Venice of the east

Suzhou is about 2,500 years old and has stood, comparatively unscathed, through some pretty dark days in Chinese history. Genghis Khan didn't damage it, nor the Taipings, nor English marauders nor Japanese invaders.
But Prosperity, and Development?
Ah, that's a different matter altogether.
Now there seem to be very few corners of the ancient city that have survived the last 60 years. The last 20. The last 10.
Which is the way of the world, no doubt, but I for one am saddened to have missed the beauty that was Suzhou. There are places enough in the world for people who want to buy Gucci and Prada and all that identikit branded identity for the clothes conscious nonentity who need a uniform to stand out.
Suzhou was once rightfully called the Venice of the east. But the rising tides enveloped it ' just like that'.