Day 1: Suzhou's Republican-style architecture tour recommendations
Why are there so many 'Republican' buildings in Suzhou?
At the beginning of the last century, Suzhou, as a trading port, was influenced by foreign cultures, and a large number of Western architectural styles appeared after the Opium War. In this context, in addition to the many Republic of China buildings, some streets in Suzhou even became "Republic of China streets", such as "Wushanlu" (武三十路).
Wu 30th Road, named in honor of the "Wu 30th tragedy", has the familiar names of Tong Deli and Li Tongyi at the northern end of the road, near Ganjun Road.
Tongde Li, Li
Tongde Li and Li Tongyi next door, two parallel hutongs built in the 1930s, are typical Shikumen buildings. Some houses have red-brick facades, others have clear-water facades, and most of them are laid out like a traditional Jiangnan triad with a courtyard in front of the building.
Tongdeli has become a popular spot to visit in recent years as the location for the Su family's old house in the hit TV series "All's Well". The historical buildings, narrow alleys and patios of the old houses here give you an instant feeling of life.
Wu San Road
At the southern end of Wu San Road are some sealed shikumen. The bas-reliefs on them tell the history of the Wujiao massacre. The portraits vividly reproduce the patriotic feats of the Suzhou people.
The Republican building behind the bas-relief shikumen is Xin Fu Li, a shikumen housing complex in a sea-style lane.
Li Xinfu
It was named Xinfu Li because in the 22nd year of the Republic of China (1933), the Xinfu Li Bank purchased this property, which originally belonged to the third district of Jiangsu's maritime police, and then built it. There are only five small two-story buildings in existence.
Suzhou has a lot of Republican buildings similar to Tongdeli and Xinfuli. These places are not only a window to the lifestyle of some people at that time, but also a good place for modern people to experience the "Republican flavor".
Zhirenli
Renli Republican building is located in the northwest corner of the old city of Suzhou, Changmen Nei Xiachi, east of the Changmen Hotel, east and west total length of more than 160 meters. It was built by a merchant named Que in the 1920s, and the building here was originally built for living.
In 2009, Li Zhiren was selected as the editor-in-chief of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage ("2008 Third National Cultural Relics Census Important New Discoveries"). In July of the same year, it was listed by the municipal government as one of the sixth batch of Suzhou cultural relics protection units. in December 2011, Li Zhiren's Republic of China building was listed by the provincial government as one of the seventh batch of cultural relics protection units in Jiangsu Province.
The building sits north to south, six groups of bungalows, six groups of buildings, two garden houses. Is a representative of the Republic of real estate leasing large building groups. The whole Li Zhiren magnificent scale, arcade connected, all in one. Zhili architectural group has both traces of Western architecture and traditional wooden buildings. Both high-grade buildings, but also a rich type, the era of distinctive ordinary bungalows, very rare.
These Republic of China buildings of different styles and sizes are arranged in three rows, forming the Republic of China Li Zhiren Architectural Complex, which is an architectural form of the Republic of China that combines the East and the West, and is a typical masterpiece of the development of the Soviet-style courtyards of the period, and is of outstanding historical value.
Changmen North Wharf
Along with Shantang Street across the river, there is also Changmen North Wharf, a flavorful street carrying the history of the Republic of China. As the hub of Suzhou's land and water transportation, the former Changmen North Pier was bustling with traffic. From the early 1900s to the 1940s, the North Pier was mainly inhabited by middle-class people such as business owners and doctors. It was quite important then, but has since fallen out of favor.
Today, the Changmen North Pier has been transformed into a Republican-style street that blends in with XiZhong City, across the river from Shantang Street.The 700-meter-long North Pier Republican-style street consists of two renovated buildings and more than a dozen replica buildings. Combination
The two famous foreign buildings at the North Pier, named after the real year they were built and now called "1929" and "1931" respectively, can be considered the most representative buildings of the Republican period. They are both traditional Chinese courtyards and traditional wooden structures, and are influenced by foreign architectural styles of the early 20th century. They condense the development of Suzhou's modern architecture and have been included in the Suzhou Style Building Protection Series.
From these two buildings, we can get a glimpse of the architectural style of the Republican era, which was a combination of Chinese and Western styles, as well as the affluence and fashion of the owners at that time. At present, Changmen North Pier has become a characteristic commercial area integrating the historical landscape of the city wall and the waterfront landscape of the moat, attracting many citizens and tourists to visit.
