For those of us residing and working in the more modern, more foreign parts of Suzhou, it can be easy to forget what old school Chinese life is really like. Located next to a canal in the Shilu district, the Royal Garden Inn helped me remember what it's all about.
The neighborhood surrounding the hotel takes you back in time. Everything seems as it was 50 years ago. Roosters crow in the background. The canal is bustling with old fashioned boats. All of the surrounding architecture is surprisingly old, and I mean that in a good way. Old men shuffle past humming and couples are constantly taking wedding photos. It's an incredibly picturesque location.
Inside the hotel, things are very clean and neatly appointed. Except for the modern necessities they have, such as air conditioning, TV, free broadband, etc., this hotel is beautifully old-fashioned. They just recently opened a few months ago, and are still in the process of fixing the place up and adding new features. They are currently working on a rooftop patio, which provides a perfect view of the surrounding area. Their in-house Chinese eatery, Shangpin Restaurant, serves delicious traditional Cantonese and Suzhou food and is large enough to hold 200 people.
Perhaps the best part of my experience at this place was the fact that I felt totally disconnected from the outside world. Everything ran in slow motion. There were no cars and no roads, just relaxing, comforting, unhurried surroundings which seemed unburdened by time. Sipping my cup of tea, zoning out to the hotel's Pipa player, I tripped and fell halfway onto a confused old man's boat. I drew him a picture of a fish for his trouble, which amused him tremendously. What a day.
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