Suzhou Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
Yuji Cultural Park Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
Off-the-Beaten-Path Destination | Lingbi, Suzhou, Travel While You're Young
-When you come to Suzhou, you must visit Lingbi-
Lingbi County was established in the first year of Yuanyou during the Northern Song Dynasty. It is a famous ancient county known for over a thousand years, named for its 'spiritually beautiful landscape and all rocks being as precious as jade bi.' This beautiful and magical land has been home to numerous historical relics since the Neolithic period. It is the birthplace of China's strange stone culture, the ancient battlefield of the decisive battle between Chu and Han, and the hometown of the mythical figure Zhong Kui. It is renowned for the saying, 'Strange stones, Yu Ji, and Zhong Kui paintings, the three treasures of Lingbi are the best in the world.'
-Lingbi Strange Stone Cultural Park-
'A stone from Lingbi is a wonder in the world, with a sound like bronze and a color like jade. Lush and beautiful in all seasons, with misty hills of green, a treasure descended to earth, how majestic.' This poem by Song Dynasty's Fang Yan praises the Lingbi stone. The Lingbi stone is fine and smooth, with a texture like creamy jade, rough and rugged in shape, and ancient in charm, combining quality, sound, form, and color. Once known as 'the best stone in the world,' it is a nationally protected geographical indication product.
-Lingbi Yu Ji Cultural Park-
The Battle of Gaixia, the Ambush on All Sides, the Song of Chu on All Sides, the Farewell of the King... These classic stories all took place in Lingbi. 'With the strength to pull up mountains and the spirit to cover the world, when the time is against us, my steed does not advance. If my steed does not advance, what can I do, oh Yu, oh Yu, what can I do?' These words of despair by the King of Chu, Xiang Yu, have been passed down through the ages.
-Lingbi County Zhong Kui Cultural Park-
From ancient times to the present, Zhong Kui has always been regarded as the omnipotent god of exorcising demons and has been worshipped by people. The people of Lingbi have been painting Zhong Kui since the Tang Dynasty. After more than a thousand years of development, it has deeply rooted in folk customs and is embedded in folklore. In 2003, the Ministry of Culture awarded the title of 'Hometown of Chinese Folk Art (Zhong Kui Painting)'.
Farewell My Concubine
Yu Ji (224-202 BC), from present-day Suqian or Shuyang in Jiangsu, was a beauty of Xiang Yu, the Overlord of Western Chu during the Chu-Han Contention. She accompanied Xiang Yu throughout the dire situation of being surrounded on all sides, for whom Xiang Yu composed the 'Song of Gaixia'. It is said that Yu Ji was stunningly beautiful and talented, with a graceful dance, and was known as 'Yu the Beauty'. Later generations, based on the 'Song of Gaixia' and the 'Song to King Xiang' which is said to have been composed by Yu Ji, speculated that she ended her life by committing suicide in the Chu camp, thus giving rise to the legend of 'Farewell My Concubine'.
Once the all-powerful Overlord of Western Chu, seeing the situation was hopeless, couldn't help but become sentimental in the end. He drank and expressed his feelings with Yu Ji in the tent, singing the ever-lasting 'Song of Gaixia'. Yu Ji also stood up, drew her sword and danced, tearfully singing the 'Song to King Xiang', 'The Han soldiers have already taken the land, the songs of Chu are heard from all directions. The king's spirit is exhausted, why should I, a lowly concubine, live on!' Faced with Yu Ji's singing, Xiang Yu was moved to tears. After the song, she committed suicide with her sword, and Xiang Yu took her head and broke through the encirclement on horseback.
The 'Song to King Xiang' had completely revealed her feelings to Xiang Yu. Yu Ji knew well that Xiang Yu was defeated and that if she was captured by the Han army, her end would be very tragic. Therefore, Yu Ji decided to follow him in death, to show her determination with death. The five words 'why should I, a lowly concubine, live on' revealed Yu Ji's state of mind at the time, and explained to later generations why Yu Ji would commit suicide.
Yu Ji's beauty and bravery, her tragic and poignant end, have moved countless generations.
From ancient times to the present, heroes have sacrificed themselves, beauties have died for love, widows have remained widowed, this is the need for a certain social value orientation. Yu Ji, time and again on stage, committing suicide with her sword, is deeply moving and makes people sigh, all to fulfill the moral values that have been passed down to this day.
The three words 'Yu the Beauty' have now become a cultural resource. Not only used as a 'lyric pattern' in Song Dynasty lyrics, allowing literati to write poems to express their feelings, but also as a 'brand' for flowers, Yu Ji's hometown has become a land of flowers.
Shengquan (Sacred Spring) Temple Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
Shengquan Temple in Xiao County | Taste the ancient temple in Suzhou
Shengquan Temple is located behind Fengshan in the north of Xiao County, Anhui Province, China, about 1.5 kilometers away from the urban area. This temple was built during the Northern Song Dynasty and was named "Shengquan" because there is a spring next to it that never dries up all year round and has sweet water. Shengquan Temple is not only one of the eight scenic spots in Xiaocheng, but also a famous tourist attraction locally.
The temple is built according to the mountain, with majestic halls and a quiet environment. In history, Shengquan Temple attracted many literati to visit. The most famous of them was Su Shi, a literary scholar in the Northern Song Dynasty. He visited Shengquan Temple during his tenure as the governor of Xuzhou and left the beautiful story of "Dongpo tasting tea and knowing holy water".
