Archive January 17, 2020

Wuxi, a Shining Pearl of Taihu Lake

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Wuxi, a prefecture-level city in Jiangsu province, is called “Tin” for short. It was called “Xinwu”, “Liangxi” and “Jingui” in ancient times. Wuxi is located in the Yangtze river delta plain in the south of Jiangsu province. The Yangtze river to the north, Taihu lake to the south, the Beijing-hangzhou grand canal from Wuxi through; The territory to the plain, scattered distribution of low mountains, residual hill; North subtropical humid monsoon climate zone, four distinct seasons, sufficient heat. Wuxi has jurisdiction over 5 districts and 2 county-level cities, with a total area of 4627.47 square kilometers.

Wuxi is the national historical and cultural city, since ancient times has been the hometown of fish and rice, known as cloth wharf, money wharf, kiln wharf, silk capital, rice market. Wuxi is the cradle of China’s national industry and township industry, the birthplace of the south Jiangsu model, as well as the headquarters of the joint logistic support unit of Wuxi joint logistic support center. Wuxi culture belongs to wuyue culture, Wuxi people belong to jiangsu and zhejiang people, using wu language. Wuxi has yuantouzhu, lingshan Buddha, Wuxi zhongshi film and television base and other attractions. In November 2017, the review confirmed that the honorary title of national civilized city will be retained.

Travelers who come to Wuxi should pay a visit to Taihu Lake and those who visit Taihu Lake must take a visit to Yuantouzhu. The super view of Taihu Lake lies in the Turtle Head Peninsula. Either enjoy a leisure walk along the shore of the lake, or take a traditional boat quietly sailing on the water to embrace the glittering lake under the blue sky. On the northern bank of Taihu Lake is the a holy Buddhist land – Lingshan Grant Buddha which is the biggest bronze Buddha in the world. With a pilgrim soul, you can worship the grand Buddha, watch nine dragons bathing Shakyamuni, enjoy Ode to Auspice in the Brahma Palace and touch the largest Buddha’s hand for good luck and longevity.

Tips on Hot Spring, What Should You Pay Attention to

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In winter, hot springs are the best way to dispel the chill and gloom; It benefits health and cures disease; However, it is not suitable for everyone and there are many points to note.

Remember, do not soak within an hour before or after meals. When you’re hungry or drunk, don’t soak. Get to know the water quality and mineral content of spring water and choose a spring suitable for your condition or illness. Spring water containing too much acid is not suitable for soaking.

Remember to remove all metal jewelry or accessories before bathing to prevent them from being eroded by minerals that some springs may contain.

Hot springs with hot water are not suitable for bathing. The optimum temperature for soaking is between 35°C(95°F) and 45°C(113°F). You should feel the water with your hands or feet first, put your feet in the water for a while, and then slowly soak in the water. Don’t dive directly into the water. Try a cooler spring first, then gradually heat the water.

It is unwise to soak for a long time. You can soak for 15 to 20 minutes at a time and take a break before showering. A massage or a hot spring is good for the body. You’d better not go to the hot spring alone, because sometimes unexpected things happen. If you feel chest tightness, dizziness or thirst, please immediately out of the spring to rest and drink water.

Generally speaking, you don’t have to wash your body after a hot spring bath because the beneficial ingredients can be better absorbed. However, if the spring contains a lot of acid or hydrogen sulfate, you need to take a bath. For people with dry skin, moisturizer is recommended to prevent moisture loss.

The Song of Everlasting Sorrow, the Famous Long Narrative Poem

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Song of everlasting sorrow is a long narrative poem written by bai juyi, a poet in the tang dynasty. The poem vividly narrates the love tragedy between xuanzong and Yang guifei. With the help of historical figures and legends, the poet created a moving story with twists and turns, and through the artistic images he created, he reproduced the reality of real life and infected readers for thousands of years. The theme of the poem is “eternal hatred”. The poem had a profound influence on many literary works of later generations.

In this long narrative poem, the author narrates the love tragedy of xuanzong and Yang guifei in the anshi rebellion with concise language, graceful image, narration and lyric combination. Tang xuanzong and Yang guifei were all figures in history. The poet did not stick to history, but by a little shadow of history, according to the legend of the people at that time, the singing of the neighborhood degenerated into a twists and turns, which was very touching. As the stories and characters in the poem are artistic, they represent the complex and true human beings in reality, so they can ripple in the hearts of readers throughout the ages.

