Rugao Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)

Suzhou Tourist Attraction | Dinghui Temple (1579)

| Dinghui Temple (1579). Dinghui Temple is located at No. 34, Dinghui Temple Lane, Fenghuang Street, Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province. It was originally built during the Tang Dynasty's Xiantong period and has been destroyed and rebuilt several times. The existing buildings from the Qing Dynasty include the mountain gate, the Hall of Heavenly Kings, and the main hall, all facing south with the back to the north. In 1982, it was listed as a Suzhou municipal cultural heritage site.

Suzhou, this is too magical

Suzhou, this is too magical Is this something you can see without spending money!? Yes!! The free scenery is just wonderful!! Always admire Suzhou aesthetics!! Suzhou is divine when the weather is good!! Location: After entering Dinghui Temple Lane, there is a Double 6 Tower attraction, which are the two towers in the picture, the ticket price is not expensive at eight yuan. This time I went to see the Wu Zuoren Art Museum next door, I didn't expect that there would be this koi pond and double tower view inside, this is free~ but you need to make a reservation in advance! Next to it is Dinghui Temple, you can visit it together, and there is also the Double Tower Market, you can arrange half a day's time, if you have time, you can also visit the nearby Suzhou Park, Guanqian Street, a day trip to Suzhou is set Dinghui Zen Temple

Jiaoshan, surrounded by green waves, full of green mountains, like a jade floating in the river,

Jiaoshan, surrounded by green waves, full of green mountains, like a jade floating in the river, and facing the Elephant Mountain on the opposite bank, is known as 'thousands of rivers flow eastward, one island stands in the middle', known as the 'Water Park of the South of the Yangtze River', and is known as the 'Floating Jade in the River'. The mountain is 71 meters high and has a circumference of more than 2000 meters. It is named after Jiaoguang, a hermit of the Eastern Han Dynasty. The general recommended route for Jiaoshan tour is right: Dinghui Temple-Mingshan Memorial Hall-Steles Forest-Yihe Ming-Bonsai Garden-Ancient Battery-Xijiang Building-Tinglin Mountain House-Biefeng Nunnery-Wanfo Tower-Baishou Pavilion-Sanzhao Cave-Cliff Carvings-Huayan Pavilion-Jiaogong Temple, the journey can be about 2-3 hours. Since it is a revisit to the old place to recall the past, I decided to go to the cliff carvings first by walking left from Dinghui Temple. The whole area along the river at the western foot of Jiaoshan is all steep cliffs, with floating jade, plank roads, Guanyin, and Yihe Ming rocks. Among them are the inscriptions of famous people from all dynasties since the Six Dynasties. There are various calligraphy styles such as regular, cursive, official, and seal scripts. The content is rich, like a natural exhibition of ancient calligraphy, full of beautiful things. When you arrive at the Floating Jade Rock, the most eye-catching are the two vigorous and beautiful characters 'Floating Jade' written by the Song calligrapher Zhao Mengkui; the imitation ancient tower with the style of the Ming and Qing Dynasties in the south of the Yangtze River--the Wanfo Tower is located at the top of Jiaoshan, the tower is 42 meters high, the altitude is 70.4 meters, you can climb the tower and look far away, the river and sky scenery is all in sight, the front and back doors are embedded with 'the sea does not raise waves', 'the middle stream is a pillar' Eight vigorous and powerful stone carvings (it happens to be under repair and not open to the public); at the foot of the mountain on the east side of Jiaoshan, facing the eight dark fort-style gun forts solidified with lime soil at the mouth of the Yangtze River, this is the famous Jiaoshan Anti-British Battery, an important relic of China's modern anti-British anti-imperialist struggle; the osmanthus flowers in the osmanthus garden have mostly withered, and the remaining sporadic flowers still emit strands of fragrance, and the mountain comes down and it is refreshing with the wind; compared with some famous mountains and rivers, Jiaoshan does not appear to be tall and prominent, but it has its uniqueness The place is the famous Jiaoshan Stele Forest in the south of the Yangtze River, the majestic cliff carvings and stele art, making Jiaoshan a mountain of calligraphy known at home and abroad. The stele forest treasures more than 400 steles from all dynasties, the most famous of which is the 'King of Steles', 'The Ancestor of Big Characters' called the rare stele-'Yihe Ming', it is said that the great calligrapher Wang Xizhi of the Eastern Jin Dynasty wrote a inscription to commemorate the death of the pet crane, originally carved on the stone wall of the west mountain of Jiaoshan, and later fell into the river due to collapse, what we see now is the rubbings of later generations; 'Jiaoshan autumn is strong, the red and yellow leaves are different', it is deep autumn, the ginkgo trees in the stele forest are just fluttering with the wind, slowly falling between the black tiles and green bamboo, covering the ground with apricot yellow, adding a layer of quiet and elegant color to the green and lush Jiaoshan.

