Surrounded by city rivers, with small bridges over gentle streams, whitewashed walls and black-tiled roofs, the lanes twist and turn into the depths; seven streams flow towards the sea, and green hills stretch halfway into the city, reeds vast and waterways crisscrossing, creating a natural wilderness. In the golden autumn, crabs are plump and fish and shrimp are fresh – this is Changshu. On my first visit to Changshu, I experienced the slow pace of life, each day filled with comfort and ease, leaving behind the hustle and bustle to focus on what I love here. This city is a millennia-old town with a rich history, boasting stunning cultural landscapes, beautiful mountains and rivers, and abundant resources; it has a profound cultural heritage and a glorious long-standing history. The Yushan Mountains here are bright and clear, with beautiful scenery, mountains winding around each other, and lush forests. At Shajingbang, reed flowers bloom, rice fragrance fills the air, and willows line the paths; the Yushan National Forest Park and Shanghu Lake are adjacent, their lake and mountain views complementing each other. Changshu has distinct seasons, a mild climate, and ample rainfall; the local customs are simple and full of vitality. Under the night sky, the Shajingbang Scenic Area, located in the southern part of Changshu City, holds the picturesque Yangcheng Lake to the south and rests against the shimmering Kuncheng Lake to the north, facing the green hills of Yushan across the lake. The climate here is pleasant, the land fertile and beautiful, the products abundant, and the customs simple, earning it the reputation of being the land of fish and rice in the south of the Yangtze River. During the Anti-Japanese War, New Fourth Army soldiers and the people of Shajingbang jointly composed many magnificent battle poems, which were used as material for the Beijing Opera ‘Shajingbang’, making it a household name. The most famous character in the play is Auntie Qing. If you ask me how beautiful Shajingbang is, I must recommend coming to see it at night. The night view of the Shajingbang Scenic Area is like a quiet town, with small bridges over gentle streams, lanterns hanging high, and reflections on the water surface, which is truly excessively beautiful. The stone bridges and alleys along the river, riverside residences, and dyeing workshops all transport me back to a bygone era. The highlight of the night tour of Shajingbang is the live performance. Using Hengjing Old Street as the setting, combining the classic anti-war stories of Shajingbang and the cultural atmosphere of the Republic of China era, it closely integrates live performances with multimedia, ice screen projections, and other technologies to create an outdoor immersive, progressive scene combined with theatrical performances, providing a refreshing experience. I happened to stay in a private garden from the Qing Dynasty, Changshu in April, with a gentle breeze and lush vegetation. I arrived in this quiet and steady city at the time of Grain Rain, with ancient temples of the Qi and Liang dynasties shaded by green trees, Jiangnan garden-style pavilions and waterside pavilions, nine-turn bridges, and towering ancient trees scattered inside and outside the temple, all of which are my impression of Changshu. Some say that Grain Rain, the last solar term of spring, is like a Song Dynasty poem: ‘Suddenly looking back, there the person is, in the dimly lit place.’ In the dimly lit place of flowers, everything is growing, boiling, and thriving.
At this moment, Changshu is even more enchanting and desirable. Nestled within the bustling city of Changshu lies an ancient residence hidden from the hustle and bustle – Yu Jian? Tang Residence. Originally, it was the private garden of Tang Yi Kui during the Qing Guangxu period. Through the vicissitudes of time, this old residence has witnessed the passage of centuries, and its former splendor is no longer present. Later, it was meticulously restored and transformed by the designer You Wei Zhuang of Dashu Shangpin, preserving the authentic ancient charm of the old architecture. Now it has become a boutique guesthouse. Yu Jian? Tang Residence has a total of 20 rooms, divided into three themes: ‘Forest’, ‘Shadow’, and ‘Leisure’, creating a serene and comfortable living space, ideal for self-cultivation and relaxation. The rooms themed ‘Forest’ are located on the north side of the first floor, furnished with antique and elegant furnishings, all exuding a strong Chinese retro atmosphere, revealing an ancient charm within the interior. Tang Residence also boasts a private villa, an independent courtyard residence, accurately recreating the daily life of the garden’s owner. The interior design is elegant and simple, combining with nature to create an elegant restraint both inside and out, forming a clear and bright feeling. Hidden in the city, quiet in the heart, and hidden in the environment, it brings a pure land to the busy urban people, where they can enjoy the view, sip tea, meditate, and fully experience a different poetic lifestyle. Changshu has mastered the minimalist Chinese aesthetic. In the small town of Changshu, I saw the minimalist Chinese aesthetic, with white walls and green tiles, small bridges and flowing water, maple leaves drifting, which made me fully immersed in it. Gu Li Town is a national historical and cultural town, known