The beauty of huaqing pool impresses visitors during the day. In the evening, a large live-action historical drama called “song of everlasting sorrow” was staged here to feast the eyes of tourists. The drama tells a touching love story between xuanzong (618-907) and his favorite concubine Yang yuhuan. Their love story happened in huaqing pond more than a thousand years ago.

The song of everlasting sorrow is set in lishan mountain, jiulong lake, pavilions, palaces, willows and lake water. Advanced sound and light technology and specially designed stage successfully realized the integration of history and reality, nature and culture, earth and wonderland, making the performance more magnificent and true.

Song of everlasting regret is a long narrative poem created by bai juyi (772-846), a famous realistic poet in the tang dynasty. Now, the captivating poem has been adapted into a one-scene, 10-scene historical drama that tells a love story divided into four parts: falling in love, inseparable couples, leaving lovers, and a reunion in wonderland.

Mount Li, a Royal Garden Since the Zhou Dynasty

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Mount Li is located in Lintong district, xi ‘an city, Shaanxi province. As part of huaqing pool, the mountain is close to the Qin terra-cotta warriors and horses museum. During the western Zhou dynasty (11th century bc-771 BC), it once belonged to the state of lirong, hence its name. It has been a royal garden since the zhou dynasty, so there are many royal villas here. There are evergreen pines and cypresses on the mountain, which make it look like a black horse.

Mount Li has been a tourist destination for many emperors throughout ancient Chinese history. Many legends about the emperor can be heard here. In ancient times, the mountain was the place where nuwa, the goddess who created humans according to Chinese legend, melted rocks and repaired holes in the sky to save the world. The world famous emperor qin shi huang built his mausoleum at the foot of the mountain, leaving behind a magnificent terracotta army. During the tang dynasty, the tragic love story between xuanzong and the beautiful lady Yang guifei took place here. Even during the qing dynasty, when she fled from Beijing to xi ‘an during the war, the empress dowager stayed for a while.

Laojun Palace is the place where Lao Zi is worshiped. Lao Zi was an ancient Chinese philosopher and the founder of Taoism. The Laojun Palace is a Taoism Temple. It is said that in Tang Dynasty, Emperor Xuanzong has accidentally seen Lao Zi’s manifestation twice in the temple. The white jade statue of Lao Zi was once worshiped in the temple, however during the Tang Dynasty it was partly destroyed in war. The statue is now reserved in the Shaanxi Historical Museum.

Huaqing Pool, Famous for Romantic Love Stories

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30km east of Xi’an and beside the Terracotta Army, Huaqing Pool features the Imperial Pools of the Tang Dynasty (618 – 907), Pear Garden, Frost Flying Hall, Nine-Dragon Lake, Five-Room Building and Mount Li. Huaqing Pool is famous for the romantic love story of Tang Emperor Xuanzong and his concubine Yang Yuhuan.

Within Huaqing pool, there are also five hot spring pools: lotus pool, begonia pool, star pool, master pool and prince pool. The lotus pool was the private bath of emperor xuanzong of the tang dynasty and looked like a lotus. Begonia pool, also known as guifei pool, shaped like begonia, originally for Yang yuhuan. It is said that the star pool has no roof, so people can take a bath at night and enjoy the whole star. The grand master pool is for officials, and the prince pool is, of course, for princes.

The pear garden in Huaqing pool is the most famous royal theatre in China. In the garden, xuanzong and his concubine Yang yuhuan created many tunes and dances. However, the most famous one, the song of ni shangyu, has long been lost.

On the west side of the pear garden stands the frost-flying heaven, also known as the frost-flying hall, which was the residence of emperor xuanzong of the tang dynasty. The name frosty flight comes from an interesting story. It is said that the whole hall is warm even in winter because of the hot springs. When the snow fell on it, all the snow turned to frost at once.

Tourists are not allowed to use hot springs in this scenic area. If you really want to have such an experience, many hotels near the scenic area welcome you all year around. They have hot springs for you to enjoy. With an even temperature of 43°C (109°F), the ever-flowing water here contains minerals and organic materials that have therapeutic effects on the skin.

