Tai Hu Lake-A Place away from the Crowds

On the outskirts of Suzhou, just a short bus ride from the city center, the misty and tranquil Tai Hu Lake, the third biggest freshwater lakes in all of China, modestly sequesters a selection of tiny villages, pagodas, shrines, monasteries and scenic mountains. All offer a great view which travelers, who've been herded in and out of the bustling and repetitive shopping centers, bars and gardens, often miss.

Surprisingly, despite this area's close proximity to many major cities, the part of the Suzhou prefect that winds along the eastern shore of the Tai Hu Lake maintains a profusion of quaint sleepy villages, mostly relying on agriculture and fishing, rendering a nice, quiet escape from the supercilious modern world, preserving many of those obscure, captivating China gems, which tend to get swallowed and forgotten in the haze. Day trips are short and painless, costing only a couple RMB by bus, and just wandering through the tiny towns, along the beaches, and through the parks provide a great escape from the daily grind. What's more, fuchsia rosebushes, pine forests, weeping willows, tall cattails and large, green parks line Huan Hu Lu, the road that runs along the Suzhou side of the lake, making even the trip there enjoyable.

Taihu Lake, loomed over by lofty mountains, encompassing an area of over 2,250 km, dotted with over 90 islands of various sizes, with its round shape and massive size (the gifts of a meteor), spreads like a blotch of ink towards the blue-gray horizon. Sunlight plays on the rippling waves as they slide hesitantly towards the thin beaches. The warmer months of the year offer weather that nicely suits a swim or a day cruise around the lake or to one of the islands, the colder months offer a clean and crisp liberation from the inner-city seas of people.

Whenever you go, chances are one of Taihu's famous sunsets will complete the day--falling through the mist, easing in the twilight with vibrant coral hues. Enjoy one over a dinner of the famous Tai Hu ''three whites,'' (white fish, white crab and white shrimp) at one of the many restaurants that line the water's edge.