Jingu Li
The former Wu County Embroidery Factory is located in the northern section of the historic district of Pingjiang Road in Suzhou, on the banks of the Jingu River near Pingjiang. Close to the Humble Administrator's Garden, Suzhou Museum, Lion's Grove, Pingjiang Road and other tourist attractions, its unique location makes it a hit spot for many citizens visiting Pingjiang Road.
Golden Valley Lane takes art museums, art hotels and Tang Hui performances as its core, and carries out a variety of tourism product activities such as art exhibitions, humanistic hotel accommodations, folk art performances, Wu culture leisure experiences, and urban humanistic tourism IP image development.
The overall style of JinguLi with its Republican features and Soviet elements beautifies the northern section of Pingjiang Road and enhances the cultural connotation. Both classical and modern are very much in line with the humanistic temperament of the ancient city of Suzhou, and it is very appropriate to take photos and make cards~
Dongzhen
At the intersection of Zhujiang Road and Garden Road in Mudu Town, Wuzhong District, Suzhou, there is Dongmenzhen, a characteristic neighborhood that can instantly take you back to the Republic of China a few decades ago. After the rail transit line 5 runs this year, you can get there quickly from the Garden Road subway exit.
Long locomotives, old alleys, posters, cultural corridors, old cars, old carriages, rickshaws . The details of the simulation were really touching. I thought I had mistakenly entered the set of a Republican drama. The architecture of the gardens is a combination of Chinese and Western Republican style, and the Republican cultural wall, bell tower, rickshaws and old cars are full of ancient meaning. When night falls, the lights of the whole street will be lit up, giving people a dreamy feeling of "I don't know what year it is".
In addition to the architectural features of the Republic of China and humanistic elements, it is also a film and television shooting base, inheriting a unique historical and cultural atmosphere. It also combines cultural industries, garden lodging and light luxury food. And it is full of literary mood.
Li Can Neighborhood
Formed in the Silkworm Li Plot, the original site of the Huushuguan Large Silkworm Seed Farm in Hi-Tech Zone, it is one of the theme plates of the dock project. Gray brick walls, arched corridors, stone paths on the ground, full of Republican architectural style, can instantly pull you back to the 1930s~
In addition to these places mentioned above, there are also: Sulun Field, Su Da, Huayi Brothers Movie World.
The second day: Suzhou Ancient City Classic Route One Day Tour (with the recommendation of hitting the spot)
Suzhou Museum--Zhongwang Mansion Humble Administrator's Garden Pingjiang Road
The first stop: Suzhou Museum
It can be said that this is the place that every first-time visitor to Suzhou must want to go, and it is also the place where our route The starting point of our route. The Suzhou Museum as a starting point, firstly, is famous because it comes from the hand of the design master, which attracts a lot of people to visit it; secondly, as the most intuitive presentation of the cultural connotation of a city, the museum is the best place for us to start to understand a city. Let's start with Subo as our first stop.
Keywords: architecture
The color tone of Subo is based on the traditional pink wall with tiles, which adds a new interpretation connotation to the architectural symbols of Jiangnan. In terms of architectural structure, the design of the roof shape breaks through the constraints of the traditional Chinese "big roof" in terms of lighting. The glass and open steel structure allows rooms to borrow large skylights.
The gardening design of SUBO is extracted from the essence of Suzhou's classical gardens. The creative landscape garden consisting of ponds, rockeries, bridges, pavilions and bamboo forests is organically combined with the traditional gardens
The layered changes produced by the adjustment and filtration of the softly colored shading strips and the contrast between light and darkness in different spaces seem to make the lines around them flow, which makes people enter into a poetic and wonderful atmosphere.
I.M. Pei loves triangular shapes and light, and "let the light design" is a famous quote from Bayes. The combination of light and space creates light and shadow changes through simple geometric lines, making the space changeable, making the scenery change with the footsteps, perspective and mood, and making people have different vision and feelings with the flickering of light in the process of scenery change. The change of light in various corridors of Su Bo is the most contemplative scenery besides exhibits and architecture.
