Monthly Archives: December 2014

Zhujiajiao Has Long History, Zhujiajiao has formed village 1700 years ago, and has become town in Wanli Period of Ming Dynasty. Zhujiajiao Ancient Town is found within the suburbs of Shanghai City and this is a very interesting place to visit.The main reason why this town is surrounded by water is because it sits right in between lakes and mountains. The town features beautiful waterways, arched stone bridges, ancient streets paved with stone, and more than 10,000 houses dating back to Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties.

Endowed with another elegant name – ‘Pearl Stream’ – the little town is the best-preserved among the four ancient towns in Shanghai. Unique old bridges across bubbling streams, small rivers shaded by willow trees, and houses with courtyards attached all transport people who have been living amidst the bustle and hustle of the modern big city to a brand-new world full of antiquity, leisure and tranquillity.

“With a natural scenery of little bridges spanning bubbling streams and there are the original Ming Qing Dynasty streets”, Zhujiajiao, where market had already formed during the Song and Yuan Dynasty, was officially set up as a town during Emperor Wanli`s reign of the Ming Dynasty, Another name for Zhujiajio is Pearl Streets Pavilion and has also been given a nice name, the Peal Stream, The town occupies an area of 47 sq.km. It is crisscrossed by rivers and canals, with 9 long streets running along the rivers and thousand of buildings of Ming and Qing Dynasty architecture flanking both sides. There are 36 ancient stone bridges, among these there`s a first 5stone-arched brige in shanghai called “Fangsheng Brige” or “Setting-free Bridge”. There are prosperous long streets and zigzagging lanes. Among these , Great North Street boasts “a mile-long road with a thousand shops”, KeZhi Garden is representative of the architecture of rich families in south of Yangtze River,the Memorial Hall of Wang Chang one of the “Seven Scholars” of the Qing Dynasty, No 1 Tea House is very famous in south of the Yangtze River. The ancient streets paved with stone slabs, deep and quiet alleyways, arched stone bridges, little creaking boats all express the beauty of water in the ancient town of Zhujiajiao The antiquity of the bridges, the rareness of the streets and the seclusion of the alleyways all present you a scene of “boats sailing on the water and people touring in painting”.

Visitors can take a walk to explore the town what it looks like or board canvas-canopied boats for the canal-side Granny Tea house for a short tea break. It is the most famous teahouse in the community. The five-arch Fangsheng Bridge built in 1571 in the Ming Dynasty is still standing there. Inscriptions on the weather-beaten steles by the side of the river tell people to do good things and accumulate merits for the after lift. There are altogether 36 bridges in the town and each has a name and possibly a story, which will speak itself when the tourist sits on the bridge, staring at the mosses growing out of the gaps in the stones or the river on which boats pass by.

The Lion Forest Garden differentiates itself from its brethren by being dominated by rocks. It’s quite a small garden, but the maze of walkways above and underneath the rock will be sure to have you walking in circles for some time. Dating from 1342 (Yuan Dynasty) the garden was constructed by disciples of the Zen Buddhist Abott Tianru Weize. The name comes from rocks in the garden that apparently resemble lions and have connections to a Buddhist story as well as special significance to the Abbott. Emperors Kangxi and Qianlong both visited the garden and were impressed enough to leave inscriptions and even try to recreate it elsewhere. In addition to rocks and water, Lion Forest Garden is also dotted with bamboo, old tress and sublime buildings.

Compactly yet harmoniously spaced,the Lion Forest Garden has a prominent part for series of man-made mountains with various buildings around the lake ,and an artificial waterfall and cliffs at the edge of the lake on the west. Remains of the 14th century man-made mountains,covering 1,152 sq.m.and being the largest of all at Suzhou,can be still seen today.Noted for its labyrinthine mountains with winding pathways and caverns,old pines and cypress trees,awesome peaks and jogged rocks of grotesque shapes resembling dancing lions with striking and unusral poses,it possesses with pride the true delights of mountain and forest scenery in limited space with a flavor of Zen Buddhism.

