Su Zhou

Suzhou's nine UNESCO-listed classical gardens — including the Humble Administrator's Garden and the Master of Nets Garden — are considered the finest examples of traditional Chinese landscape design. Threaded by a 2,500-year-old canal network that earned the city its 'Venice of the East' nickname, Suzhou pairs refined garden culture with a centuries-old silk weaving tradition and an easy 30-minute high-speed rail connection from Shanghai.