Old towns, new experiences
May 28, 2013, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
AFTER visiting the old town, old avenues and parks in Jiading, people may like to think about visiting some other places. Why not look out for places with culture and history in neighboring Jiangsu Province?
Qiandeng
Fifteen kilometers south of Kunshan City, Qiandeng Town is a picturesque town with river and rich cultural heritage. It has been listed as a national 4A scenic destination.
Qiandeng is the hometown of famous philosopher Gu Yanwu (1613–1682) in the late Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and early Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and Kunqu opera founder Gu Jian who lived there around 1368.
Gu Yanwu's former residence has been renovated in the Ming and Qing Dynasties' style, while Gu Jian's museum is focused on the development of Kunqu opera in China.
Qingfeng Tower features religious culture. People can climb the tower and overlook the scenery of the whole town. The 1.5 kilometer Slate Street with 1,000 years of history, paved with 2,073 pieces of granite, is the longest and most complete stone street in Jiangsu. A number of pottery, stone tools and exquisite jade displayed in the Shaoqing House can be dated back 6,000 years. It is regarded as one of the major archaeological discoveries in China in the 20th century.
How to drive there: Exit at the Lujia exit from Huning Highway (G42) and turn at Luqian Road. Drive along the road and you will reach Qiandeng in about 45 minutes.
Shaxi
Shaxi is one of the biggest towns in Taicang. It has been named as the top 1 town among 18 towns in southeast China since the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). It was famous in the Ming Dynasty as some officials had their palaces built in the town. At the same time, with the development of industry and commerce, a large number of businessmen went to Shaxi Town. Stone arch bridges and many building along the riverside were established, forming an elegant picture.
Shaxi is one of the old towns in the Yangtze River Delta area that imported Western culture as some of its scholars went abroad to study during the Ming and Qing dynasties.
The town has traditional folk-customs and traditional lantern festivals are held sometimes.
Many people believe in Buddhism in the town. Puji, Changshou and Yanzhenguan are very famous temples here.
As a famous water village, Shaxi is a town of beauty and elegance dotted with bridges, boats and old houses.
How to drive there: Exit at the Shaxi exit from Huning Highway (G42) and drive for about 40 minutes.
Jinxi
Jinxi is a water village in Kunshan, with more than 2,500 years of history. People who have visited Zhouzhuang Town and Wuzhen Town might feel not so good for there are too many visitors, while the quietness of this old town will certainly leave them a deep impression after their visit.
Jinxi used to be called Chen's Tomb. When the Emperor Zhao Shen's concubine in the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279) surnamed Chen died in the town, the emperor had her buried in a small island. Opposite the island he had a temple established on the bank of the Wubao Lake and named the town Chen's Tomb.
In Chinese, "jin" means brocade while "xi" means brook. There is a small river going through the town, which is as beautiful as brocade on the sunshine days. That's way the locals like to rename their hometown "Jinxi".
Jinxi exudes an atmosphere of simplicity and quietness. Boats are available for the visitors. People can enjoy the songs sung by the girls on the boat and watch the scenery along the river.
How to drive there: Exit at the Kunshan exit from Huning Highway (G42) and then head for Zhangpu on the Kunzhou Highway. It is about 50 minutes' drive from Shanghai.
Try the fun of grape and vegetable picking?
Malu Grape Theme Park opened to the public on May 1.
Visitors can see bunches of grapes hanging from the vines but it will be another two to three months before most of the grapes are mature enough to be harvested, although the first batch should be available in early June.
The yellow rose species will be mature in more than 10 days, while the popular Jufeng grape will be mature in July.
In the meantime, people can learn about cultivating the fruit and how to ensure the maximum quality of each bunch of grapes. At present, vegetable picking is available in the park. There are more than 10 kinds, including potatoes, cucumbers, lettuce and leeks.
Visitors can enjoy picking vegetables under the guidance of park staff and take the fruits of their labor home at the cost of 12 yuan (US$13) per kilogram. They can also taste organic food, such as vegetable, fish and duck eggs in the park. People can also admire fruit bonsai, such as grape, hawthorn and persimmon, and buy them from the park. Prices range from 80 to 500 yuan.
