Suzhou is home to some of China's
most popular and well known sights. While you are
here therefore, it's
a good idea to pick up any of the "typically"
Chinese souvenirs you want to take home with you!
The most well known souvenirs from here include,
Suzhou embroidery (which is regarded as some of
the best in the country), Suzhou tea (which has
a distinctive aroma and delicate flavor), the Song
brocade, writing brushes and Taohua Wu wood carvings.
Suzhou has been recognized as a world leader in
silk production since ancient times. The variety
and quality of silk available here is almost unbeatable
in China. Along with Hangzhou, this is THE place
to buy silk dresses, silk fans, jackets, pajamas,
underwear....the list is endless. There are numerous
souvenir shops selling all these things. Try the
night market next to the Temple of Mystery for good
priced silk and a fair selection. There are tailors
all over town who can whip you up a creation in
a couple of days and most cloth shops have in house
tailors.
Suzhou's Biluochun Tea
Suzhou's Biluochun Tea is one of
the ten most famous teas in China. It is locally
known as "Fearful Incense" due to the
strong aroma of the brew!
During the Qing dynasty, Emperor Kangxi visited
Suzhou and praised the flavor of this aromatic tea.
The tea leaves are picked from the Biluo Mountain
near Tai Lake, and are collected traditionally in
early spring between what is known as "Tomb-sweeping
Day" and "Grain Rain Day"!
The technique for collecting tea leaves is very
complex. Only the tender tip of the leaf is used
for the tea making process. This part of the leaf
should be no longer than one inch long and shaped
like the tip of a spear. One tin of tea uses 60
thousand spears! It's no surprise then, that some
of the finest Chinese teas are very expensive. The
next step in the process is to repeatedly knead,
rub and roll the leaves by hand. The Biluochun tea
involves a particularly labor intensive process
but the end result are leaves that are compact,
tender and wonderfully fresh and aromatic.
If you have never sampled Chinese green tea, the
Biluochun is a good one to start with. Chinese tea
not only smells and tastes great but is reportedly
very good for you! Take a few tea leaves and sprinkle
them at the bottom of your cup. Next, cover them
with boiling water until the tea leaves sink. Leave
it to rest for a minute and then fill the cup to
the top. The tea will then change color, to a light
green shade and should taste delicious! It is an
acquired taste but certainly one that grows on you,
and is much healthier and more refreshing than black
tea. The tea is quite expensive and can cost between
RMB200 and RMB5000 for a kilogram. There are numerous
tea houses around the city selling the leaves, particularly
try some of the shops near Renmin Lu.
Suzhou Silk Fan
In China, there are really only
two authentic places to buy fans; Suzhou and Hangzhou.
The variety and selection of fans available in
both these cities is incredible and they make
a beautiful gift for yourself or someone else.
The folding fan (or sandalwood fan) is very elegant
and actually originated in Korea. During the Tang
Dynasty this type of fan became fashionable in
Suzhou and was mass produced for visiting aristocrats
and artists who bought the fans to cool themselves
or just to pose with! The surface of the fan is
made from a very delicate rice paper. Some fans
are painted with intricate pictures of scenery.
Suzhou also produces "Gong" or silk
fans. During the Han Dynasty in China, only noblewomen
were permitted to use silk fans! In the Tang Dynasty,
standards were relaxed a little and the fan became
very fashionable and popular. There are many different
types of silk fan including the hand painted silk
fan, the single sided embroidered fan, the double
sided embroidered and the dyed silk fan. Most
are round in shape but a few more unusual ones
are styled to resemble plum blossom or lotus leaves.
The handles of the fans are usually made from
bamboo, hardwood, animal bones or ivory.
These fans can be bought all over the city in
most of the tourist shops. For the best prices
try the city Night Market near the Temple of Mystery.
it's
a good idea to pick up any of the "typically"
Chinese souvenirs you want to take home with you!