Don't miss Dinghui Temple, let's appreciate this golden autumn together!

The ancient ginkgo trees in Dinghui Temple in Suzhou have turned yellow, which is definitely a beautiful landscape in autumn. If you also want to see this golden beauty, don't hesitate, come to Dinghui Temple quickly! Dinghui Temple has a history of more than 1800 years and has a deep heritage. The two ancient ginkgo trees in front of the Daxiong Hall in the temple have a history of more than 200 years. In late autumn, the golden ginkgo leaves are scattered all over the courtyard, as if entering a golden world. The ginkgo leaf scenery here can be described as an excellent place to enjoy leaves in the temple. The specific location is No. 34, Dinghui Temple Lane, Phoenix Street, Suzhou. The opening hours are from 7:15 every morning to 7:00 in the evening, and it is open to the public for free. It is about 250 meters away from the subway Lintun Road Station, and the transportation is convenient. Here can be a stop in Suzhou, not far from the nearby Pingjiang Road, Suzhou Museum, Humble Administrator's Garden, and Lion Grove. You can choose a day trip to deeply experience the culture and scenery of Suzhou. Don't miss Dinghui Temple, let's appreciate this golden autumn together!

One of the 'Eight Beauties of Qinhuai', Dong Xiaowan, once lived here

Shuihui Garden, located in the northeast corner of Rucheng Town, Rugao City, Jiangsu Province, was originally built during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty. It was initially the industry of a local man named Mao Yiguan, and it reached perfection during the time of Mao Bijing, four generations later. Mao Bijing renovated the old garden, imbued it with thought, and carefully embellished it. The existing Shuihui Garden architectural complex faces south with a rectangular plan, divided into left, middle, and right axes. The right axis consists of the Hidden Jade Studio, which forms a courtyard with the Guanhui Hall, the Listening Pine Studio, and the Peony Pavilion. The middle axis is the Rain Fragrance Hermitage, which includes a front hall, an open hall, the Boxwood Hall, and the Flowing Light Hall, built during the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty, preserving some structures from the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. The left axis is the Shuiming Tower, built on the former site of the Hanbi Tower, where Mao and Dong once lived. Shuihui Garden is exquisitely constructed, with towers leading into the garden, and courtyards arranged in a way that encloses without isolating. It creates a broad imagery within a limited space. The construction skills of Shuihui Garden and the creation of its environment integrate the architectural techniques of Huizhou with the architectural art of Yangzhou.

Shuihuiyuan, a land of longevity, is a private garden with a zoo

One of the six longevity areas in the world, Shuihuiyuan is the secluded retreat of Dong Xiaowan and Mao Pijiang. Apart from the difficulty in parking, the crowds, and a 45-minute queue for sesame cakes, everything else is fine

The Water Painting Garden at sunset makes one feel as if they are immersed in a poetic and picturesque setting