Empress Dowager Cixi, a Notorious Lady in China

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Usually, when we refer to the empress dowager Cixi, we tend to compare her to wu zetian of the tang dynasty (618-907). To be sure, the two powerful women do have a lot in common: they both served under three emperors, became their husbands and sons, and each had real imperial power for nearly half a century. But the difference lies in that Wu Zetian ascended the throne by herself, and her reign was regarded as an indispensable link between li shimin’s zhenguan and li longji’s kaiyuan prosperity. Cixi’s reign was considered the weakest of the qing dynasty. As a result, she has been considered a notorious woman and even betrayed her country.

The empress dowager Cixi was one of the few women in the imperial era of Chinese history who had long been in power and who had been able to manage the balance of power between close courtiers to maintain their absolute authority.

When Cixi was in power, the centralized power of the qing court and the Chinese sovereignty were faced with various threats from internal and foreign countries. From the standpoint of defending the authority of the qing empire and its own power, her measures were not successful, but in the context of history, most of them were reasonable.

In terms of personality, Cixi’s methods of seizing power from the palace struggle were cruel. Died in 1861, heshen in jehol summer resort, queen had become Ye He the Laplace, Wilson of joint (such as the royal clan coup from royal far the happy prince to carry through huawei first prince, zheng end, actual to minister lu su shun hand eight ministers group, as the core of life won the regime, and three of them (walls, end China, lu su shun) to be put to death. In order to establish and maintain her dictatorial power, empress dowager Cixi showed little mercy on her political opponents, even controlling her son tongzhi and his successor guangxu.

Emperor Guangxu, Whose Life Was Full of Tragic Elements

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Emperor guangxu was born on August 14, 1871, as aisin gioro zaitian, the seventh son of emperor daoguang. In 1874, emperor tongzhi died of illness. Since the empress dowager cixi had no heir to the throne, the machiavellian empress dowager chose zaitian (cixi’s mother was cixi’s sister) to continue her reign. In 1887, emperor guangxu was inaugurated. However, real power remained in the hands of cixi, who continued to rule behind the scenes for two years. From the beginning of guangxu’s accession to the throne, he was destined to be manipulated by his adoptive mother, cixi.

During the reign of emperor guangxu, the two most notable events were the Anti-Japanese War and the 1898 reform. In the war of resistance against Japanese aggression, he resolutely opposed compromise and repeatedly forced the qing army to fight with the Japanese. However, he was overwhelmed by the weak and corrupt qing government, which was defeated in the sino-japanese war. After learning a painful lesson, emperor guangxu began to think about the reform to adjust the imperial order and prevent the decline of the whole country.

In 1898, together with a group of reform advocates, he promulgated the state policy and began the reform. Unfortunately, this fierce reform movement lasted only 103 days and was strangled by rival parties that staged a coup against all reform parties. After that, emperor guangxu lost his imperial power again and was placed under house arrest by cixi.

In 1900, the so-called eight-power allied forces invaded China. Facing a deadly crisis, emperor guangxu had decided to stay in the capital to calm people, but before Beijing fell he was taken to xi ‘an by the empress dowager cixi. When they returned from xi ‘an the following year, he was still far away from state affairs. Until 1908, he died of depression and was buried in the tomb of the western qing dynasty.

In short, although the guangxu emperor’s political life was fraught with tragedy, he was seen as a progressive monarch. As a pioneer of capitalist transformation, his deeds broke the ideological prison of feudal autocracy and opened the ideological liberation of China. Therefore, emperor guangxu was regarded as an enlightened emperor who first tried to adopt the western political model to govern China.

Oriental Pearl Tower, A Distinct Landmark in Shanghai

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The Oriental Pearl Tower is a TV tower in Shanghai, China. Its location at the tip of Lujiazui in the Pudong district, by the side of Huangpu River, opposite of The Bund makes it a distinct landmark in the area. It was designed by the Shanghai Modern Architectural Design Co. Ltd. Construction began in 1990 and the tower was completed in 1994. At 468 m (1,535 feet) high, it was the tallest structure in China from 1994-2007, when it was surpassed by the Shanghai World Financial Center. It is classified as a AAAAA scenic area by the China National Tourism Administration.

Why is Oriental Pearl Tower special?

Ranking as the fourth tallest building in Asia, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower is member of the World Federation of Great Towers.

