Ever heard of Suzhou?
Discussion
Twice a week I have a Mandarin conversation with a tutor in China (via Italki which I can highly recommend for anyone learning a language).
Last time we were discussing the population of Auckland and NZ. I asked about her city, its name and population - Suzhou and current population of 12.7 million.
I had never heard of Suzhou so had a quick look on Wiki. Seems that it was founded in 500 BC (so 500 years older than London) and until 1860 it was the largest non-capital city in the world. It is currently one of the industrial and scientific centres of China.
Anyone else heard of it before?
I am constantly surprised at how parochial my education was in the UK, with so little taught about the world beyond our borders (and even what was taught about the UK was pretty limited).
Last time we were discussing the population of Auckland and NZ. I asked about her city, its name and population - Suzhou and current population of 12.7 million.
I had never heard of Suzhou so had a quick look on Wiki. Seems that it was founded in 500 BC (so 500 years older than London) and until 1860 it was the largest non-capital city in the world. It is currently one of the industrial and scientific centres of China.
Anyone else heard of it before?
I am constantly surprised at how parochial my education was in the UK, with so little taught about the world beyond our borders (and even what was taught about the UK was pretty limited).
I spent a day there when I visited Shanghai a few years ago.
Highlights were ‘the Humble Administrator’s Garden’ (hope I’ve remembered that correctly) and a sign at the entrance to the museum telling you what you aren’t allowed to bring in which expressly forbade landmines.
Tbh, when you drive there from Shanghai you never really leave being in a built-up hellhole so was surprised it is a separate place. I presume the outskirts of each have just grown and grown until they overlapped.
Highlights were ‘the Humble Administrator’s Garden’ (hope I’ve remembered that correctly) and a sign at the entrance to the museum telling you what you aren’t allowed to bring in which expressly forbade landmines.
Tbh, when you drive there from Shanghai you never really leave being in a built-up hellhole so was surprised it is a separate place. I presume the outskirts of each have just grown and grown until they overlapped.
I'm pretty good at world geography due to having a mind for trivia, but it has only been in the last 2 years I have been able to add Wuhan as a third Chinese city I can name on top of Shanghai and Beijing (excluding the special cases of Hong Kong and Macau) - I have been constantly been unable to remember the new name for 'Canton' just up the river from HK.
I think it is just a general Western blindspot to Asia and Africa beyond Capital Cities, tourist spots or places with famous historical events - (eg. most people could name Hiroshima and Nagasaki in addition to Tokyo but few other places in Japan, motoring enthusiasts could probably add Yokohama)
I think it is just a general Western blindspot to Asia and Africa beyond Capital Cities, tourist spots or places with famous historical events - (eg. most people could name Hiroshima and Nagasaki in addition to Tokyo but few other places in Japan, motoring enthusiasts could probably add Yokohama)
Disastrous said:
I spent a day there when I visited Shanghai a few years ago.
Highlights were ‘the Humble Administrator’s Garden’ (hope I’ve remembered that correctly) and a sign at the entrance to the museum telling you what you aren’t allowed to bring in which expressly forbade landmines.
Tbh, when you drive there from Shanghai you never really leave being in a built-up hellhole so was surprised it is a separate place. I presume the outskirts of each have just grown and grown until they overlapped.
I did similar back in 2004 - A very interesting city and the Humble Adminstrator's Garden was fascinating. The highlight of the drive from Shanghai for me was what looked like an aircraft carrier in the middle of fields which was apparently an amusement park! Highlights were ‘the Humble Administrator’s Garden’ (hope I’ve remembered that correctly) and a sign at the entrance to the museum telling you what you aren’t allowed to bring in which expressly forbade landmines.
Tbh, when you drive there from Shanghai you never really leave being in a built-up hellhole so was surprised it is a separate place. I presume the outskirts of each have just grown and grown until they overlapped.
rodericb said:
That's okay - China is a big place. If it's any comfort - you could probably name more cities in China than the average Chinese could name cities in the UK!
Indeed.Most Chinese people believe that Westerners and Western countries are less significant, important, or relevant than say an insect or a potted plant.
NormalWisdom said:
I did similar back in 2004 - A very interesting city and the Humble Adminstrator's Garden was fascinating. The highlight of the drive from Shanghai for me was what looked like an aircraft carrier in the middle of fields which was apparently an amusement park!
