问答题As the famous Chinese saying goes, “Above, there is Heavenbelow, there are Suzhou and Hangzhou.” An impressive claim, but the only way to find out if Suzhou is indeed one of these two earthly paradises is to actually visit the place.
 Suzhou sits only four meters above sea level, so water features heavily in the landscape of its canal towns, as well as in the serene classical gardens that have been designated as World Heritage sites. This was immediately obvious on arrival, with rivers and canals crisscrossing the streets on the ten-minute walk from the train station to my riverside hostel.
 Because of Suzhou’s location near the mouth of the Yangtze, numerous canals were built to stabilize the flood-prone delta areas. Several other towns and cities in the region followed suit, creating what has become known as China’s region of water towns. As well as the countless lakes, 35 kilometers of rivers, and 168 bridges nearby, the Grand Canal is another significant draw. Stretching from Beijing to Hangzhou, it cuts an impressive path from north to south, and brought significant trade to the towns.
 After a few minutes’ exploration down some of its many back streets, I discovered why Suzhou is often praised as the “Venice of the Orient.” a Aside from the countess picturesque stone bridges peppering the city, Suzhou, like Venice, was once a great trading port, supplying goods from China’s “most productive land.” And during my brief visit I saw many small boats using the rivers to transport goods throughout the city.
 It’s also the silk capital of China. In ancient times it was from here that silk would have been transported along the Grand Canal to Beijing, and eventually all the way along the silk road to places as far away as Rome. Even today, Suzhou’s silk exports account for 30 percent of the country’s total. With its mild climate, fertile land and abundance of produce, it is no wonder that Suzhou is referred to as “heaven on earth.”
 Suzhou’s gardens date back as far as 600 AD. These gardens were designed by artists who were hired at the height of the Tang and Song dynasties, and used four basic elements to create a harmony between heaven and earth: trees, water, bridges and rock. With an abundance of water, and stones brought from nearby Lake Tai, it was the trees (the older the better) which were the most prized elements of the gardens. The gardens are not known for their size, but for their delicate design incorporating hills and ponds, terraces and corridors.
 Suzhou also has a strong tradition of Kunqu Opera, which was listed by UNESCO in 2001 as one of the “Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.” A good place to see it is at the Garden of the Master of the Nets, which is also one of the city’s nine gardens to have earned a UNESCO World Heritage listing.