The Hall of Peace and Happiness,one of the principal buildings in the garden,is a master-piece of typical mandarin ducks’hall at Suzhou. Divided in halves, the northern half of the hall differs from the southen half in many particular aspects ,such as beam-framing systems, furnishings,pavements,carvings,window designs and so forth.With painted patterns and beam carvings and looking splendid in green and gold,the True Delight Pavilion in the royal style with the “True Delight “tablet inscribed by the Qing Emperor Qianlong is a main viewing place in the garden and differs from the other plain and elegant gardens of Suzhou.Other buildings include the pointing at Cypress Trees Hall,the Asking Prunus Mume Pavilion and the Stone Boat, etc.

The Lion Forest Garden boasts 22 buildings of varied types, 25tablets and plateaux,71steles inscribed with the famous Calligraphy Collection of the Listening to Rain Tower,23 brick carvings,5 carved wooden screens,and 13 valuable old trees such as gingo biloba L.,pinus bungeana Zucc,etc.,which fall into 5 catalogues.

Wuzhen lies in the north of Hangzhou city of Zhejiang Province, and at the center of the triangle formed by Shanghai, Hangzhou and Nanjing. Wuzhen enjoys a history of over 1,000 years since its establishment in 872 A.D. However, according to the textual research of the Tanjiawan site, one of the important cultural relics under state protection, ancestors of the Wuzhen people existed here during the New Stone Age 7,000 years ago. The town covers an area of 72 sq. km, with a population of 60,000 and permanent residents of 12,000. The town is divided into four parts by a cross-shaped river. That’s making it the only ancient water town adjacent to the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. Because its warm and humid climate, the products here are rich, making Wuzhen well-known as “The town of fish, rice and silk.” .

For hundreds of years, its residents have been building houses along the rivers. The ancient docks, waterside pavilions, and corridors stretch out for miles and make a romantic atmosphere that is typical to Jiang Nan water towns. Wu Zhen boasts its prosperous past and simple lifestyle. Unique folk custom, Hua Gu Opera with local character, Shadow Play, and Gathering Pilgrim show the rich tradition of the locality! Wu Zhen is famous for its natural beauty and many talented people in history. Since the South Dynasty when the prince of Liang kingdom-Zhao Ming once studied here, such literary master as Mao Dun had left many cultural relics here. If boating around the water network, or lingering in the lanes one can always feel the serenity, peacefulness and subtle beauty of the Jiang Nan water town.

On both sides of a slab stone-paved street stand pubs, restaurants, pawnshops, weaving and dyeing establishments, and other businesses, all housed in wooden structures of brown. Rivers and creeks spanned with stone bridges in various designs flow through the town, and the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal passes by. Old waterside houses and outside corridors can be found here and there. This is the ancient town of Wuzhen.

Wuzhen has many sites of historical and cultural interest. From the Song (960-1279) through the Qing (1644-1911) Dynasties, Wuzhen produced more successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations than any other town south of the lower reaches of the Changjiang (Yangtze) River. Bearing witness to the town’s emphasis on education is the Lizhi (Aspiration) Academy of Classical Learning of the Qing Dynasty, which still retains its original appearance.

During the Northern and Southern Dynasties (420-581), Crown Prince Liang Zhaoming once studied at Wuzhen. The prince is famous for his Literary Selections by Zhaoming, a milestone in the history of Chinese literature, and the town of Wuzhen built a memorial archway to commemorate his stay there and has kept it well preserved. Other historical and cultural sites include the Wenchang Pavilion, the Xiuzhen Taoist Temple, the ancient stage, the mansion of a member of the Imperial Academy, and the former residence of Mao Dun, a great master of contemporary Chinese literature.

Tradition is still very much alive in Wuzhen. In addition to flower-drum opera, shadow-puppet shows, and temple fairs, Wuzhen also attracts visitors with its time-honored art of making indigo-dyed printed calico. In ancient times, indigo-dyed printed calico was used for curtains, scarves, and tablecloths in every household in the countryside of Zhejiang Province. Today, it is still common to see old women in indigo-blue gowns leisurely operating spinning wheels or looms at weaving workshops in the old lanes of Wuzhen, while the squeaks of the looms resound throughout the lanes. Carrying on this tradition has become a part of the lives of the old women.

Wuzhen is at its best on rainy days. Strolling with an umbrella along an old lane past the centuries-old wooden houses and seeing the rain flow off the engraved eaves that cover the doorways is an amazing experience. The falling raindrops bring ripples on the river surfaces, while boats travel to and fro. The waterside pavilions and corridors and the arched bridges, all shrouded in drizzle, make up a charming scene.