as the hometown of books, with the reputation of ‘Ren Feng Gu Li’. Gu Li Town is now the result of the merger of the original Gu Li Town, Miao Quan Town, and Bai Mao Town, and because it is close to the city center, commerce is developed. Gu Li Town is located at the confluence of Qing Dun Tang, San Ya Gang, and Qingshui Gang, with waterways converging and a dense network of waterways, becoming a place for fishermen to dock and gather. Gu Li Town has a long history, as early as the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties, the town had begun to prosper, and by the mid-Qing dynasty, there were four major families in the town: Qu, Liu, Ding, and Wang, with developed commercial economy. The town had two north-south streets, two horizontal streets, and three vertical streets, with the south horizontal street along the market river being the most prosperous, with various stores lining up. On both sides of the main road paved with bluestone slabs, there are antique buildings with white walls and black tiles, and the vermilion doors and windows are embellished with them. If there is a girl in red clothes under these white walls, what a strong scenery it would be. If you are tired, you can walk into a shop at will for milk tea or coffee, leisurely and comfortable. The most famous here is the Tieqin Tongjian Building. Qu’s Tieqin Tongjian Building is one of the four famous book collections in the Qing Dynasty in China, with more than 100,000 volumes of rare and good books. It is known as the four major book collections along with Yang’s ‘Haiyuan Pavilion’ in Liaocheng, Shandong, Lu’s ‘Bisong Building’ in Gui’an, Zhejiang, and Ding’s in Qiantang, Zhejiang.
The building is located in the center of Guli Ancient Town, constructed during the Jiaqing period of the Qing Dynasty in 1796, with a history of over two hundred years. Unfortunately, it has suffered from the ravages of war and the passage of time. The entire ancient town is imbued with the charm of the Jiangnan region, as if still narrating the glory of its past. Walking through it feels like stepping into a tranquil and scholarly ancient town that has cast off the dust of history and continues to carry its pride into the new era. Changshu Guli can interpret a different kind of Jiangnan beauty for you.
Culinary Delights: Guli also boasts a variety of delicious foods. As early as the mid-Qing Dynasty, there was the ‘Guli Fermented Wine Cake’, and during the Republic of China period, the ‘Wang Dingxing Small Meat Noodle’ from Miaosquan became famous throughout Changshu city and country. Nowadays, ‘Baimao Large Intestine’ is also highly sought after by Changshu food enthusiasts. You can also try the local specialty noodles. There was a renowned noodle shop where we waited for a long time but couldn’t get a seat, so we changed to another one, and the taste was still very good.
Changshu’s old factory buildings are so beautiful, with white houses and red roofs, surrounded by towering trees. Besides drinking tea and eating noodles, you can also visit the characteristic Blue Original Forest Cultural and Tourism Industrial Park in Changshu. They are all located on the fresh streets, which can also make your mood pleasant. In the 1980s, there was an electrical ceramics factory at the southern foot of Yushan Mountain, mainly producing insulating ceramics. Now, if you come here, you would not be able to imagine its ‘past life’ if you don’t pay close attention to some details. The white factory buildings exude a fashionable atmosphere everywhere, with hammocks and artistic graffiti embellishing the park, turning it into a colorful world, and everywhere you look is green amidst the mottled light and shadow. The large chimney that you can see at a glance when entering the park was once an indispensable part of the ceramics factory and has now become the most conspicuous landmark of the park. There are nearly a hundred camphor trees and sycamore trees in the industrial park, these towering trees have been completely preserved, witnessing the development and changes of the city, while also bringing endless ecological vitality to the industrial park. Coffee culture is just a part of it, and the handmade culture of the industrial park has become the best place for parent-child team-building activities. In addition to traditional cultural and creative handiwork, a group of trendy elements such as the Bullhead People Caravan and the MuYuan Life Outdoor Club are all concentrated in the industrial park. The rich atmosphere of life is the most soothing to the common people’s hearts. The Yushan Mountain at the bottom of memory is quietly transforming. If you have the chance to take a half-day off in your busy life, you might as well stop and stay for a while.
Tips: 1. The coffee shop at the entrance must be tried, sitting outdoors with sunlight pouring down and the ground covered with sycamore leaves, it’s really artistic. 2. There is a Turkish coffee shop inside, all serving genuine Turkish coffee with a great taste. Changshu·Unexpectedly, ‘The winding path leads to a secluded place, where the Buddhist temple is deep in flowers and trees’ describes this beautiful temple in Changshu. When I was in Changshu, a friend insisted on waking me up early in the morning to eat noodles. After eating noodles, I strolled and found a temple here. When I walked into it, I was shocked by its beauty.