As of January 1, 2019, Rugao has 440 centenarians, ranking first in total number in the nation. The world-famous longevity towns are not located in cold regions or remote mountain areas. Rugao, situated on the Jianghai Plain, is not only the only longevity town along China's coast but also in an industrially developed area, which is unique internationally and of obvious research value. The renowned Water Painting Garden was the retreat for Dong Xiaowan, one of the 'Eight Beauties of Qinhuai,' and Mao Pijiang, one of the 'Four Talents of the Late Ming Dynasty.' The Water Painting Garden has a history of over 400 years and is known as the premier garden of the late Ming Dynasty in China, covering an area of about 270,000 square meters. It is a cultural garden that embodies natural landscapes, human landscapes, and historical and cultural achievements, with a profound cultural heritage and local characteristics. 📍Detailed address: No. 299, Bixia Road, Rugao City, Nantong, Jiangsu 🚗Transportation guide: Public bus🚌: No. 299, Bixia Road, Rugao City, Nantong Rugao Route 102, 335, etc. 🕙Opening hours: ⌚️08:00-⌚️17:00 ⌚️17:00 stop admitting visitors 💰🎫Ticket price: Free 🌟Highlights: ❤️Water Painting Garden scenic area, a national AAAA-level tourist attraction. Located in the northeast corner of the ancient city of Rugao, it covers an area of about 270,000 square meters, consisting of the Water Painting Garden and the Water Ming Tower ancient architectural complex, China Rugao Longevity Museum (Nifenglu), China Ru-style Bonsai Garden (Gudanyuan), Yiyuan, and Dongda Street historical and cultural district, among other attractions. ❤️The Water Painting Garden was once the secluded place of Mao Pijiang, a talented man from the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, and Dong Xiaowan, a beautiful lady from Qinhuai. The garden is a shining pearl on the plain of northern Jiangsu. The garden values water and reflections, being both elegant and refined; it expresses the owner's aspirations and memories through the garden, integrating poetry, writing, music, chess, calligraphy, painting, antiquities, and performing arts into one garden, which also demonstrates its original character as a 'scholar's garden' with a scholarly atmosphere. The garden is centered around the Washing Bowl Pool, with water flowing in four directions, dividing the garden into several parts. In addition, there are islets in the water, and on the winding waterways, there are sparsely built halls, rooms, studios, huts, two pavilions, and three pavilions, with the rest being water scenery, which highlights the garden-making characteristics of the Yangtze River Delta plain. 📌Little Tips: After leaving the scenic area, there are many shops and alleys where you can buy snacks. Rugao's baked cakes are very famous, and you should try them if you have the chance! You must try the crab buns at the nearby Sihai Building, but it's best to go in the morning, as the buns sold in the morning are freshly steamed and tastier! There are many small shops to visit in the alleys along the river in the scenic area, including shops for calligraphy, painting, and antiques!

Nantong Shuihui Garden | The ceiling of Nantong tourist attractions in my mind is seriously underestimated

| The ceiling of Nantong tourist attractions in my mind is seriously underestimated. After the brilliant restoration by Chen Congzhou in the 1990s, Rugao's Shuihui Garden has risen to become a representative garden in the central Jiangsu region. The moat water of Rugao converges in the garden, nourishing the ancient city and making it the best scenic spot in the city. The main peak of the core area, Xuanlei Peak, is stacked with yellow stones, with a steep and far-reaching mountain range, laying the foundation for the garden's landscape; the surrounding soil is piled up as a mound, winning with a flat and distant momentum, echoing the main peak, with a continuous and uninterrupted feeling. On the soil mountain, bamboo and trees are lush, and a side of the water is stacked with rocks to form cliffs, with green plants covering it, giving a sense of seclusion in the gully. The foot of the mountain is bordered by a rough slope to the stream, pierced by flowing water, as if it were a scene of a winding stream. The charm of a landscape garden lies in the meaning of mountains and rivers. If the mountain has veins, it is spiritual; if the water is deep and flowing, it is alive. Shuihui Garden is a mountain with a water character, with scattered buildings in the middle, which enlivens the Ming-style landscape garden. In addition, Shuihui Garden integrates the characteristics of Yangzhou and Suzhou gardens in its architecture, reflecting the integration characteristics of the Jiangnan inland area. Shuihui Garden, built in the late Ming Dynasty, became famous because it was once the hideaway of Dong Xiaowan, one of the 'Eight Beauties of Qinhuai', and Mao Pijiang, one of the 'Four Gentlemen of the Late Ming'. The garden covers an area of about 270,000 square meters, integrating poetry, literature, piano, chess, calligraphy, painting, antiquities, and quyi into one garden. It is composed of national key cultural relics protection units such as Shuihui Garden, Shuiminglou ancient architectural complex, ancient Danyuan, Nifenglou, Yiyuan, China Rugao Longevity Museum, Lingweiguan, zoo, amusement park and other scenic spots and attractions. Not only can you appreciate the architecture and reflections in the water in Shuihui Garden, but you can also play and visit the museum in the park, which is worth a visit. In recent years, Shuihui Garden has been continuously expanding and renovating, and the design of the scenic area is also worth appreciating. The water area surrounds the pavilions, and you can also take a boat tour to watch the lotus in the water. There is even a plant area in the scenic area, where the flowers, plants, bonsai, etc., make this Shuihui Garden vibrant. Not only does it retain the artistic atmosphere, but it also creates a garden-like scenic area, which is definitely one of the must-visit attractions in Rugao, the hometown of longevity. Location: No. 299, Bixia Road, Rugao City, Jiangsu Province Ticket price: Adult ticket 45 yuan, elderly, children, student ticket 22 yuan, parent-child ticket 66 yuan, double ticket 89 yuan Opening hours: Monday to Sunday, 8 am to 6 pm