The Oriental pearl Tower is a mixed-use tower with telecommunications transmitters broadcasting over 50 miles, a hotel, a restaurant, and several observation decks. Despite a modern look with metal and concrete, the design is rooted in traditional Chinese culture. The definitive elements of the tower are its eleven spheres or ‘pearls’ distributed along its entire height. The largest pearl is 50 meters in diameter near the base, and the second largest pearl is 40 meters in diameter near the top. When looking at the tower from afar, it appears as though pearls are dropping from the sky onto a lush green plate that symbolizes jade. Thus, the two extremely valuable Chinese gemstones are represented in its structure.

Divisions & Functional Areas

Visitors travel up and down the Oriental Pearl Tower in double-decker elevators that can hold up to fifty people at the rate of seven meters per second. The elevator attendants recite an introduction to the TV Tower in English and Chinese during the rapid 1/4-mile ascent. Once you reach your destination, you will be amazed at the variety of activities available as the various spheres and columns actually house places of interest, commerce, and recreation.

The inner is a recreational palace, while the Municipal History Museum is located in the tower’s pedestal. The large lower sphere has a futuristic space city and a fabulous sightseeing hall. From here, on a clear day a visitor can see all the way to the Yangtze River. The base is home to a science fantasy city. The five smaller spheres are a hotel that contains twenty-five elegant rooms and lounges. The pearl at the very top contains shops, restaurants, (including a rotating restaurant) and a sightseeing floor. The view of the city from this height fills you with wonder at the beauty that surrounds you. When viewed from the Bund at night, the three-dimensional lighting makes it a delight of brilliant color.

Features of Oriental Pearl Tower

The tower features 11 spheres, big and small. The two biggest spheres, along the length of the tower, have diameters of 50 m ( 164 ft ) for the lower and 45 m ( 148 ft ) for the upper. They are linked by three columns, each 9m ( 30 ft ) in diameter. The highest sphere is 14 m ( 46 ft ) in diameter.The entire building is supported by three enormous columns that start underground.

The tower has fifteen observatory levels. The highest is at 350 m . The lower levels are at 263 m and at 90 m. There is a revolving restaurant at the 267 m level. The project also contains exhibition facilities, restaurants and a shopping mall. There is also a 20 room hotel called the Space Hotel between the two large spheres.

The design of the building is based on a verse of the Tang Dynasty poem Pipa Song by Bai Juyi about the wonderful sprinkling sound of a pipa instrument, like pearls, big and small falling on a jade plate. Seen from afar, the Yangpu Bridge and the Nanpu bridge seem like two Chinese dragons frolicking with the pearls of the Oriental Pearl tower.

The Pearl Tower attracts over three million visitors each year.

Chinese National Day, Golden Week in China

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October 1st is the Chinese National Day. National Day, celebrating the foundation of the People’s Republic of China, is one of the seven legal holidays in China.

There will be a variety of grand ceremonies and activities in China during National Day, such as a great ceremonial review of troops and lighting fireworks in the evening. National Day lasts 3 days since the year 1997. But people actually get a 7-day vacation which combines National Day holiday and two weekends on either side.

National Day holiday is another golden week in China. People will rush out to do some long-cherished travel, go shopping and do some other things.

History

October 1st 1949 was the memorial day for the founding of the People’s Republic of China. One thing should be noted is that the PRC was not founded on that day. Actually the Chinese independence day was September 21st 1949. The grand ceremony held at Tiananmen Square on October 1st 1949 was to celebrate the forming of the Central People’s Government of the brand new country. Later on October 2nd 1949, the new government passed the ‘Resolution on the National Day of the People’s Republic of China’ and declared October 1 to be the Chinese National Day. Ever since 1950, every October 1st has been grandly celebrated by Chinese people.

Activities to Celebrate the National Day

People of all nationalities celebrate the National Day with a variety of activities while the government will organize some festivities, such as fireworks and concerts. There have been 15 military parades during National Day so far. Public places are usually decorated, including Tiananmen Square in Beijing which often proves to be eyecatching. In memory of the great leader Mao Zedong, a portrait of him was hung at the square and displayed at National Day every few years. Since 1949, it has been changed 8 times. Drawn by artist Wang Guodong, the present one is 6 metres high and 4.6 metres wide.

