Suzhou

A short distance from Shanghai, Suzhou has an illustrious history, striking scenery and the most impressive private gardens in China

Visitors to China's eastern seaboard usually make the metropolis of Shanghai their first stop. But just a hop away by train lies a gem in the country's rich cultural heritage, which, while well-known to Chinese, is rarely visited by travelers from overseas.

Suzhou is famous for its classical gardens and natural beauty. In ancient China its beauty was so renowned that it was included in a popular saying: In the sky there is heaven, while here on the earth we have Suzhou and Hangzhou.

It is sometimes referred to as The City of Gardens because of its spectacular private gardens, or the Venice of the East because of its waterways.

Suzhou's history stretches back 4,000 years. In ancient times it was an important center for the silk trade and today it remains a vital port along China's east coast.

As the capital of the Wu kingdom from the 12th to 4th centuries BC, it is one of the oldest cities in the Yangtze basin and the cradle of Wu culture.

Suzhou has long been a haven for scholars, artists and crafts people, thousands of whom have hailed from the city. It was also visited by Marco Polo in 1276, during his travels along the Silk Road.

Today the city is an eclectic mixture of old and new. The best has been preserved, but there is also a modern story to be told.

The main attractions are Suzhou's pagodas, stone bridges and delicate classical gardens. The city's private gardens are ranked as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

For travelers interested in modern China, Suzhou is a major port, and is associated with steel manufacturing and food processing.

Here are some of the major attractions:

1. Humble Administrator's Garden (Zhuozheng Yuan)

Built in 1513, the Humble Administrator's Garden is a classic example of a southeastern China private garden.

It is in fact one area of a three-part garden complex, each with its own distinctive style and displaying dynastic changes that have been made over the years.

The Humble Administrator's Garden is at the center of the complex, with the Affiliated Garden (Bu Yuan) to its west and the Hermit's Farmhouse (Gui Tian Yuan Ju) to its east.

At the center of the Humble Administrator's Garden is a lake, along the bank of which lie all of the garden's main structures.

Passing through the Humble Administrator's Garden's New World Pavilion (Bieyou Dongtian Pavilion) takes you to the Affiliated Garden. Its major structure is the 36 Mandarin Ducks Hall (Sanshiliu Yuanyang Guan).

The Pavilion of Haitang Flowers Blossoming in Spring (Haitang Chunwu) leads into the Hermit's Farmhouse.

2. Lingering Garden (Liu Yuan)

Outside the Changmen Gate of Suzhou, the Lingering Garden is one of the best preserved of Suzhou's private gardens.

Covering an area of 2.3 hectares, it was built in 1583 by Xu Taishi, a bureaucrat of the Ming Dynasty (AD 1368-1644), as his private residence. In 1961 the garden was listed as a piece of national cultural heritage under the central government's protection, and in 2001 it was put on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

The whole garden complex can be divided into four distinct sections: east, central, west and north.

With its fine gardens, delicate and spacious hall, and collection of stones from Taihu Lake, the Lingering Garden is a major tourist attraction.

3. Lion Grove Garden (Shizi Lin)

Originally the garden of a Buddhist temple built in 1342, the Lion Grove Garden is famous for its rocks in the shape of lions and is often eulogized in China as the Kingdom of Rockeries.

Together with Blue Wave Pavilion (Canglang Ting), Lingering Garden (Liu Yuan) and the Humble
Administrator's Garden (Zhuozheng Yuan), the Lion Grove Garden is one of the four most famous and representative gardens of an ancient classical style in the city.

Its 1.1-hectare area includes scattered rockeries, corridors, refined pavilions and twisting paths.
4. Tiger Hill (Huqiu Shan)

Located outside the Lumen Gate to the northwest of the city, Tiger Hill, which is about 36 meters tall and covers an area of about 14,100 square meters, contains historical sites dating back 4,000 years to the establishment of Suzhou.

One of the best-known scenic spots on the hill is Sword Pond (Jianchi), which is where He Lu, king of the state of Wu, kept his swords during the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC).

