The first group of 81 tourists of “Travel China, Visit Suzhou” In-depth Tour from Singapore landed 11th May.
They will stay in Suzhou for four days and three nights, during which they will participate in the activities of Xiangcheng Sun Wu Cultural Day, visit classical gardens, Jinji Lake, Huangtian Pond and many other scenic spots, take a boat trip along the moat, and roam Pingjiang Road and Shantang Street at night.
Suzhou Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism released five in-depth routes for overseas visitors at the following welcome ceremony.
Sun Wu Cultural Route
Background: Written by Sun Wu, The Art of War is the earliest surviving military treatise of China, and has been translated into nearly 40 languages and distributed in over 150 countries and regions.
Contents: Sun Wu Memorial Park孙武纪念园 where Xiangcheng Sun Wu Cultural Day is held; Qionglong Mountain穹窿山景区, the highest mountain in Suzhou and also where Sun Wu wrote The Art of War; Tiger Hill Scenic Area虎丘山风景名胜区, with various attractions including Sun Wu Ancestral Hall, Sun Wu Pavilion, Sword Pond and the leaning Huqiu Pagoda.
Zheng He Yangtze River Cultural Route
Background: Zheng He, a Chinese mariner, explorer and diplomat in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), commanded seven expeditionary voyages from Liujia Port in Taicang, Suzhou to 39 countries and regions in Asia and Africa. After the Belt and Road Initiative was put forward, numerous overseas visitors have come to China and Suzhou via the Maritime Silk Road.
Contents: Taicang Zheng He Park太仓郑和公园, where the seven voyages commenced; Tianfei Palace天妃宫, the only extant historical relic related to Zheng’s voyages in Suzhou; Jiangtan Wetland Park太仓江滩湿地公园, which is filled with the traditional culture unique to the Yangtze River basin; visiting Suzhou classical gardens, enjoying the ancient town area of Suzhou by boat, and listening to Kunqu Opera.
Ancient Town Cultural Route
Background: Ancient towns of Suzhou are important carriers of Jiangnan culture, witnessing the 2500-year history of Suzhou. Overseas visitors will have the chance to experience the water town life unique to Jiangnan.
Contents: Zhouzhuang Ancient Town周庄古镇风景区, whose Twin Bridges are well-known around the world because of Hometown Recall, an oil painting by famous painter Chen Yifei; Zhouzhuang in All Seasons, a performance recreating the true life in water towns; Tongli National Wetland Park同里国家湿地公园 and Tongli Ancient Town同里古镇风景区, which showcase the new model of ancient town tourism; Xietang Ancient Town斜塘老街, where traditions and modernity integrate perfectly.
Guoyun Lou Book Collection Cultural Route
Background: Suzhou has been a major hub for writers and academics since ancient times. A total of 51 people from Suzhou gained the title of zhuangyuan (title conferred on the one who came first in the highest imperial exam), the most among all cities in the country. A famous private library in Jiangnan, Guoyun Lou houses over 800 books, including numerous unique copies.
Contents: Yiyuan Garden怡园, the back garden of Guoyun Lou; Canglang Pavilion沧浪亭, famous for its 108 lattice windows; Guoyun Lou Exhibition Hall过云楼陈列馆, where visitors can make ex libris themselves and appreciate ancient painting and calligraphy works as well as books; Suzhou Library苏州图书馆, which has an architectural style of classical gardens; immersive plays in which visitors can experience the life of poets in the Tang Dynasty (618-907); Suzhou Municipal Center of Public Culture苏州市公共文化中心, where visitors can send creative postcards.
Kunqu Opera Cultural Route
Background: Kunqu Opera is hailed as the “ancestor of hundreds of operas,” and is one of the oldest extant forms of Chinese opera. It was listed as the Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2001 and included in the List of Representative Works of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008.
Contents: Qiandeng Ancient Town千灯古镇, the birthplace of Kunqu Opera and where the former residence of Gu Jian, the originator of Kunqu Opera, and Yanfu Temple延福禅寺 are situated; Kunqu Opera Teaching Institute昆剧传习所, where visitors can watch Kunqu Opera performances in a classical garden; Kunqu Opera Museum昆曲博物馆, which showcases the past and present of Kunqu Opera; Jiangsu Suzhou Kunqu Opera Theater江苏省苏州昆剧院, where a youth version of Peony Pavilion is staged.