Thousands of tourists from home and abroad come to Tiananmen Square to celebrate the festival each year.

National Day also marks the beginning of one of the “Golden weeks”in China. People usually visit relatives and friends on this day and many couples often choose this meaningful date to get married. However, with large amounts of people travelling during the 7 day holiday, traffic jams become more frequent around this time, especially in the more popular tourist attractions.

China National Day’s Parade

The government and military planning for the National Day Parade includes the careful selection of soldiers and residents. For example, height is an important element. Thousands of soldiers and civilians take part in the massive parades on National Day. The China National Day parade which is usually held every ten years is absolutely sublime and spectacular.

The National Day parade starts at 10:00 in the morning on October 1st on Tian’anmen Square. The ceremonial raising of the national flag is the second part of the parade. The Leader of China takes a parade car to come into the people’s view. The joint headquarters for the military parade will then make a statement. The National Day’s parade consists of a military review and march-past which last about 66 minutes.

China National Day’s Travel Tips

  1. If possible, avoid traveling during the Golden Week. One can make it just before or after the “crowding period”. During those time periods, there are usually fewer tourists, the cost is comparatively lower, and the visit is more satisfying.
  2. If one really needs to travel during the Chinese National Day holiday, try to avoid the first two days and the last day of the Golden Week. Because they are the busiest time for transportation system, when the flight tickets are highest and train and long-distance bus tickets are hardest to buy. Also, the first two days are usually the most crowded at the attraction sites, especially the famous ones.
  3. Avoid hot destinations. These places are always crowded of visitors during the Golden Week. Choose some not so famous tourism cities and attractions, where there are fewer visitors and one can enjoy the scene more leisurely.
  4. Book flight / train tickets and hotel rooms in advance. There may be more discounts for flight tickets if one books earlier. For trains in China, the tickets are available 60 days prior to departure. The thing is the train tickets may be booked up in minutes once available, so please be prepared. The hotel rooms in hot travel destinations are also in demand. In case there is no place to stay, one should better book them in advance too. If one happens to book rooms upon arrival, try your luck at some business hotels.

Zhujiajiao Water Town, with a History of More Than 1,700 Years

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Zhujiajiao water town, is located in Qingpu district, Shanghai. Covering 47 square kilometers (11,614 acres), the fan-shaped town is known as the Venice of Shanghai, shining in the mountains and lakes.

Zhujiajiao water town is the best preserved of the four ancient towns in Shanghai, known as “pearl river”. Unique old Bridges cross a babbling stream, which is shaded by willows, and houses with courtyards bring people living in modern cities into a new world of antiquity, leisure and tranquility.

It is said that if you go to Zhujiajiao without seeing the bridge, you have never been to Zhujiajiao! The bridge here is very distinctive and ancient, built in the Ming and Qing dynasties. The ancient town of Zhujiajiao is connected by 36 elaborate spans of different shapes and styles, from wood to stone to marble.

The bridge is the longest, largest and highest stone bridge in Shanghai. The bridge was built in 1571. On the bridge stands a stone tablet named “longmen stone”, on which is engraved “eight dragons around the pearl”. There are four lifelike stone lions on the bridge.

In the water town of Zhujiajiao, there is an ancient street full of representative ancient buildings in the Ming and qing dynasties, which attracts a large number of tourists from home and abroad. That is north street, the best preserved old street in this suburb. The whole street is only one kilometer long, which is both simple and elegant. Strolling along this ancient thoroughfare, it is another treat to admire the historic buildings, historic shops, ancient Bridges and many narrow alleys.

Zhujiajiao water town has magnificent gardens and ancient dwellings in the Ming and qing dynasties. Among the ancient buildings, kezhiyuan is the largest manor garden. The garden is often referred to as the “markov garden”, after a former owner named ma wenqin.

Kezhiyuan is located in xijin street in the north of Zhujiajiao water town, with beautiful scenery and quiet environment. It is mainly composed of three parts, including a hall area, a rockery area and a garden area. In the rockery area, there is a magnificent symbolic building — a four-sided five-story building topped by a diameter pavilion named “moon pavilion”. “This building is considered the tallest building in Zhujiajiao.

The attractions listed here are only part of the water town of Zhujiajiao. Ancient narrow lanes, strange stone anchor chains, ancient houses, let people linger.

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