Travelogue

Nature and Science

New Frontiers

Around China

November 2

During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Suzhou was a prosperous town, and home to many wealthy merchants. It became the fashion among the city’s rich and famous, to lavish their wealth on exquisite gardens. They featured lakes and streams, pavilions and covered walkways, trees and fabulous rocks. In recent times, the city has acquired a brand new garden, thanks to a man whose love of Suzhou’s gardens goes back to when he was a boy.

.October 15

A magnificent building complex stands on East Shuimen Street in the city of Chongqing. It’s the Hunan and Guangdong Guildhall, known as the Hu-guang Guildhall for short. It was originally built in 1759 at the time of the Qing emperor Qianlong, and extended a century later. It’s a vast complex containing many halls, along with towers where opera was performed, and even a temple.