On the hill's summit stands the Yunyan Temple Pagoda, the oldest pagoda in Suzhou and one of the most famous Buddhist temples in China.

The brick pagoda was completed in 961 AD with seven stories and eight sides and leans about 3.5 degrees.
Eating and drinking

Suzhou dishes hold a high place in Chinese culinary culture. More than 1,200 different dishes are credited with having come from the city.

Some of Suzhou's best-known dishes include braised duck in soy sauce and steamed squirrel mandarin fish.
Songhelou and Deyulou, both in Guanqian Street, are among Suzhou's most famous restaurants.

For a post-restaurant drink, head to Shantang Street.

Zhouzhuang: China's Venice

The old town of Zhouzhuang is located in the "Golden Triangle" among Shanghai, Suzhou and Hangzhou. The town was included on American news agency CNN's list of the top-10 most beautiful towns in the world.

More than 60 percent of Zhouzhuang's architecture has been well preserved from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Likewise, the town's 14 stone bridges, from the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, embody a unique structure that mesh well with the old waterway infrastructure for which the town is famous. Also boasting hundreds of old mansions, courtyard dwellings, alleyway boutiques selling traditional wares, Qunqu opera and delicacies such as Xuan rolls and Apo tea, Zhouzhuang is definitely worthy of its moniker, "The best water village in China"


Source: Xinhua

Ancient waterfront town of Zhouzhuang

Zhouzhuang is one of the few places where you can experience the life of a typical Chinese water town.

Acclaimed as "Venice of the East", the town near Suzhou in Jiangsu province attracts a constant flow of visitors throughout the year with its well-preserved old houses and picturesque landscape of crisscrossing waterways.

Zhouzhuang was listed as the world's Top 10 most beautiful towns by CNN in 2012. It was lauded as a Global Green Town by Global Forum on Human and Settlements in June.

Streams flow through every corner of Zhouzhuang, creating the pulse of local life and making the town look like a watercolor drawing painted with a Chinese brush.

Among the most eye-catching features in this picture-perfect landscape are the bridges, in different shapes and sizes — built with stone or wood.

The Twin Bridge, built during the late Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), is considered the symbol of the town.

One of its arches is round and the other is rectangular, which makes the bridge look like an ancient Chinese key. Thus locals also call it the Key Bridge.

The traditional residences in town, mostly built in the Ming and Qing dynasties (1644-1911), flank the winding waterways. Many of them are well-kept and preserve their original appearance, with white walls and black-tiled roofs.

The best way to get a taste of local lifestyle is spend an afternoon at a riverbank teahouse, sipping a cup of green tea and enjoying the river landscape.

In addition to the town's old charm, Zhouzhuang is striving to create new draws and improve its tourism facilities, according to Ren Yongdong, managing director of Zhouzhuang Tourism Company.

Carton King Creativity Park is one of the new attractions on Zhouzhuang's tourist map.

The park, including stores, a gallery, a museum and a restaurant, has become a must-see since its opening in August last year.

Everything you see in the park is made of cardboard cartons, from figurines and animals to hats, bags and furniture.

"They are not just for display," explains Chen Weilin, general manager of the Carton King Creativity Park.
"A chair made of cartons can support as much weight as 200 kg."

The park is the Taiwan company's first store on the Chinese mainland, Chen says. "All the materials are recycled corrugated paper to make furniture and crafts, which are environment-friendly and creative," Chen says.

Chen is optimistic about the future of the park. "With the rapid development of Chinese economy, tourists' purchasing power will increase, and there will be great development space in Zhouzhuang."

The 1086 Street is another new site to showcase local cultural heritage. The 200-meter-long street is a concentration area of lodging and catering. More recreational facilities like bars and coffee shops have been planned for construction in the near future, according to Ren.

Some of the businesses are run by people from other parts of the country.

Bar owner Guo Tao, from Lijiang in Yunnan province, is one of them.

Guo and his wife first visited Zhouzhuang in 2010. "We fell in love with the town during our one-week stay.
Then we decided to move here."

Business was not very good two years ago but it's getting better, with more returning customers, Guo says.

