Exquisite Suzhou: Water Town Ancient Towns

Author: Tao Wenyu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-12-01
Features: The water town ancient city culture of Wu is the theme of Suzhou, and the famous scenic spots, temples, monasteries, bridges, and pagodas within and outside the city serve as the framework and subheadings for this thematic article. From the city gates, city walls, remains of the Palace of the Lady of the Pavilion built over 2,000 years ago by King Wu, the site of the training ground of Sun Wu, to the White Crane Causeway built by Bai Juyi of the Tang Dynasty, the ancient tombs of Fan Zhongyan's family, and Fan Gong Temple of the Song Dynasty; from Tiger Hill Pagoda, Ruiguang Pagoda, Twin Pagodas, Shangfang Pagoda, Lingyan Temple Pagoda, and the tallest Beisi Temple Pagoda to the largest existing Song Dynasty architecture, Xuanmiao Temple, and the Tang Dynasty sculptures of Baosheng Temple, Zijin Temple, and the Song Dynasty sculptures; historical traces spanning millennia can all be found in Suzhou, with records, ruins, and buildings to support them. As for the historical traces of the Ming and Qing dynasties are even more numerous. Suzhou has 10 national key cultural relic protection units, 58 provincial-level protection units, and 351 municipal and county-level protection units, not to mention the vast number of ancient bridges, ancient trees, ancient residential buildings, and the ruins of ancient alleys, streets, and shops that are still under protection. Even the thick dust of thousands of years cannot obscure the brilliance of Suzhou's ancient city's historical traces, nor can it seal the unique local characteristics of Wu culture that deeply permeate every corner.