People in Wuzhen live a simple life. Many of them breed silkworms and raise chrysanthemums, and they have mostly retained the tradition of buying fruit and vegetables from trade boats through the windows of their waterside houses. They benefit from an inherited harmony of man and nature and enjoy the pleasing living environment that comes from social progress. In May 1999, the local government invested 200 million yuan for maintaining and improving the town’s environment. The project was to be completed within five years, and the first phase, with an investment of 80 million yuan, was completed by the end of 2001.

Wuzhen has been included by UNESCO in the reserve list of world cultural heritages.

Pan Gate(Pan Men) is a famous historical landmark in Suzhou, China. It is located on the south-west corner of the Main Canal or encircling canal of Suzhou. Walking onto the top of the gate, you can see the Wu Gate Bridge and the Auspicious Light Pagoda. Together, they are popularly known as the Three Scenes at Pan Gate.

Pan Gate is part of the ancient city wall built in 514 BCE that surrounded and protected Suzhou. Pan Gate was the only entrance to the wall that surrounded ancient Suzhou. It is also known in China for its architecture. It is so famous for its complex of both land and water city gates that many times, people directly refer to it as the “Land and Water Gate”. In order to attract more tourists, in recent years, the city of Suzhou has renovated the old wall and built many other attractions around the original gate in the Pan Gate Scenic Area.

Construction of Pan Gate began in the first year of the reign of He Lu, King of Wu during the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC). Although it has been renovated and rebuilt many times through the ages, its location has never changed an inch.

The present Pan Gate was rebuilt in the 11th year of the reign of Zhizheng in the end of the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) and renovated during the following Ming and Qing dynasties. With water gates and land gates towering side by side, Pan Gate looks very imposing. The land gate consists of double gates, one inside and the other outside, with city walls forming a square terrace of about 20 meters long on each side.

ancient buildingPan Gate is a fortress suitable for ancient water-towns like Suzhou in the southern part of China. The two water gates adjoining the land gates are the only water pass linking the inside and outside of the southwestern corner of the city. Built with granite, each of them has enough room for two boats passing side by side. For each gate there is a huge sluice gate to control the water flow. It is easy to imagine the prosperous sights then that the double water and land gates of Pan Gate shined on the Grand Canal, when horses and carriages went through the pass with flags fluttering, and boats paddling through the water gates.

Wu Gate Bridge is located on the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal beside Pan Gate. Looking like a rainbow hung in the sky, it is the longest stone one-arched bridge in Suzhou. Construction of Wu Gate Bridge began in the Northern Song Dynasty, but the bridge seen today was rebuilt in the Qing Dynasty. As it was the gateway to the Wu state, the bridge was named Wu Gate Bridge.

inside the gardenA huge stone arched bridge, Wu Gate Bridge is about six meters high and 63 meters long. In each of its south and north ends, there are 48 steps made out of a whole rectangular slab of five meters long and 0.5 meter wide. The whole Wu Gate Bridge was built with carefully and precisely sculpted granite from the Jinshan Hill and the seams were filled with mixture of alum, glutinous rice soup and lime. That is why the bridge remains as solid as it was newly built, though hundreds of years have passed. On the bridge, one can have a clear view of the gate tower of Pan Gate and the Auspicious Light Pagoda.

The Auspicious Light Pagoda was originally an attached building of the Buddhist Monastery of Universal Relief. It was built by Sun Quan, King of Wu, during the Three Kingdoms period. The current Auspicious Light Pagoda was from the early years of the Northern Song Dynasty and its wooden parts went through several renovations during the Song, Ming and Qing Dynasties. It is the second oldest structure of its kind in the Suzhou area, next to the Tiger Hill Pagoda only.

Standing 44.42 meters high, the pagoda is a seven-storey octagon structure. Its elegant figure is reflected in the Grand Canal. And either in daybreak or twilights when sunrays shoot on its body cast upon its roof, the pagoda looks particularly magnificent. If you climb onto the pagoda by following the stairs and looking into the distance, you will have a panoramic view of the picturesque water-land in the Yangtze River Delta.

Yu Garden, a classical garden in downtown Shanghai. Originally built in 1559 as the private garden in the Ming Dynasty, Yu Garden has a history of more than 400 years and boasts the glory of the most beautiful garden south of the Yangtze River.Yu Garden is also a paradise of shopping and leisure full of the fascinating Chinese traditional culture. It is the very good venue for specialist Chinese goods ranging from clothes, small articles, local crafts, jade wares and gold and silver jewelry.

