Cholesterol – with Sten Ekberg

With 4K World Wanderings ... 1. *Pingjiang Road:* A historic street lined with traditional buildings, teahouses, and shops, offering a glimpse into the ancient lifestyle of Suzhou. 2. *Humble Administrator's Garden (Zhuo Zheng Yuan):* One of the most famous classical gardens in China, known for its beautiful ponds, rock formations, and traditional pavilions. 3. *Lingering Garden (Liu Yuan):* Another UNESCO World Heritage site, featuring exquisite landscaping, intricate architecture, and serene water features. 4. *Master of the Nets Garden (Wangshi Yuan):* A smaller yet beautifully designed garden, showcasing classical Chinese garden aesthetics. 5. *Suzhou Museum:* Designed by the renowned architect I.M. Pei, this museum houses a vast collection of ancient Chinese art, ceramics, and cultural artifacts. 6. *Tiger Hill (Hu Qiu):* A historic site with a leaning pagoda, ancient tombs, and beautiful landscapes, offering panoramic views of Suzhou. 7. *Shantang Street:* An ancient canal street bustling with traditional shops, restaurants, and cultural performances. 8. *Suzhou Silk Museum:* A museum dedicated to the history and art of silk production, showcasing exquisite silk garments and weaving techniques. 9. *Pan Gate (Pan Men):* A historic city gate and water gate, part of Suzhou's ancient city wall, featuring beautiful gardens and waterways. 10. *Lion Grove Garden (Shizilin):* Known for its labyrinthine rock formations, this garden is a masterpiece of Chinese landscaping. 11. *Hanshan Temple:* An ancient Buddhist temple with a famous bell, immortalized in classical Chinese poetry. 12. *Suzhou Industrial Park:* A modern district showcasing the blend of traditional and contemporary architecture, with beautiful water features and green spaces. 13. *Ancient Canal:* A boat ride along the ancient canal offers a scenic and relaxing way to explore Suzhou's water town charm. 14. *Twin Pagodas:* Historical pagodas that are an iconic symbol of Suzhou, offering insights into the city's religious and architectural history. 15. *Canglang Pavilion (Surging Wave Pavilion):* The oldest garden in Suzhou, known for its elegant design and tranquil ambiance. 16. *Pingjiang Historic District:* A well-preserved area with narrow lanes, traditional houses, and waterways, perfect for a leisurely stroll. 17. *Tongli Water Town:* A nearby ancient water town, famous for its well-preserved architecture, stone bridges, and tranquil canals. 18. *Wumen Bridge:* An ancient stone bridge offering picturesque views of the canals and traditional Suzhou architecture. 19. *Suzhou Pingtan Museum:* A museum dedicated to the traditional Suzhou performing art of Pingtan, featuring music, storytelling, and opera. 20. *Beisi Pagoda:* A historic pagoda offering stunning views of Suzhou and its surrounding landscapes.

Full, day to night tour. With Wei's Travel ... Bonus film - walking the sky gardens at Centennial Park, ShangHai ...

With Wei's Travel ... ShangHai can be considered a 'garden city' due to its extensive green spaces, parks, and efforts to integrate nature within its urban environment. Here are some key aspects that contribute to this : ### Extensive Green Spaces and Parks 1. **Large Urban Parks**: Shanghai is home to numerous large parks such as Century Park, Gongqing Forest Park, and Shanghai Botanical Garden. These parks provide significant green spaces within the city and offer residents and visitors places to relax and enjoy nature. 2. **Green Belt**: The city has developed green belts and corridors that integrate natural elements into the urban landscape, helping to connect different green spaces and providing continuous natural areas for walking, cycling, and leisure. ### Historical and Traditional Gardens 3. **Traditional Chinese Gardens**: Shanghai boasts several well-preserved traditional Chinese gardens, such as Yu Garden (YuYuan), which exemplify classical Chinese garden design with ponds, rockeries, pavilions, and intricate landscaping. These gardens reflect the city's historical commitment to integrating nature with urban living. ### Urban Greening Initiatives 4. **Street Landscaping**: Many of Shanghai's streets are lined with trees, flowers, and shrubs, contributing to a greener urban environment. The city has invested in extensive landscaping to enhance the aesthetic appeal and environmental quality of its streets and boulevards. 5. **Vertical Gardens and Green Roofs**: Shanghai has embraced innovative urban greening techniques such as vertical gardens and green roofs on buildings. These initiatives help to increase the amount of greenery in densely populated urban areas and contribute to better air quality and urban biodiversity. ### Green Urban Planning 6. **Sustainable Development**: Shanghai's urban planning policies emphasize sustainable development and the creation of eco-friendly urban spaces. This includes the development of eco-districts and the incorporation of green spaces into new residential and commercial developments. 7. **Waterfront Revitalization**: The revitalization of waterfront areas along the Huangpu River and Suzhou Creek has included the creation of green promenades, parks, and recreational areas that provide residents with access to nature and enhance the city's overall green infrastructure. ### Community and Public Engagement 8. **Public Involvement**: The city encourages public participation in maintaining and developing green spaces through community gardens and public involvement initiatives. This engagement helps to foster a sense of ownership and responsibility for the city's natural environments. ### Environmental Conservation 9. **Biodiversity Conservation**: Efforts to preserve and enhance biodiversity within the city, such as the creation of urban wildlife habitats and conservation areas, contribute to Shanghai's identity as a garden city. ### Seasonal Flower Displays 10. **Flower Festivals and Displays**: Shanghai hosts various flower festivals and seasonal floral displays that enhance the city's visual appeal and celebrate its botanical diversity. These events attract tourists and residents alike, further emphasizing the city's green character. ### Conclusion Shanghai's commitment to integrating green spaces and nature into its urban environment through parks, traditional gardens, innovative greening techniques, and sustainable urban planning practices helps to position it as a 'garden city.' These efforts not only enhance the city's aesthetic appeal but also contribute to the well-being of its residents and the sustainability of its urban ecosystem.

ShangHai, BeiJing and Hong Kong ...

With China Walking Tour ...

With Walk East ... Phoenix ancient town, night walk ...

With Wei's Travel. Fuel, food and much more - motorway services, China style ...

HangZhou is located in north-western ZheJiang province, at the southern end of the Grand Canal, which runs from BeiJing, in the south-central portion of the YangTze river delta.