Suzhou City Life and City Traffic

Welcome to Suzhou. Here's what it looks like to drive or walk around in what the Chinese call their most beautiful city (even the ones who have never been here call it that). Try not to get killed crossing the streets. Each picture has something that will make you take notice - look at each one!

$The view from the front window of our van that day. We are on our way to Humble Gardens. There are a few things to notice in this picture.\n\nFirst, this is one of the few streets I saw that was pleasantly shaded by large trees on either side of the road.\n\nSecond, you can see the 3-wheeled red carriage-cycle device coming towards us. These things weren't everywhere, but you could always find one if you looked.\n\nThird, the license plates on all the cars use English letters. All numbers in China are the same as our numbers.$ 01-suzhou-city-life	$The sheer volume of bicycles can be overwhelming. Some of them are electric scooters that only go 20km on a 4-hour charge. The 3rd scooter from the left has a child riding in front of his mother. Also notice the nonchallance of the pedestrian crossing right in the thick of everything. Almost nobody wears helmets. Most of the bicycles look like they are 50 years old.\n\nAbout 10% of the population in Suzhou have cars. The place would be a complete mess of gridlock if the other 90% get hold of them.$ 02-suzhou-city-life	$A couple of things to notice in this picture taken through the windshield:\n\nFirst you can see how the cars and trucks must share the road with the cyclists.\n\nLook at the guy on the silver scooter facing perpendicular to the rest of the traffic. He's on the left side of the picture just to the right of the white car. He hasn't even looked at the traffic, but he's launching himself to merge with the rest of us. The woman in all black next to him is simply trying to cross.\n\nNotice the guy wearing all blue on the right. He's sweeping the street, forcing the white van behind him and to the right to go around.\n\nFinally, notice the streetlights are quaintly shaped as lanterns.$ 03-suzhou-city-life
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