"In Zhouzhuang, I can find the freedom of the soul. I hope one day I could buy a house of my own and finally settle down."

On Minsu Street there are dozens of inns run by local residents. The decorations are authentic and the inn-owners are considerate, honest and enthusiastic.

Zhu Sanguan, 72, once an actor, works at a hotel in town.

A few years ago, Zhouzhuang was very quiet with few tourists and people lived a leisurely life, Zhu recalls.

"Most of us lived on farming and fishing."

With the town's increasing popularity, the number of tourists skyrocketed. Many people in the town opened hotels and restaurants, and sold souvenirs.

"Life is much better and busier," Zhu says.

"People used to go to bed after the sunset," he says. "Days like that are long gone."


Source: By Guo Anfei (China Daily)

Southern star- Nanjing

Nanjing, located downstream of the Yangtze River, has an important place in Chinese history and culture. Emperors discovered its advantages early and it became known as the "Capital of Six Dynasties".

The "southern capital" has built on its historical importance. It continues to thrive as the capital of Jiangsu province and as a bustling commercial hub in the country's rich coastal areas.

Modern highways and railways connect Nanjing to most major cities throughout the country.

Nanjing is only a 73-minute bullet train ride from Shanghai, making it an accessible destination for people who want a weekend away from the financial hub.

Rich historical and cultural architecture such as ancient temples and royal gardens complement natural scenic spots to help this city retain its timeless charm.

Here are some places worth visiting:

1. Qinhuai River

This 10-kilometer-long waterway is a branch of the mighty Yangtze River. It flows slowly and is regarded as the mother river of Nanjing, helping to nurture the rich civilization of the region.

Charming boats, adorned with traditional lanterns, offer river cruises as a nod to its romantic past. The river has been the backdrop for many Chinese novels and TV dramas.

Souvenir shops, restaurants and bars help liven up the flourishing riverside.

2. Confucius Temple

The Confucius Temple, or fuzimiao in Chinese, is a must-see in Nanjing.

It was first built in the year 1034, during the Song Dynasty (960-1279), and was expanded in the following dynasties. The temple was built to consecrate and worship the great Chinese philosopher.

This is not only a place to discover more about the sage but also an ideal spot to enjoy the teahouses, cafes and restaurants in buildings that boast the architectural style of the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties.

Next to the Confucius Temple is the Jiangnan Examination School, where travelers can look at how ancient Chinese governments chose their officials.

3. Xuanwu Lake

This lake is considered the largest green spot in Nanjing and remains a favorite with locals because of its convenient location and scenery.

The area is in Nanjing's downtown area. Admission is free and visitors can reach it from the Xuanwumen Station on Line 1 of the subway.

The lake was also used by many dynasties as an imperial navy training zone.

Medium-sized islands boasting their own unique "micro-scenery" dot Xuanwu. The tree-lined causeways and bridges connect the islands, and this network of roads is perfect for a bike ride or a stroll.

Fishing and boating are some of the leisure activities in this area and paddle boats are available for rent. A nearby amusement park and zoo offer more entertainment possibilities.

4. Purple Mountain

This mountain offers a perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of Nanjing. It is known as the "lung of
Nanjing" because of its massive forest generating fresh and cool air.

It is nearly an hour's ascent to Purple Mountain Observatory at the peak.

More than 200 heritage and scenic spots have been marked out in or around the mountain.

Eating and drinking

Duck-blood soup is a must-try for first-time visitors. The soup's challenging name belies its popularity and taste. It can be found in stalls lining the food street at the Confucius Temple.

The Nanjing 1912 restaurant and bar area is another entertainment hub worth checking out. It is probably the city's most vibrant spot after 10 pm.

Located near the Presidential Palace, the bars and eateries are housed in buildings designed in the same style as the government offices used by Sun Yat-sen.