Malu Grape Theme Park
Address: 27 Dazhi Rd (close to Liuxiang Highway)
Admission: 30 yuan
Opening hours: Through October, 8am-4:30pm
Tel: 021-5915-5240
(Dai Zhen and Catherine Hong)
Qiandeng
Fifteen kilometers south of Kunshan City, Qiandeng Town is a picturesque town with river and rich cultural heritage. It has been listed as a national 4A scenic destination.
Qiandeng is the hometown of famous philosopher Gu Yanwu (1613–1682) in the late Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and early Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and Kunqu opera founder Gu Jian who lived there around 1368.
Gu Yanwu's former residence has been renovated in the Ming and Qing Dynasties' style, while Gu Jian's museum is focused on the development of Kunqu opera in China.
Qingfeng Tower features religious culture. People can climb the tower and overlook the scenery of the whole town. The 1.5 kilometer Slate Street with 1,000 years of history, paved with 2,073 pieces of granite, is the longest and most complete stone street in Jiangsu. A number of pottery, stone tools and exquisite jade displayed in the Shaoqing House can be dated back 6,000 years. It is regarded as one of the major archaeological discoveries in China in the 20th century.
How to drive there: Exit at the Lujia exit from Huning Highway (G42) and turn at Luqian Road. Drive along the road and you will reach Qiandeng in about 45 minutes.
Shaxi
Shaxi is one of the biggest towns in Taicang. It has been named as the top 1 town among 18 towns in southeast China since the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). It was famous in the Ming Dynasty as some officials had their palaces built in the town. At the same time, with the development of industry and commerce, a large number of businessmen went to Shaxi Town. Stone arch bridges and many building along the riverside were established, forming an elegant picture.
Shaxi is one of the old towns in the Yangtze River Delta area that imported Western culture as some of its scholars went abroad to study during the Ming and Qing dynasties.
The town has traditional folk-customs and traditional lantern festivals are held sometimes.
Many people believe in Buddhism in the town. Puji, Changshou and Yanzhenguan are very famous temples here.
As a famous water village, Shaxi is a town of beauty and elegance dotted with bridges, boats and old houses.
How to drive there: Exit at the Shaxi exit from Huning Highway (G42) and drive for about 40 minutes.
Jinxi
Jinxi is a water village in Kunshan, with more than 2,500 years of history. People who have visited Zhouzhuang Town and Wuzhen Town might feel not so good for there are too many visitors, while the quietness of this old town will certainly leave them a deep impression after their visit.
Jinxi used to be called Chen's Tomb. When the Emperor Zhao Shen's concubine in the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279) surnamed Chen died in the town, the emperor had her buried in a small island. Opposite the island he had a temple established on the bank of the Wubao Lake and named the town Chen's Tomb.
In Chinese, "jin" means brocade while "xi" means brook. There is a small river going through the town, which is as beautiful as brocade on the sunshine days. That's way the locals like to rename their hometown "Jinxi".
Jinxi exudes an atmosphere of simplicity and quietness. Boats are available for the visitors. People can enjoy the songs sung by the girls on the boat and watch the scenery along the river.
How to drive there: Exit at the Kunshan exit from Huning Highway (G42) and then head for Zhangpu on the Kunzhou Highway. It is about 50 minutes' drive from Shanghai.
Try the fun of grape and vegetable picking?
Malu Grape Theme Park opened to the public on May 1.
Visitors can see bunches of grapes hanging from the vines but it will be another two to three months before most of the grapes are mature enough to be harvested, although the first batch should be available in early June.
The yellow rose species will be mature in more than 10 days, while the popular Jufeng grape will be mature in July.
In the meantime, people can learn about cultivating the fruit and how to ensure the maximum quality of each bunch of grapes. At present, vegetable picking is available in the park. There are more than 10 kinds, including potatoes, cucumbers, lettuce and leeks.
Visitors can enjoy picking vegetables under the guidance of park staff and take the fruits of their labor home at the cost of 12 yuan (US$13) per kilogram. They can also taste organic food, such as vegetable, fish and duck eggs in the park. People can also admire fruit bonsai, such as grape, hawthorn and persimmon, and buy them from the park. Prices range from 80 to 500 yuan.
Malu Grape Theme Park
Address: 27 Dazhi Rd (close to Liuxiang Highway)
Admission: 30 yuan
Opening hours: Through October, 8am-4:30pm
Tel: 021-5915-5240
(Dai Zhen and Catherine Hong)
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
