Characteristics of the Route
Xiangcheng District, named after Wu Zixu, who "surveyed the land and gathered hydrological information" at Yangcheng Lake 2,500 years ago, is the only place in Suzhou that connects Taihu Lake and Yangcheng Lake. Xiangcheng is blessed with the beautiful scenery of the "two lakes", many literati came here and left lots of famous works. The route includes the main tourist attractions of Suzhou North Taihu Lake Tourist Resort and Feng Menglong Village, covering flower appreciation, rice culture, fruits picking, leisure activities, food adventure, etc. It combines delicious food, beautiful scenery and cultural experience, so that tourists can enjoy the lakeshore views, learn the canal history, listen to the gentle Suzhou dialect, and experience the poetic countryside.
Schedule
Canal Park Historical and Cultural District → Wangting Town History Museum → Rice Paddy Park → Featured Idyllic Viilage → Zhangzhouyuan Wetland Park → Feng Menglong Village → Suzhou Pingtan Park
Canal Park Historical and Cultural District
As the start of the Grand Canal’s Suzhou section, Wangting Town is known as "the first town of the Canal at Wumen". The Canal Park Historical and Cultural District is located in the central area of Wangting Town, on the west side of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. In the core area of the park, historical relics such as the Royal Pavilion, Royal Stele Pavilion, post station, Stone Wharf Archway, etc. have been restored, and the new buildings like Wangting Pavilion and the Cultural Exhibition Hall have been constructed, while the features of the old street in Wangting Town, archaeological sites, and the culture of traditional Chinese medicine have been integrated into it.
Wangting Town History Museum
The history of Wangting Town can be traced back to the Neolithic Age, which is about 6,000 years ago. There are several ancient bridges and temples in the town, and a large number of cultural relics from various periods are unearthed and collected in the Wangting Town History Museum. Visitors can experience Wangting's long history and culture here.
Rice Paddy Park
At the North Taihu Lake Rice Paddy Park in Wangting Town, breeze blows gently, and the rice fields are filled with the fragrance of rice. Every inch of the land exudes the freshness of nature, and you can feel the harmony and joy of the fish and rice harvest in the Jiangnan water village.
Featured Idyllic Village
Suzhou’s Xiangcheng District has many featured idyllic villages, such as Liujiazhuang and Wangyu Village. The villages have introduced vegetable gardens, boutique homestays, workshops, coffee shops, camping and other new businesses, making them exquisite and idyllic resorts.
Zhangzhouyuan Wetland Park
Zhangzhouyuan Wetland Park is built at the former Garden of King of Wu Kingdom. During the Spring and Autumn Period, King He Wen of Wu Kingdom built a garden by the river for keeping animals and birds, planting trees, and hunting. In ancient times, there were sunset pools and tidal spectacle here, and it had been a popular spot for celebrities since the pre-Qin period. Walking into the wetland park is like being in an oasis full of greenery. A stroll on the meandering plank road through the park gives you the feeling of wandering into a secluded land.
Feng Menglong Village
Feng Menglong Village, named after Feng Menglong who was a writer, thinker and dramatist in the Ming Dynasty, is a typical idyllic village in Jiangnan style. It has small bridges, rivers, houses, and fields, like a real-world version of "Shangri-la". In addition to Feng Menglong's former residence, Feng Menglong Memorial Hall, Feng Menglong Academy, Feng Menglong Farming Culture Park and other attractions, there are also a beautiful sea of flowers and cute little animals expecting you.
Suzhou Pingtan Park
Covering an area of 7.2 acres, the Suzhou Pingtan Park has several functional areas such as the Pingtan Park, theater, museum and ancient stage. The two-story theater has 200 seats in total, which is the largest theater in the city of Suzhou. The park not only plays the role of promoting the Pingtan culture, but also has facilities such as footpaths, sightseeing corridors, waterside walkways, etc. In the park, you can exercise, walk, and recreate while immersing yourself in the Pingtan culture.