Rugao | Huaxia Film Exhibition Hall

The Huaxia Film Exhibition Hall is the largest private film museum in China with the richest collection, mainly featuring film projectors, film reels, and movie posters. The exhibition area has a rather unique angle, focusing on the history of the film industry as its main theme. It displays projectors from Germany, France, Japan, the United States, and more than 20,000 film reel movies, along with movie posters, scripts, still photos, and other materials, offering a truly magical experience. In addition to showcasing these items, the museum also works on the preservation and restoration of film reel movies. Overall, it is a professional and detailed exhibition hall, recommended for friends interested in the history of film (film reel movies, movie equipment) to visit. Ticket price: 80 yuan. As it is a professional exhibition hall, its entertainment and educational value are relatively average, resulting in a higher ticket threshold. The visiting time is approximately 1-2 hours.

Rugao | Rugao City Museum check-in

The Rugao Museum was established in 1988, and the new museum was completed and opened in 2011, located within the Cultural Square, with four permanent exhibition halls and one temporary exhibition hall. The museum's collection is quite rich, including not only the common bronze and porcelain, jade and stone coins, calligraphy and crafts, but also a natural exhibition hall, with some scene restorations and displays of local characteristic flora and fauna specimens. The museum is open for free, closed on Mondays, and is located near the city government.

Nantong Binjiang Linhai, known as the land of fish and rice, is rich in aquatic resources due to the enjoyment of the rivers and seas. There are many kinds of seafood in Jiangxian, such as squid, squid, pigtail, jiangxi and Jiangbai shrimp. And this season to Nantong, the most important thing to miss, it must be crayfish. I knew this store called Lobster King before coming to Nantong. It is said to be famous in the local area, and I have to wait every day. I need to book in advance on weekends. So, everyone set the position in advance, and the horse came in non-stop that night. Sure enough, there were so many people, we couldnt stand it. Hurry to the table, take out the apron, put on the gloves, wait for our lobster dinner, it is said that the lobster here is big, meaty, delicious, I don't know if it is true or not? Of course, before dinner, there are still a few cold dishes, mainly open the appetizer, strongly recommend the chicken feet, very delicious, not for the six-point stomach to eat lobster, I estimate a person You can eat it. Ma Xiao is in everyone's long-awaited, finally debut, good guy, really big, rarely eat such a big lobster in Nanjing! In order to cater to everyone's different tastes, we ordered 18 pounds of lobster, let the chef make six different flavors, salt and pepper, garlic, ice, thirteen, spicy, etc., you can think of There are all here, my favorite taste is salt and pepper! Garlic looks good too, ran for a day, everyone is looking forward to this lobster feast, but also can not take care of it, one person a small bowl of lobster shell, directly on the fishing!