Yu garden is reputed to be the most beautiful garden south of the Yangtze River. Built beside the Temple of the City God and covering only fives acres, it follows the Suzhou garden design of a world in microcosm, with 30 pavillions linked by corridors, artificial hills, bridges over lotus pools, groves of bamboo and walls occupied by stone dragons.Each pavilion, hall, stone and stream in the garden is expressing the quintessence of South China landscape design from Ming and Qing Dynasty. Over forty spots, divided by dragon walls, wound corridors and beautiful flowers, form an unique picture featuring “one step, one beauty; every step, every beauty.”

Yuyuan Garden occupies an area of 20,000 square meters (about five acres). However, the small size is not a representative of the attractions of the garden. The pavilions, halls, rockeries, ponds and cloisters all have unique characteristics. There are six main scenic areas here: Sansui Hall, Wanhua Chamber, Dianchun Hall, Huijing Hall, Yuhua Hall and the Inner Garden. Each area features several scenic spots within its borders.

The Inner Garden was a separate garden built in 1709, but is now a part of Yuyuan in the south. It is compact and exquisite, and the rocks, pavilions, ornamental ponds and flower walls offer some of the most attractive sceneries in Yuyuan.

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Walking the length of the Bund is a joy regardless of time of day. The one mile stroll affords many spectacular views. The Bund, with more than 50 individual architectural styles, is reminiscent of the time when Shanghai was the center of Chinese economy and culture in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Consulates, banks and businesses from yesteryear make an eclectic and artistic architectural statement. Shanghai, though definitely Chinese, has had an international past and though it is often an unspoken truth, the Bund reveals its secrets.

History

Before the 1840s, the Bund was a muddy narrow lane with tall reeds. It initially became a British settlement. After Shanghai was established as the trading port in 1846, a street was paved there and the riversides were reinforced. Then, rows of commercial buildings were constructed. As the UK Concession, a building boom at the end of 19th century and beginning of 20th century led to the Bund becoming a major financial hub of East Asia. It was the centre of the city’s politics, economy and culture more than a hundred years ago, consulates of most countries and many banks, businesses and newspaper offices were settled there, and that’s why we have these art-like buildings.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, with the thawing of economic policy in the People’s Republic of China, buildings on the Bund were gradually returned to their former uses. Government institutions were moved out in favor of financial institutions, while hotels resumed trading as such.

In the 1990s the Shanghai government attempted to promote an extended concept of the Bund to boost tourism and land values in nearby areas, as well as to reconcile the promotion of ‘colonial relics’ with Socialist ideology. From 2008, a major reconfiguration of traffic flow along the Bund was carried out. After a 33-month upgrade, the Bund was reopened to visitors on March 28, 2010. The veil on the new Bund was finally lifted.

The Bund is a beautiful sight and one of my favorite places in Shanghai. It is worth braving the crowds to visit at night, when the lights of Shanghai sparkle till 10pm and reveal a truly majestic city.

West Lake is located in the south-west of Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province .World-known for dainty landscape of lakes and mountains as well as a mass of places of historic interests, the West Lake of Hangzhou is considered A Paradise on Earth. It was included in the World Heritage List on June 24, 2011 as the only Chinese lake in that list.It was elected as the first batch of China’s key national 5A-level scenic spot opened to the public and it is one of Top 10 China Attractions.

The average water depth is 2.27 meters, of which the deepest is about 5 meters while the shallowest is less than 1 meter. The pretty of the West Lake not only lies in the lake itself but also in the surrounded bridges, pavilions and dozens of matched hills. Though the height of these hills are all not exceeding 400 meters, they are graceful on account of unique peaks, bizarre rocks and elegant springs, all together enhance the lake’s appeal to compose a gorgeous picture with the West lake in the middle, resembling all the stars bend towards the moon. With its accumulation of years of history, its unique southern charm and a large number of outstanding cultural landscape help itself to be selected into world cultural heritage list, and it is the only China’s world cultural heritage in the class of lakes. The Santanyinyue landscape printed on the back of the paper currency for CNY 1 yuan embodies a special status of the West Lake among numerous China’s scenic spots.