The spring water of Shengquan Temple is considered to be top-quality mineral water, especially popular in summer. Many tourists and local residents come to fetch water to cool off. There are also other natural landscapes around the temple, such as Taohua Cave and Xian Cave, which provide a rich sightseeing experience for tourists.
Today, Shengquan Temple is not only a pilgrimage site for Buddhists, but also an important place for tourists to understand local culture and history. The restoration and management of the temple have also received attention from the local government, becoming a national 2A-level tourist scenic spot integrating natural scenery and cultural landscape.
Qishi Culture Park Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
Off-the-Beaten-Path Destination | Lingbi, Suzhou, Travel While You're Young
-When you come to Suzhou, you must visit Lingbi-
Lingbi County was established in the first year of Yuanyou during the Northern Song Dynasty. It is a famous ancient county known for over a thousand years, named for its 'spiritually beautiful landscape and all rocks being as precious as jade bi.' This beautiful and magical land has been home to numerous historical relics since the Neolithic period. It is the birthplace of China's strange stone culture, the ancient battlefield of the decisive battle between Chu and Han, and the hometown of the mythical figure Zhong Kui. It is renowned for the saying, 'Strange stones, Yu Ji, and Zhong Kui paintings, the three treasures of Lingbi are the best in the world.'
-Lingbi Strange Stone Cultural Park-
'A stone from Lingbi is a wonder in the world, with a sound like bronze and a color like jade. Lush and beautiful in all seasons, with misty hills of green, a treasure descended to earth, how majestic.' This poem by Song Dynasty's Fang Yan praises the Lingbi stone. The Lingbi stone is fine and smooth, with a texture like creamy jade, rough and rugged in shape, and ancient in charm, combining quality, sound, form, and color. Once known as 'the best stone in the world,' it is a nationally protected geographical indication product.
-Lingbi Yu Ji Cultural Park-
The Battle of Gaixia, the Ambush on All Sides, the Song of Chu on All Sides, the Farewell of the King... These classic stories all took place in Lingbi. 'With the strength to pull up mountains and the spirit to cover the world, when the time is against us, my steed does not advance. If my steed does not advance, what can I do, oh Yu, oh Yu, what can I do?' These words of despair by the King of Chu, Xiang Yu, have been passed down through the ages.
-Lingbi County Zhong Kui Cultural Park-
From ancient times to the present, Zhong Kui has always been regarded as the omnipotent god of exorcising demons and has been worshipped by people. The people of Lingbi have been painting Zhong Kui since the Tang Dynasty. After more than a thousand years of development, it has deeply rooted in folk customs and is embedded in folklore. In 2003, the Ministry of Culture awarded the title of 'Hometown of Chinese Folk Art (Zhong Kui Painting)'.
Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
Off-the-Beaten-Path Destination | Lingbi, Suzhou, Travel While You're Young
-When you come to Suzhou, you must visit Lingbi-
Lingbi County was established in the first year of Yuanyou during the Northern Song Dynasty. It is a famous ancient county known for over a thousand years, named for its 'spiritually beautiful landscape and all rocks being as precious as jade bi.' This beautiful and magical land has been home to numerous historical relics since the Neolithic period. It is the birthplace of China's strange stone culture, the ancient battlefield of the decisive battle between Chu and Han, and the hometown of the mythical figure Zhong Kui. It is renowned for the saying, 'Strange stones, Yu Ji, and Zhong Kui paintings, the three treasures of Lingbi are the best in the world.'
-Lingbi Strange Stone Cultural Park-
'A stone from Lingbi is a wonder in the world, with a sound like bronze and a color like jade. Lush and beautiful in all seasons, with misty hills of green, a treasure descended to earth, how majestic.' This poem by Song Dynasty's Fang Yan praises the Lingbi stone. The Lingbi stone is fine and smooth, with a texture like creamy jade, rough and rugged in shape, and ancient in charm, combining quality, sound, form, and color. Once known as 'the best stone in the world,' it is a nationally protected geographical indication product.
-Lingbi Yu Ji Cultural Park-
The Battle of Gaixia, the Ambush on All Sides, the Song of Chu on All Sides, the Farewell of the King... These classic stories all took place in Lingbi. 'With the strength to pull up mountains and the spirit to cover the world, when the time is against us, my steed does not advance. If my steed does not advance, what can I do, oh Yu, oh Yu, what can I do?' These words of despair by the King of Chu, Xiang Yu, have been passed down through the ages.
-Lingbi County Zhong Kui Cultural Park-
From ancient times to the present, Zhong Kui has always been regarded as the omnipotent god of exorcising demons and has been worshipped by people. The people of Lingbi have been painting Zhong Kui since the Tang Dynasty. After more than a thousand years of development, it has deeply rooted in folk customs and is embedded in folklore. In 2003, the Ministry of Culture awarded the title of 'Hometown of Chinese Folk Art (Zhong Kui Painting)'.
Wuhu Park Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
Suitable for people who like to stroll around on Sundays
The beautiful scenery of Dai Lake Park in Xiao County, Suzhou City is picturesque. Walking around Dai Lake Park, you can see the sparkling lake, listen to the birds in the forest. There is also a playground that children are most happy about, where you can always hear the innocent laughter of children. From the air, Dai Lake is shaped like a butterfly, with the porous Dai Lake Bridge passing through the lake, like the body of a butterfly, blending with the surrounding buildings. This is the city's green lung and a good place for the public to relax and exercise in their spare time. How beautiful, how leisurely, how beautiful Xiao County is!
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