We had a hall of distant fragrance at my old work. I suspect the one in that garden is more appealingTruckosaurus said:
I'm pretty good at world geography due to having a mind for trivia, but it has only been in the last 2 years I have been able to add Wuhan as a third Chinese city I can name on top of Shanghai and Beijing (excluding the special cases of Hong Kong and Macau) - I have been constantly been unable to remember the new name for 'Canton' just up the river from HK.
I think it is just a general Western blindspot to Asia and Africa beyond Capital Cities, tourist spots or places with famous historical events - (eg. most people could name Hiroshima and Nagasaki in addition to Tokyo but few other places in Japan, motoring enthusiasts could probably add Yokohama)
I'm not sure it's specific to the west or a particular blindspot, more a question of why would I have heard of Suzhou? I know lots of places in Europe but couldn't tell you what was the second city in any country outside the UK. France and Germany would just be an educated guess, but even in the UK I'm not certain I know.I think it is just a general Western blindspot to Asia and Africa beyond Capital Cities, tourist spots or places with famous historical events - (eg. most people could name Hiroshima and Nagasaki in addition to Tokyo but few other places in Japan, motoring enthusiasts could probably add Yokohama)
ETA Google says I'm wrong on all counts!
Edited by Bill on Tuesday 4th January 10:08
Truckosaurus said:
I'm pretty good at world geography due to having a mind for trivia, but it has only been in the last 2 years I have been able to add Wuhan as a third Chinese city I can name on top of Shanghai and Beijing (excluding the special cases of Hong Kong and Macau) - I have been constantly been unable to remember the new name for 'Canton' just up the river from HK.
I think it is just a general Western blindspot to Asia and Africa beyond Capital Cities, tourist spots or places with famous historical events - (eg. most people could name Hiroshima and Nagasaki in addition to Tokyo but few other places in Japan, motoring enthusiasts could probably add Yokohama)
A good friend of mine was fortunate to have visited and photographed Wuhan pre covid, so I can claim knowledge of its existence before it hit the world stage!I think it is just a general Western blindspot to Asia and Africa beyond Capital Cities, tourist spots or places with famous historical events - (eg. most people could name Hiroshima and Nagasaki in addition to Tokyo but few other places in Japan, motoring enthusiasts could probably add Yokohama)
https://www.ferguscoyle.com/walkthroughwuhan
bristolbaron said:
A good friend of mine was fortunate to have visited and photographed Wuhan pre covid, so I can claim knowledge of its existence before it hit the world stage!
https://www.ferguscoyle.com/walkthroughwuhan
Not one bat in any of those photos...... https://www.ferguscoyle.com/walkthroughwuhan
Yes also been there for a day trip on the train from Shanghai on a holiday a few years ago.
Sizes of cities in Asia are huge in comparison to here in Europe.
If a city in global terms is to be deemed so based up on population, then Asia leads the way so to speak. Many cities in the UK/Europe would therefore be nothing more than small towns.
I found Suzhou to be quite pretty in the park areas. On the train however, in that part of China, you don't really get the impression you are leaving one huge conurbation for another. The transit from Shanghai to Suzhou always has an urban outlook from the window.
Its a similar case as you travel all the way down the south-east coast from Shanghai to Xiamen. (And I dare say all the way down to Hong Kong). The amount of random property and infrastructure that has been built there is staggering.
And you may already be aware of how China is now going to have to deal with all this (faux) property "investment". (That will need its own thread!)
Sizes of cities in Asia are huge in comparison to here in Europe.
If a city in global terms is to be deemed so based up on population, then Asia leads the way so to speak. Many cities in the UK/Europe would therefore be nothing more than small towns.
I found Suzhou to be quite pretty in the park areas. On the train however, in that part of China, you don't really get the impression you are leaving one huge conurbation for another. The transit from Shanghai to Suzhou always has an urban outlook from the window.
Its a similar case as you travel all the way down the south-east coast from Shanghai to Xiamen. (And I dare say all the way down to Hong Kong). The amount of random property and infrastructure that has been built there is staggering.
And you may already be aware of how China is now going to have to deal with all this (faux) property "investment". (That will need its own thread!)
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