One of the main distinctive features of the present-day city is the abundance of beautiful gardens and parks. Its active landscaping and planting began several hundred years ago, during the reign of the Ming dynasty. City officials erected their luxurious estates among beautiful gardens, many buildings have survived to our days. The main symbol of the city has always been the Grand Canal of China , the construction of which began soon after the founding of the first settlement and lasted more than 2,000 years. The unique canal, an abundance of historical sights and beautiful gardens are a small part of Suzhou's attractive features.
Travelers are also attracted by a rich but harmonious rhythm of life typical for the ancient city. Adherents of gastronomic tourism often visit these places just to explore Suzhou's national cuisine, which is strikingly different from the classical Chinese. Not only numerous national restaurants but also the central city market where you can taste and buy a lot of national delicacies are perfectly suited for getting acquainted with it. Here you can find rare seafood and original sweets, which are one of the main distinctive features of national cuisine. Delicious desserts are prepared from rice flour - that's why they taste quite unusual and incredibly attractive. One of the most popular national desserts is Moon Cake, which is often served with different varieties of fragrant Chinese tea.
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