Keywords: national treasures
Most people are more interested in the Su Bo's architecture than its collection, and think that the Su Bo's collection is general. In fact, many of the items in Subo's collection are worth seeing.
One of them is the Zhu Zhen Sherry Treasure Building, which was featured on CCTV's National Treasure. This building integrates the wood carving, gold tracing, jade carving, pearl threading, and exquisite gold and silver craftsmanship of Suzhou at that time. The whole building *** with more than 40,000 pearls, cohesion of the wisdom and effort of the then skilled craftsmen. Can be called Su Bo's "treasure of the town".
Shooting points
1. In the courtyard on the curved bridge, you can shoot a symmetrical picture of the beauty of the building of Subo.
2. On a sunny day, the glass shadows of the Wisteria Garden make for particularly nice portraits.
3. Su pure white walls of the cloister to the Chungwang Mansion, white walls and black tiles fused with the white mood of Chinese painting, is absolutely a must for photography enthusiasts!
Second stop: Zhongwang Mansion
The Zhongyi Palace, a place many people overlook, is worth a visit. It is part of the Suzhou Museum, but no longer functions as an exhibition. It is often overlooked by tourists because its architectural style is very different from that of the Sopo. But in fact, it is inside the dry Kun, Wen Hengshan hand-grown "national treasure" wisteria, also in the current bell.
Keywords: Wen Hengshan hand-planted wisteria
Wen Zhengming hand-planted wisteria is a famous ancient landscape in Suzhou Garden. It is located in a corner of the inner courtyard at the gate of the central garden of the former Humble Administrator's Garden. Now this area has been allocated to the Zhongyi Palace next door. This wisteria was planted by Wen Zhengming, one of the Four Great Scholars of Jiangnan, during the construction of the Humble Administrator's Garden. Wen Zhengming was a famous calligrapher and painter of the Ming Dynasty and one of the founders of the Wu School.
He was close to Wang, the owner of the Humble Administrator's Garden. After the completion of the Humble Administrator's Garden, Wang often invited him to banquets to enjoy the scenery. Wen Zhengming was a nymphomaniac who loved wisteria. While enjoying himself in the Humble Administrator's Garden, he planted this wisteria in the garden. It has been more than 400 years. The trunk of this wisteria tree has a diameter of 22 centimeters at breast height and bends into the shape of a crane and a dragon. When it blooms, it has fringes that hang down like strings of purple jade. It is of great ornamental value and is known as one of the "Three Great Bungs of Suzhou". 2021 February on CCTV "National Treasure".
The city was once the capital of the Eight Banners, so many northern architectural styles and features have been incorporated into Suzhou's architectural style. For example, the "Four Courts" in the center is unique among Suzhou's classical buildings.
Additionally, guildhouses were gathering places for fellow villagers and merchants to negotiate trade, often with a theater. The classical theater is a building on the east side of the Zhongwangfu Road, which was built by the Eight Banners Fengzhi Guild Hall using the courtyards of the southern quadrangle. After several repairs, it still basically maintains its original appearance and is one of the best-preserved indoor classical stages in China.
Spotting
On a sunny afternoon, the Wisteria Garden creates distinct light and dark segments in the sunlight, which can make for great photos.
Third stop: The Humble Administrator's Garden
Out of the Chungwang Mansion, turn slightly left, then go back to Northeast Street, and walk a few dozen steps further to The Humble Administrator's Garden, one of the four great gardens of China, and the most famous tourist attraction in Suzhou,.
This garden was built in the Ming Dynasty and designed by Wen Zhengming, one of the Four Great Talents. I won't go into the history of the Humble Administrator's Garden here. As long as I listen to the guide's words, I can probably understand
The Humble Administrator's Garden is another wonderful thing is to look through the moon gate engraved with the "Green Night" opposite the "Snow Fragrant Pavilion" and the Jia Shi Pavilion view, but also make people feel that the ancients of the gardening The "craftsmanship" of the ancients is really good.
Keywords: different seasons.
The Humble Administrator's Garden is different in four seasons, condensing the most beautiful colors of Suzhou into a small garden. Spring in the city's mountains and forests is bright green; summer in the lotus ponds is pink; an aerial photo of the Humble Administrator's Garden in the fall is "beautiful"; and if you're lucky enough to see the Garden after a snowfall, you'll almost have the chance to travel back to ancient times.
