China may not spring to mind when thinking of romantic places to go in the world. And to be honest, it didn’t for us either. Until we went there and saw just how beautiful the water town of Suzhou truly is. Aptly nicknamed the Venice of China, this city of about 10 million people, two to three hours outside of Shanghai, really does pull on the heartstrings. Tree-lined canals with gondolas, lush and intricately groomed gardens, temples and bridges that have ties to history and ancient love stories, traditional opera houses… a peek at our few days in Suzhou through pictures will definitely get you thinking that this city could be the perfect spot for lovers.

Start your weekend in the city known as the Venice of China with a visit to one of the most beautiful gardens in the whole country. The Humble Administrator Garden (which is also a UNESCO heritage site) dates back to 1513 and also happens to be the largest garden in Suzhou. With hanging flowers, droopy trees and ponds, it’s not hard to see why this is considered one of the most romantic gardens in Southern China.