We had a really lovely evening with Michelle visiting the garden and checking out old Suzhou! We went as a group of 7 coworkers leaving at about 6:30 in the evening; the driver and Michelle picked us up from one of the hotels where people were staying. It was very convenient. We learned a lot more than if we had gone to the gardens solo—about Suzhou history, Suzhou culture, the opera, and the garden history itself. The dinner place was quite enjoyable and tasty too. Some coworkers who speak Mandarin as their native language helped us order, but I imagine us American coworkers could have figured it out. It was easy for a few coworkers who needed to travel to Shanghai or turn in early to branch off as we transitioned from place to place.













