Su Zhou, China.

We arrived in Su Zhou at night, after a long train journey, and was hungry. So the Teoh family of four took to the streets and hunted for food.

Entrance.

We even invaded the King's ancient city. The entrance was passed and we made it inside, still hungry.

And we saw...

Though we still had our dinner, I understood by then, after looking at the view and the place, why Su Zhou was mentioned so many times in Chinese literature, comparing it to heaven on earth, and why even emperors came all the way from their capital to visit her. With its buildings built on surrounding waters, connected by aesthetic bridges, Su Zhou is literally Eastern Venice. The government had managed to make the entire spot defy time by having buildings and people retain their century-old uniform.

Another reason why them emperors loved to visit Su Zhou is because it is a recognised lenglui or mei nv (pretty girls) factory. Not certified, just... recognised via poems and proses. My mum was observant enough to note that Su Zhou girls had a unique physiognomy, a different facial structure, and continued to say perhaps that is why Zhao Wei was never voted as 'Prettiest Asian Women' . I wondered if the beautiful scenery in Su Zhou contributes to its status as a place of pretties, as the Chinese proverb goes, di ling ren jie.

When you talk about pretty Su Zhou girls, you gotta talk about Dang Bo Hu 唐伯虎, a famous man for his talents and rather feng liu (Romeo-tic) .

His cemetery.

Pork.

Exotic, but delicious. =D

The people told us that life in Su Zhou is slow-paced. Maybe it is in accordance with the government's efforts to turn Su Zhou into a cultural city.

Slow, cool, and serene.

We even had Chinese MacDonald there.

Next stop, Shanghai!