Shanghai is one city likely to have been overlooked by many that arrived in Beijing this summer to experience the Olympic Games - but it's well worth a visit for those planning a trip to China in the near future.
Ask any local what to do in the city, however, and their standard response will be "leave".
Of course, this is not meant as an insult to your interest in the city but the surrounding towns and cities of Shanghai are often thought of as far more spectacular than the city itself.
For those interested in the future of the places they visit the Urban Planning Museum is a must, as it will leave the visitor with a good grasp of eco-friendly towns to be built around the city.
But for cities of the past Suzhou may be the most intriguing visit.
Under an hour by train from Shanghai and referred to as the 'Venice of the East', Suzhou has long been the home of poets and writers.
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