brightness" dazzling and colorful, etc. Patterns of expression of Su Embroider is various, such as single-side embroider, double-side embroider, thin-needle embroider, random-needle embroider, thin-random needle mixed embroider, double-side and different colors, different patterns and different-needle embroider, etc. Works of Su Embroider is rich in levels, strong in nature, deep in meanings, and affords food for thought. In tradition, works of Su Embroider takes golden fish and cats as its main subjects, and now, it has developed to embroider flowers, classic fine arts works, portraits and photographic works, etc. Noble and elegant works of Su Embroider is very popular with international tourists and is famed as "Oriental Pearls". It was once designated as a gift for foreign head of state by the State Council. *************************************************************************  Local Dance Suzhou local dance takes production, labor and living of women in river village as its embryo, uses light, lively, slow and emotion-expressing Jiangnan music and Pingtan Qupai music as its accompanying music. The dance movements are flexible and various. As for stage art arrangements, some is leaping in happiness, some is slim and graceful, some is humorous, creating a feeling of freshness and gracefulness for audience. The subjects of Suzhou local dance mostly come from everyday life, such as "Boating Girl", "Embroidering Girl", "Knitting girl", "Fishing Girl", "Flower Girl", "Silkworm Girl" and "Bride", etc. The dance has distinctive river village style and strong local color, and develops a school of its own in domestic dance circle. It is very popular with tourists at home and abroad.       SARS/Bird Flu situation in China click here   Year 2004 Tour schedule click here  Great Wall Hiking Tour click here   ************************************************** About Tour Operator Tony click here   click above figure to learn about Three Gorges Project   2003 Hiking Group Diary click here   This website is divided into five sections.  Overview gives a general description of the aims and scope of this tour.  Itinerary provides a detailed look at the daily activities.  References allows others who have taken this tour to talk about their experiences. Details talks about what's included in the tour, as well as the costs.  Registration will bring you to the China Hiking Adventures Inc. Online Registration System Page for secure registration.     Pour encourager le développement des relations entre le Québec et la Chine This trip starts from Beijing. NOTE: Full refund for your payment if withdraw 60 days before departure date.   Continuing to the Registration page will bring you to the China Hiking Adventures Inc. Online Registration System Page for secure registration. For additional details please use the e-mail link on the navigation bar or call the Tour Operator Tony at 416-605-7479. Home Page / Huang Shan / Great Wall / Senior Tour / Tibet / Contact / Links Copyright © 2002 China Hiking Adventures Inc. All Rights Reserved. The information in this communication is subject to change without notice. China Hiking Adventures Inc. will NOT be held liable for any inaccuracies in the information not maintained by China Hiking Adventures Inc. (such as a linked site).