The West Lake is a like a shining pearl inlaid on the vast land of China, reputed for beautiful scenery, a multitude of historical sites, brilliant cultural relics, and a profusion of native products. Legend has it that the West Lake was a heavenly jewel fallen to earth. Pragmatists insist that it is a mere lagoon on Hangzhou’s western fringe. In any case, West Lake has inspired painters for centuries.

Hangzhou is rich in cultural connotations. The three isles on the lake look more like legendary Fairyland Islands. All scenes are with philosophic meanings and poetic feelings, such as "Ten Scenes of the West Lake" (Ten in China is perfectionist number, indicates numerous perfects) confirmed by two emperors who had traveled from Beijing for 16 times and set their steles erected and composed their poems for each of these ten scenes. They have pinpointed the charms of West Lake in different places, different seasons and time of the year, in terms of seasonal beauty:

Dawn on the Su Causeway in Spring

The causeway was built by Su Dongpo, a great scholar in the Song Dynasty, and was named after him. When spring comes, the whole causeway is blanketed by peach blossoms and weeping willows, creating an especially charming scene.

Curved Yard and Lotus Pool in Summer

This scene wins its name for the lotus plants growing along its shores, which was known as Curved Yard. There was also a winery. The "perfume" produced by the combination of the scent of lotus flowers and wine, to which was added the scent of the cool breeze from the lake, was said to be charmingly intoxicating.

Moon over the Peaceful Lake in Autumn

This scenic spot can be seen from the western end of Bai Causeway. The teahouse with its cement terrace bounded on three sides by water, became one of the traditional places to view West Lake, especially on Mid-Autumn night when the moon is full and bright.

Remnant Snow on the Broken Bridge in Winter

Broken Bridge, which is not really broken, is a traditional arched stone bridge. In early spring, when the snow begins to melt, it melts on one side of the bridge first, due the fact that the other side is in shade, which gives the bridge a split image.

Three Ponds Mirroring the Moon

Three miniature stone pagodas, which act like beacons, built over 800 years ago and 2 meters in height, are the centerpiece of the scenic spot called "Three Pools Mirroring the Moon". To the west of Three Pools Mirroring the Moon Island stand rounded hollow stone pagodas with five round holes like windows around the top and bottom levels. On the night of the Mid-Autumn festival, when the moon shines full and bright in the sky, a candle is lit inside each of the pagodas. The light from the holes and the moon cast their reflections on the water, hence the name.

Evening Bell Ringing at the Nanping Hill

As the name suggests, the site is to be enjoyed at dusk. At this hour the huge bell of Jingxi Temple peals, its clear, forceful sound reverberating across the lake, as if amplified in the still evening air, calling for humility and reminding Buddhists of their age-old religious heritage – and indeed, reminding anyone who experiences this beautiful setting of his or her ultimate smallness within the larger scope of things.

Two Peaks Piercing the Clouds

At this scene, visitors are advised to lift their gaze from the lake’s surface and behold the view on the other side of the lake, where one is rewarded by the sight of two mountain peaks, separated by the short distance of about five kilometers, at the northern rim of the lake. On certain days with low-lying clouds, it is as if these twin peaks pierce through the clouds.

Orioles Singing in the Willows

Featuring weeping willow trees, the site used to an imperial garden in the Southern Song Dynasty. The orioles often visit the willows and sing beautiful songs here.

Fish Viewing at the Flower Pond

This spot is located at the southern end of Su Causeway. A clean stream flows from Huajia Hill to join West Lake here. It is now a beautiful park featuring a peony garden which blooms in April and a goldfish pond which is the famous site for viewing fish.

Leifeng Pagoda in the Sunset

Leifeng Pagoda is famous because of the romantic Chinese fairy tale “Legend of the White Snake”. The story tells of a young scholar who falls in love with a beautiful woman, without knowing that she is a white snake who has taken on human form. A monk intervenes in order to save the scholar’s soul and casts the white snake into a deep well at the Lei Feng Pagoda. Visitors can enjoy a stunning view when the glow of sunset falls on the pagoda as well as the vast lake.

Zhouzhuang, one of the most famous water townships in China, situated in Kunshan City which is only 30 kilometers (18 miles) southeast of Suzhou.Zhouzhuang has a history of more than 900 years, and it has been called “The Water Land” since ancient times.  It is noted for its profound cultural background, the well preserved ancient residential houses, the elegant watery views and the strong local colored traditions and customs.

