Suzhou is not yet as modern as Shanghai and Hangzhou, but many areas are heavily under construction. Still, it is traditional Suzhou that makes the city stand out. In the old quarters, wooden boats are floating on small canals that run through the city, earning Suzhou the nickname 'Venice of the East'. The houses next to the canals are mostly just one story tall, with small families living in them. Narrow lanes lead to other narrow lanes with small shops and occasionally a school. Colourful laundry is hung outside to dry in the sun. Some youngsters ride by on scooters.

Scattered through the city, often within these traditional quarters, are Suzhou's main attraction: its gardens. Surrounded by white walls, lie the gardens that once belonged to families of imperial officials. They are traditional Chinese gardens, featuring stone formations, water and trees, in order to imitate a natural environment. The houses of the officials actually consisted of many halls that lay scattered through these 'natural' gardens. The furniture inside them was usually carved out of dark wood with fine details. Many pieces can still be seen inside the halls.

The smallest and most famous garden is the 'Master of the Nets'. Despite its small size, the halls in it are large, while not making the garden look cramped. It truly is an architectural masterpiece.