There is no chance of going back once your heart has melted with the diamond-like lake water.
After leaving Pingjiang Road , catch the underground tube and head towards the east side of the town.
Only fifteen minutes later you will find yourself in a completely different world when you get off at the Moonlight Harbor（ 月光码头） stop.
You will most likely get a sense of disbelief as the transformation from traditional architect to modern high-rise buildings creates a strong contrast in visions.
You feel like asking: am I still in Suzhou?
The answer is obvious: of course you are still in Suzhou. The word “contrast” is, and has always been, a key word associated with this city.
The lake you are looking at is called Jinji Lake ( 金鸡湖, Jinji means “Golden Rooster”).
It belongs to the part of Suzhou that is called China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP, 中新苏州工业园区). Suzhou itself will not be complete without it.
Here, you will see the other side of Suzhou.
If the cultural essence of Suzhou is represented by its classic gardens and Kunqu Opera, Suzhou’s modern fashion is highlighted by the Ferris WheelPark ( 摩天轮公园) and Li Gong Di ( 李公堤,Ligong Causeway) in the SIP.
If you fall in sleep in the quietness of the old city, you will be awakened by the excitement of the new city.
This lake situated in the eastern part of the town is Suzhou’s modern district.
The history of this part of Suzhou goes back to 1994. A seed of new city was planted by the lake with an ambitious dream.
Twenty years later, this part of Suzhou has become one of the most vibrant areas. The industrial park is a legend of Suzhou, as well as of China.
Anything that could be associated with an industrial area seems to be absent in here.
The SIP after twenty years of development is no longer an area simply for the use of factories, but an environmentfriendly new city that attracts more and more businesses and residents nationally,as well as internationally.
It will completely overturn your imagination and subdue you with its unique ambience.
Suzhou resembles its double-faced embroidery and the lake is no doubt its modern side.
This side of Suzhou is also incredibly diverse.
You can spend the day enjoying the tasty hairy crab in a boat restaurant in the Yangcheng Lake （ 阳澄湖）and spend the night sitting by the Jinji Lake drinking real German beer.
You will see partycrasher locals smoking cigars and drinking wines while foreigners sitting in the tea bar and listening to Suzhou Pingtan ( 评弹, a local musical performance in Suzhou dialect).
Business men and women wake up in their lake-view townhouse in the morning while backpackers fall asleep in the silvery moonlight at night.
All types of people coming from all sorts of background share their lives in this area, going through different paths yet all in harmony.
This is our SIP, as peaceful as the lake water.It is never a single-tune melody, but a cross road where all possibilities can meet.Anyone can find a destination here and any mood can find a rest.
This is the other side of Suzhou, where merging becomes possible.
The lake water here is peaceful yet powerful, as it is full of destinies,determination and passion towards a better future.
This place is also a field that future economy and exciting developments will grow, a field of dreams that does not just belong to Suzhou, the nation, but also to you.
Be prepared to fall in love once you are here. You will find it is more and more difficult to say good-bye to such a unique place. When the moonlight shines and flower blooms, you might want to plant your own seed of dream by the lake. Who knows, one day, it might grow into something far more marvelous than what you can imagine.