Source: China Daily

West Lake in Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province

Photo taken on March 14, 2013 shows the spring scenery of the West Lake in Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province. (Source: Xinhua)

The best of Yangzhou in March

Source: CRI

As Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai famously wrote, "Go to Yangzhou in March, in the mist of the flowers of spring". During the time of Li Bai, mention of Yangzhou evoked images of prosperity and romance. Today, much of the city's heritage is still alive within its narrow lanes and well preserved family gardens situated in the old town area.

Hundreds of cobbled stone lanes sprawl outwards from the center of Yangzhou's seven square kilometer old town area like tree roots; heading in different directions, overlapping with one another, linking together a number of historical residences along the way. The largest and most visited of these lanes is Guandong Street.

Over 1000 meters in length, the street was once a business hub where people would come to buy their daily supplies, including food and small furniture. Thankfully, this tradition is still alive today, as tourists can find almost every kind of local specialty food and handicraft on offer here.

Small, homey eateries selling steamed buns, sticky rice balls and bean curd snacks open their doors to neighbors and friends living nearby while also welcoming tourists at the same time. A light meal usually costs about ten to twenty yuan; a price as friendly as the places themselves.

Less in number but equally popular are the workshops run by generations of craftsmen which appear around every corner of the street. Yangzhou was a cradle of artists in times past; workshops dedicated to embroidery, paper cutting and lacquer work once flourished here.

And although Guandong Street is usually billed as the essence of historical Yangzhou, what travelers usually end up seeing is the everyday life of the modern day city.

Trip to water town Zhouzhuang in Jiangsu province

Located at the northeast of Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, the Lion Grove Garden is famous for the Taihu rocks in various shapes which are said to resemble lions, especially the large and labyrinthine grotto of rocks at the garden's center.

It is recognized with other classical Suzhou gardens as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Together with other three gardens, including Blue Wave Pavilion (Canglang Ting), Lingering Garden (Liu Yuan) and Humble Administrator's Garden (Zhuozheng Yuan), the Lion Grove Garden is one of the four most famous and representative gardens of ancient classical style in Suzhou City.

China's Ancient Sex Museum in Tongli

China's Ancient Sex Museum, once located in the Shanghai's booming streets, now has to move to Tongli Town in East China's Jiangsu Province due to a funding shortage. After a recent move from Shanghai, Tongli has now become the new center for the China Sex Museum.

Open-minded individuals can enjoy a stroll through the sculpture garden and see four indoor exhibitions about the history of sexuality, namely: "Sex in Primitive Society," "Marriage and Women," "Sex in Daily Life," and "Unusual Sex-ual Behavior."  A number of exhibits are worth a mention, including statue of a grandson and his grandfather, sporting an elongated, phallic head with a turtle resting on the tip

Source: china.org

Ho Family Garden: The most important garden in Late Qing Dynasty

The five Chinese characters inscribed on the wall outside the Ho Family Garden literally mean "the most important garden in Late Qing Dynasty", Yangzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, April 7, 2014

Located at Huayuan Lane in Xuningmen Street of Yangzhou City, east Jiangsu Province, Ho Family Garden, also named "Jixiao Heights", is regarded as "the most important garden in Late Qing Dynasty".  An official surnamed Ho of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) from Hubei Province spent 13 years building it as his residence, hence the garden's name.

Ho Family Garden consists of three parts: the back garden, the residential area, and the Pian Shi Shan Fang. The garden is famous for its excellent combination of western architecture art and eastern garden characteristics.

All the iron for railings and window glass were imported from abroad.  The houses are also decorated with western items. Around the pool of the garden stands a variety of pavilions that are linked together to form an architecture belt.  The garden is also known for its zigzag paths and winding corridors.

Its profound cultural background and ingenuity of buildings are much admired. The integration of strong points of imperial gardens and those of private gardens south of the Yangtze River resulted in a refreshing and tasteful ambience. Source: china.org

Jinxi Water Town, the sleeping maiden

Jinxi, an ancient water town, with its delicate architecture and laid back lifestyle, is a popular tourist site in Jiangsu province.

Jinxi water town, near Suzhou city, was described by the eminent Chinese writer Shen Congwen as "a sleeping maiden" during his stay in the 1970s.

Source: china.org