It covers an area of half a square kilometer, 60 percent of the Zhouzhuang’s structures were built during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, which is from 1368 to 1911. An ancient Chinese poem described Zhouzhuang as a town with small bridges, murmuring streams and thatched dwellings. The four streams in the town including Chenghu, Baixian, Dianshan and Nanhu, which flow through the town in a criss-cross fashion, earning the town the epithet of “The Venice of China”.With lakes on four sides, the beauty of Zhouzhuang is specially to be found along the waterside lanes and around a number of the stone bridges. A different vista at every turn can be found here. All those make a visit most enjoyable. Also, one can enjoy the fairyland atmosphere of the evenings here when the myriad stars twinkle as though in communication with the glittering lights. 

The town benefits from the beauty of rivers and lakes. The 14 ancient bridges on the river were built during the Yuan (1271 – 1368), Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644 -1911) dynasties. Double Bridge is one tourist clamor to visit, where two bridges positioned to form a right angle over the stream. Another noteworthy bridge is Fu’an Bridge, which is the oldest bridge in Zhouzhuang – built in 1355.

Residents of the ancient town built their houses and streets along the rivers. Over 60% of the town’s buildings date back to the early Ming Dynasty. Two buildings in particular attract lots of tourists: Shen Ting (Hall of Shen) built in 1742 and Zhang Ting (Hall of Zhang). Tourists can also take a gondola to experience the small water town.

Shen House
The Hall of Shen’s Residence, originally known as Jingye Tang, was built by Shen Wansan’s (a legendary tycoon in the south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River) descendant Shen Benren in the year of 1742. Shen House is divided into three parts. The former part is water gateways and wharves for the locals’ daily chores like washing and anchoring. It is typical architecture of water village of the south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River. The middle part is the hallway, main hall, and tea room. Meetings, funerals, weddings can be held here. The third part is the back hall and some rooms for the locals’ living. All rooms and halls are connected by corridors. If travelers are fond of engravings, they can find many masterpieces in Shen House. Having been devastated during the year of 1966-1976, the residence relived after restoration since 1983. And now, as a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at Jiangsu provincial level, it enjoys great popularity amongst visitors.
 
Zhang House
As one of the few architecture of Ming Dynasty style, Zhang House, covering an area of 1800 square metres and boasting over 70 rooms, is listed as a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at Jiangsu provincial level. It is said it was construct in the Zhengtong Period (1436-1449) of Ming Dynasty and was sold out to a Zhang’s family, thus changing its name from Yishun Tang to Yuyan Tang (commonly known as Zhang Ting). Through five hundred plus years, the Zhang House still remains grand as a dwelling of the well-off. For those who come from metropolises, sauntering inside is by no means seeking sheer thrills, but dissolving frustration or wretchedness in the beauty and peace of the house.
 
Residence of Shen Wansan
This attraction, based on relevant stories of Shen Wansan, vividly displays how he obtained his wealth, his bumpy experience, legendary lifetime and the daily life of the whole family via bronze statues, brick carvings, carved lacquerware, realistic models, comic strips, clay sculptures and any other means of aesthetic expressions. It is no doubt that it is a human landscape of moment in Zhouzhuang.
 
Twin Bridge
Twin Bridge is made up of a stone arch bridge – Shide Bridge (世德桥) and a stone beam bridge – Yong’an Bridge (永安桥). The locals also refer to it as Key Bridge (钥匙桥) because of the shape of the two bridge holes, one being round, the other square, much like the keys people use in the ancient times. These two stone bridges was first constructed between 1573 and 1619, and then renovated several times later. Shide Bridge spans 16 metres, 3 metres wide, while Yong’an Bridge is 13.3 metres long, 2.4 metres wide. Every year, numerous art college students will come here to fill their sketch books with drawings of the splendid scenery of Zhouzhuang. Photographers prefer this magic place, too. Finding a vintage point, you can fix your experience with your camera.

Lingyin Temple is a Buddhist temple of the Chan sect located north-west of Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, People’s Republic of China.Lingyin Temple(Temple of Soul’s Retreat) is the oldest, the most famous and influential buddhist monastery in Southeastern China.Lingyin Temple is Chinese famous Buddhist monastery of Buddhism welcomed and believed by innumerous Buddhism believers. In their mind, Lingyin Temple is their shrine and the place to talk spiritually to Bodhisattva and Buddha.

