The city of Suzhou is China is famed for three elements: it is an acclaimed cultural centre, it houses many of the nation’s artfully architectured gardens, and it is regarded as the silk capital of China. Travellers to this intriguing city will want to secure quality Suzhou accommodation that grants easy and comfortable access to many of these sites. Consider checking into a luxury serviced apartment Suzhouhas to offer its leisure and corporate visitors, such as those featured at the Somerset Emerald City Suzhou. When you’re in the city, take some time out to visit a cultural enclave that carefully chronicles one of the most famous institutions in China’s history: the silk industry. The Suzhou silk museum provides a fascinating foray down memory lane, into the silk trade that dominated the Tang and Song Dynasties. The Ming and Qing Dynasties observed the city’s silk weavers as the primary suppliers for the royal family’s silks. The silk museum not only features exhibitions that capture the various elements of the silk trade, but its architecture, an elegant blend of gentility and grace, also lay tribute to the delicate and refined quality of the silk material itself. Walk through the museum and be greeted by enchanting life-sized statues of iconic silk figures, such as Lei Zu, who was the wife of Huangdi, the first silkworm farmer. Keep walking and enter the Ancient Exhibits Hall, where you will be treated to silken relics that date back to the Neolithic era to its manufacture as late as the Qing Dynasty. Encounter the different aspects of the silk production and extraction process, such as silk worms feasting on mulberries (a favourite repast), silk workers decked in traditional costumes who will demonstrate the techniques for visitors right there, as well as a well-chronicled account of the silk industry in the country. Visit Ming and Qing Street, which features a stunning range of renowned silk stores, where you can purchase all manner of goods composed of this quality material. Sure to make for an unforgettable visit, the Suzhou Silk Museum should occupy a must-visit slot on your itinerary in the city.
Angela Fernando is an impassioned travel writer who composes pieces under the pen name Sumaira Narayan. She loves writing about new and exciting places around the world and intends to visit them all someday.