Suzhou’s story is written in its winding canals, ancient tiles and dynamic museum halls. In this episode of With Merna, CGTN’s Merna Al Nasser immerses herself in three of the city’s cultural hotspots—discovering how centuries-old crafts and modern design collide to shape a shared vision of prosperity.
Suzhou Bay Museum: Maritime Echoes
Perched on the fringe of Taihu Lake, the Suzhou Bay Museum charts the city’s seafaring legacy. Interactive displays reveal how local shipbuilders once sailed regional waters, transporting silk and ideas. Data insight: Suzhou’s waterways span over 1,000 kilometers—once a trade artery, now a digital storytelling canvas.
Six Arts Museum: Crafting Creativity
At the Six Arts Museum, Merna explores the Confucian pillars of rites, music, archery, charioteering, calligraphy and mathematics. Each hall blends holographic projections with original artifacts, showing how traditions spark new design thinking. Fun fact: Six Arts education laid the foundation for Chinese innovation long before the digital age.
Song Brocade Cultural Park: Weaving Tomorrow
Song brocade—once the fabric of emperors—finds new life under smart looms and VR exhibits. At this cultural park, artisans demonstrate how AI-driven weaving techniques preserve heritage while opening global markets. Insight: Exports of traditional textiles grew 15% year-on-year after digital upgrades.
Through these museums, Merna paints a picture of Suzhou as a living bridge between past and future—perfectly in tune with the APEC 2025 theme of “Connect, Innovate, Prosper.” Whether you’re a digital nomad, a start-up founder or a curious traveler, Suzhou’s story shows how culture can fuel economic growth and foster global collaboration.
Which Suzhou marvel will you explore next?
Reference(s):
With Merna in Suzhou: Where past meets future for shared prosperity
cgtn.com