Xingfu Zen Temple in Changshu is nestled at the northern foot of Yushan Mountain, in a secluded valley. During the Southern Qi Dynasty, the local official Ni De Guang, who was also the governor of Chenzhou, donated his residence to establish the temple, which was initially named Da Ci Temple. It was renamed Xingfu Temple in the third year of the Da Tong era of the Liang Dynasty and later referred to as Po Shan Temple after the Tang Dynasty’s Zhenguan period. The Tang Dynasty poet Chang Jian composed the poem ‘Inscription on the Back Zen Courtyard of Po Shan Temple,’ which vividly depicted the ancient temple’s scenery, making it widely popular and turning the temple into a renowned Buddhist monastery in the Jiangnan region. The temple houses numerous historical sites and landmarks, including the Tang Dynasty’s pillar, Xingfu Stone, Hollow Pond, and Mi Bei Pavilion. The ancient temple’s layout follows a central axis with halls and pavilions extending to the east and west. The water pavilions, pavilions, boat houses, and caves, along with deep springs, create a harmonious blend, showcasing the beauty of classical gardens and ancient architecture. Changshu’s tea culture is truly omnipresent and vividly expressed everywhere. Groups of people are seen drinking tea in various places. The eastern courtyard of Xingfu Zen Temple also offers a serene spot for tea drinkers. For those seeking a more tranquil experience, the temple provides an ideal setting. If one could reside here for a while, it would be an excellent place for retreat and reflection. Yushan’s unique mushroom oil noodles are a must-try. The distinctive noodle shop is located next to Xingfu Zen Temple, offering not only the incredibly delicious mushroom oil noodles but also a great spot for capturing the essence of local culture. When visiting Changshu, one cannot miss a bowl of mushroom oil noodles. If there is a flavor that best represents the worldly charm of Yushan, it might be the mushroom oil noodles. Our first stop in Changshu was at the Wangyue Tower of Xingfu Temple for a bowl of noodles. In the past, the local people of Yushan would pick fresh mushrooms from the mountain slopes in the early morning, still wet with dew, and consume them. The simple and frugal Jiangnan people, with their kind-hearted nature, would send the surplus mushrooms to Xingfu Temple. Since mushrooms are best eaten fresh, the temple’s abbot would cook them into a thick soup to preserve their freshness and facilitate storage, pouring it over the noodles during meals. Both the monks and the visitors to the temple became fond of this unique flavor, and over time, the reputation of the mushroom oil noodles spread throughout the foothills of Yushan. Eating noodles and drinking tea in the morning seems to be an indispensable part of the life of a true Changshu native. The mornings at Wangyue Tower are always bustling with people, filled with the sounds of lively conversation and the chirping of birds in the forest, accompanied by steaming hot noodles. Order a bowl of wild mushroom oil noodles with a variety of toppings. The soup, made from freshly stir-fried mushrooms and oil, envelops the rich and delicious flavor of the mushrooms, and with each bite, the unique rich and savory taste of the fungi fills the mouth. The night at Shanghu offers a chance to encounter the beautiful blue hour, a moment of tranquility that contrasts with the busy city life. The pace of urban living is largely similar. Rushing around and being constantly occupied, there seems to be little opportunity to slow down and enjoy the peace. Every day, we go out early and return late, exhausted from our daily routines. Indeed, we move through the vibrant city, yet we never truly get to know it.
A visit to Changshu would be incomplete without a trip to Shanghu. The beauty of this place is indescribable in words. During the day, the scenery is enchanting, while at night, the area is adorned with dazzling lights. Boarding a poetic boat, you can enjoy the water dance at night and the coolness of summer. The perfect integration of water views and colorful lights takes you into ‘Shanghu in the Sound of Oars and Shadows of Lights’. From dusk to dawn, every moment presents a different beautiful scene. Walking into the night park of Shanghu Scenic Area, you are greeted by a dazzling array of lights, with light strips accompanying the footsteps of visitors, creating a scene at every step, and the scenery follows your journey. Various rendering techniques such as lighting, setting, and multimedia have enriched the night lighting. Perhaps you really should visit Changshu for a trip. The spring breeze brushes the willows, the blue waves ripple over the small bridges and flowing water, and the poetic Jiangnan. This treasure trove of a town in the south of the Yangtze River can satisfy all your beautiful imaginations of spring. By changing your location, you can collect more surprises from the world.