Suzhou

• Living
• Dining Out
• Entertainment
• Nightlife

Suzhou is a city about 80km west of Shanghai with about 6 million inhabitants. It is most renowned in China for its gardens and canals. Some of the gardens are worth a visit and canal trips can be good if you want to get a feel for the city as it used to be.
Much has changed however, and partly due to the construction of a massive industrial park/export zone the city is now starting to fill with foreign ex-pats, and as a consequence more foreign bars and restaurants. Unfortunately the air and water pollution have spun out of control, also as a result of the industrial park. All in all though, it's not the worst place to live and if you get bored you can escape to Shanghai very easily.