Lingyin Temple located at the northwest riverfront of the West Lake in Hangzhou, and generally, it is considered to be a part of the West Lake Scenic Area, which is the extremely famous and popular tourist attraction in China, even in the Far-East Area. Exactly, Lingyin Temple is situated in the Lingyin Mountain between Fei Lai Feng (Peak Flown From Afar) and Bei Gao Feng(Peak of North Highness). The main attractions of Lingyin Temple is Klippe, klippe in geology is a limestone. There are a lot of strange stone, there are many old trees.The most magical is, klippe cave in cliffs, carved from the Five Dynasties to the song and Yuan period, more than 470 statues of stone carvings. The carving is very beautiful, although after many years, some carving is not clear, but look carefully, you will see the beauty of sculpture.Traditionally, Lingyin Temple as well as the area around Lingyin Temple are all the perfect tourist destinations for leisure, reading, study and self-meditation, thanks to its old and lofty trees, tranquil and deep mountains, ancient Buddhist temples as well as the varied clouds and mist. Lingyin Temple in China is considered to be one of the wealthiest monasteries, and the top one in Jiangnan region. Today’s Lingyin Temple serves as the place for tourism and pilgrims.  

History and Culture of Hangzhou Lingyin Temple

Reliably Speaking, Lingyin Temple was built in326 when Southern China was in the reign of East Jin Dynasty. Up to today, the history of Lingyin Temple has been more than 1600 years. Lingyin Temple becomes the earliest Buddhist Temple in Hangzhou. Its name origins have been mentioned above. During the reign of Wuyue Kingdom (907-978), when China was separately under the administration of five Dynasties and roughly ten kingdoms, the King Qian Chu(钱俶) was a worshipper of Buddhism. Lingyin Temple with his help developed quickly, which was mainly embodied in the extension of buildings—there were 9 towers, 18 pavilions, 72 halls and more than 3000 monks in Lingyin Temple.

During Northern Song Dynasty, some scholars ranked buddhist temples of Jiangnan region, and Lingyin Temple was ranked first as the Top Zen Buddhist Temple. At the time, China had a list of Buddhist Temple named Wushan Shilin( Five Buddhist Mountains and Five Buddhist Forests), and Lingyin Temple was ranked the top of it. Lingyin Temple indeed has the surroundings of retreat, which is in harmony with its name. The whole temple was deeply surrounded diversity of peaks and forests. Fei Lai Feng and Cold Spring are the fantastic attractions around Lingyin Temple.

During the southward visit of Emperor Kangxi of Qing Dynasty, he was quite attracted by the gorgeous surroundings of Bei Gao Feng and joyfully inscribed the tablet for Lingyin Temple. But there was an interesting story. It was said that Emperor Kangxi made a mistake which embarrassed him a lot when him did not handle the layout of his handwritings well. The traditional Chinese of Ling. The upper part of the character is another independent character, rain, and the middle part is three in line and the bottom was also a character, wizard. Generally, traditional character of Ling is comprised of three parts. But he was too happy to care more about the whole structure of the character and wrote the Yu quite large, which did harm to the whole writing of Ling. He was troubled but could not tell followers. He considered for a minute. In a flash, he brought to mind that the surroundings of Lingyin Temple, especially the area of Bei Gao Feng always appeared the large scale of mist and covered the whole temple. He got an idea and added a character Yun( Cloud) below Yu, and imperially named Lingyin Temple Yun Lin Chan Si(Cloud-Forest Zen Monastery). Today’s huge tablet written by Emperor Kangxi is in front of Hall of the Heavenly Kings. However, the local people still preferred to call it Lingyin Temple.

Having experienced thousands of years, Lingyin Temple still kept well. During the period of Northern Expedition (1926-1927), The 31st Team’s Colonel Xu Tujing under the leadership of Warlord Wu Peifu(吴佩孚) burnt down this time-honored temple rebuilt in the reign of Emperor Taizong of Tang Dynasty just for getting illegally a quite treasured legacy—-Ancient Crock of Sheng Tian Tang, which was an ancient big crock originally used for immortality of Monk Bibo, the first governor of Lingyin Temple.