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Located between Taihu
Lake in the south and Yangtze River in the north, Wuxi neighbors
Shanghai, Suzhou and Hangzhou in
Jiangsu Province. Wuxi is also about 50
km from Jiangyin, an international port on the Yangtze River, and 65 km
from Zhangjiagang, another international port.
Almost the symbol of Wuxi, Yuantouzhu (turtle head isle) Park is located
on a turtle-shape peninsula 18 km from downtown Wuxi. Built in 1918, the
park contains a mansion, a villa, a garden and a pagoda. In the 1950s,
it was renovated into tourist attraction. In the 1980s the park was
further expanded to be a viewing site from which you can gaze upon the
grand Lake Taihu.
As a poem goes, “If you wish enjoy the full beauty of Lake Taihu, go to
the Shutian Pavilion at the summit of Deer Crown Hill.” The garden
itself is also worth seeing, with sculptures, pavilion and screens.
The well-known “Garden within a Garden” refers to the Orchild Garden in
Yuantouzhu Park, covering an area of 1, 3 hectares. Wuxi has
historically been known for its orchid cultivation. Today, it shelters
more than 100 orchid species, many of which are rare in the world.
Located in downtown Wuxi, the City Garden covers an area of 3,3
hectares. The earliest park in the modern history of Wuxi, the garden is
a place for recreation with pavilions, rockeries, arch bridges and
plants. Among the better-known sights are Embroidery Peak, Dragon Mound,
the Longevity Building and Villa of Cool Breezes.
As early as in the 5th century B.C, the king of the Wu Kingdom built an
alternate palace here. In the 4th century, Wang Xizhi, the King of
Calligraphy, lived here for a brief spell.
A non-government cultural institution, the Park of Wu Culture integrates
natural surroundings with artistic creation. Located on Xigao Hill,
Yangqiao Town, the park was designed by architects from Tongji
University in Shanghai and consists of six sections. The first section
is devoted to the primitive communal life of Wuxi, the second to local
culture, the third to modern economic development, the fourth to
customs, the fifth to arts and the sixth to religion.
The local culture
section alone has a floor space of 1,650 square meters and is divided
into rooms exhibiting early development, local celebrities, various
occupations and an ancient courtroom.
An archetype for the Jichang Garden in the Summer Palace of Beijing, the
Garden of Ease of Mind in Wuxi is renowned for its exquisite layout and
unique artistic tradition of “borrowing scenery”; theat is, it lets the
natural scenery complement the works of art.
In the 13th century, the garden was a dormitory for monks. In the late
15th century, a man named Qin Jin bought the premises and converted it
into a garden. The Emperor Kangxi in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911)
visited the park six times during his inspection tours to the south. He
loved the garden so much that when he returned Beijing, he ordered a
replica garden to be built in the Summer Palace.
The Plum Garden in Wuxi features a display of plum blossoms. With 9
acres of plum trees, the garden was built with the funding of two
well-know brother entrepreneurs surnamed Rong. Attractions in the garden
include the Pavilion of Heaven’s Center, a memorial pagoda built by the
Rong Brothers for their mother and a jade statue of the sleeping Buddha
that weighs 7 tons.
The Liyuan Garden, built in 1937, is located by Lake Lihu, Covering an
area of 20 acres; the park combines the lake with rockeries to form a
harmonious unity. The first scenic spot in the garden is a group of
rockeries built around the lake, with a pebble paved path winding
through them. The second spot consists of four pavilions named after the
four seasons. Peach trees are planted by the Spring Pavilion, oleander
by Summer Pavilion, osmanthus by the Autumn Pavilion and plum by the
Winter Pavilion. The third area is a causeway flanked with peach
blossoms and weeping willows, and the fourth a 289-meter-long corridor
featuring calligraphy carved in stone by noted literati.
With an area of 9, 5 square km, Lake Lihu, an inner lagoon of Lake Taihu,
derives its name from an interesting legend about an official named Fan
Li. As the legend goes, about 2,400 years ago the Wu Kingdom was at war
with the Yue Kingdom, which resulted in the defeat and capture of the
Yue King. As the Yue Kingdom’s minister, Fan designed a trap for the
opponent’s king by luring him with the most beautiful woman in the
century. True to Fan’s plans, the king became so infatuated with her
that his kingdom, abandoned by its king, fell to the enemy, Fan, so
instrumental in the downfall of Wu, declined the offers of high rank and
retreated with his beloved. When they arrived at what today is Lake Lihu,
they were so enchanted by the scenery that they decided to settle down.
By Lake Taihu there are three theme parks: Tang Town, European Town and
the Three-Kingdom Town. These parks serve mainly as settings for films
and TV serials.
Tang Town features the culture of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), the most
prosperous period in Chinese history. European Town houses replicas of
the major attractions in Europe, which are including the Temple of Zeus,
fountains with sculptures, rural chapels in Norway, Russian manors,
Roman both houses, Spanish court-yards and Greek theatres. Inside the
Three-Kingdom Town are imitations of Han-Dynasty style palaces, temples,
barracks, altars, beacon towers and city gates. In addition, there are
more than 20ancient style warships.
The Lishan Mountain in Wuxi shelters many tourist attractions, including
the longest fresco in China, and is also a tourist haunt.
Tourists to Wuxi should not miss the Hushan clay figures. Over 400 years
old, the Hushan clay art comes in two categories. One consists of toy
reproductions of chubby babies and various animals, the most famous of
which is the Great Afu (blessings) in human form. The other consists of
hand-made figures based on Chinese traditional operas. These products
are not only popular in China; they also find a market in over 50
countries and region of the world.
Apart from the Hushan clay figures, Wuxi’s famous staples include
gluten, ice fish from Lake Yaihu, silk, honey peaches, red bayberry and
Biluochun Tea.
Made from deep-fried wheat bran in vegetable oil, the brown, thin,
crispy and tender clusters of gluten are an indispensable ingredient in
Wuxi dishes. One famous dish called “gluten with three delicacies” uses
gluten. Chinese mushrooms and bamboo shoots.
The honey peaches of Wuxi are so tender that you only need to suck the
fresh from them, rather bite into them. Easy to peel and larger than
ordinary peaches, their pulp is also juicier and sweeter.
During a visit to Lake Taihu, visitors should also enjoy the Lake Taihu
Banquet served on sight-seeing boats along the lake. The banquet’s
cuisine dates back to the late Qing Dynasty. Most of the dishes have
local fish caught in the lake or fresh poultry.
Special folk attractions in Wuxi include the Mid-Autumn Festival on Lake
Taihu, Bell-Striking on the Spring Festival Eve, honeymoon tours,
country tours, silk tours and Taihu Art Festival.
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