Fourth stop: Pingjiang Road
Fourth stop, we come out of the Humble Administrator's Garden, cross Northeast Street, and head south along Baijia Lane to Pingjiang Road. There are two ways to visit Pingjiang, one is by boat and the other is on foot. Boat can be close to the water, experience the real "Gusu see, people will sleep river"; walking is very leisurely, strolling in the city water town, not fun at all.
Keywords: Linjiang Street
As long as you have listened to the history of the city of Suzhou, people should have heard the phrase "parallel land and water, rivers and streets neighboring". The model of "parallel land and water, rivers and streets neighboring" is Pingjiang Road. Not only is there the Pinghe River on the main street, but there is also a small river on almost every side street. This crisscrossing "double chessboard" pattern in the ancient city of Suzhou has continued for a thousand years.
If you happen to have a copy of the Song Dynasty "Pinghe River Map" in your hand, try looking for it as you walk along Pingjiang Road. You can still locate them in almost every alley on the map.
Keyword: hand-cranked boat
Boating on Pingjiang is the best way to experience Suzhou on the water. Boats in the river, people on the shore, white walls and black tiles are the true colors of Suzhou, and a small boat carries the interest of Suzhou. Whether on the shore or on the boat, both sides have become each other's scenery.
Riding a hand-rocked boat on the Pingjiang River, you can also hear the boatwoman or boatman singing boat songs, which is a way for boatmen to express their pleasure.
Spotting
Bamboo Corner Bridge on Daliuzhi Lane
Special Tips
The hand-rocked boat on Pingjiang Road is an immersive experience program on Pingjiang Road, which mainly showcases the characteristics of the Jiangnan water town and increases the participation of tourists. Visitors can take a boat tour from the Humble Administrator's Garden Pier to Baodili Bridge Pier (round-trip time is about 20 minutes), and from Baodili Bridge Pier to Qingshi Bridge Pier (round-trip time is about 40 minutes). The ticket price is 40 yuan per person.
:Day 3 - Netflix Snacking Spots
1. Jinji Lake Scenic Area
Jinji Lake Scenic Area is located in Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province, with a total area of 11.5 square kilometers, of which 7.4 square kilometers are in the water area. Scenic area investment of 8.953 billion yuan, carefully created a cultural display area, fashion shopping area, leisure food area, city sightseeing area, the center of the waterscape five functional areas. It is one of the few national key 5A-level scenic spots that are open to the public for free.
Address: Modern Avenue, Wuzhong District, Suzhou
2. Chengpin Bookstore
Suzhou Chengpin Bookstore is the first branch of Taiwan's Chengpin Bookstore in mainlandChina. Located on the east shore of Jinji Lake in Suzhou Industrial Park, adjacent to the Intercontinental Hotel, it will be a creative platform integrating culture, performance, art, commerce, tourism, and talent cultivation with cross-border comprehensive effects.
Address: 2/F, Chengpin Life Suzhou, No. 8 Langyue Street, Wuzhong District, Suzhou
3. Huaihai Street
Huaihai Street, Suzhou's "Japanese Street," is located in the Shishan Commercial Innovation Zone, starting from Lingyan Street in the south and ending at Shishan Road in the north, with a total length of about 550 meters. The whole street is basically Japanese food-oriented, with 50 to 60 Japanese restaurants of various sizes.
Address: Intersection of Huaihai Street and Shishan Road, Huqiu District, Suzhou City
4. Gongli Dam
Gongli Dam is located in Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province, with a length of 1,400 meters, which was constructed by Li Chaoqiong, the county magistrate of Yuanhe County, in the Guangxu Period. Gongli Dam is overall elegant and delicate. Gongli Dam is the largest inner city lake in China and the only long dike in Suzhou Jinji Lake, with a total length of about 1400 meters. The starting point of Gongli Dam is Ruyi Bridge, which divides the whole Jinji Lake into two parts, with the small Jinji Lake on the left and the big Jinji Lake on the right.
Address: Jinji Lake Scenic Spot, Industrial Park, Wuzhong District, Suzhou
5.
Vitality Island refers to the largest city center square and amphitheater in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province. It consists of three parts: the center square of ten thousand people covers an area of more than 180 acres and can accommodate 100,000 people; the oriental style island covers an area of 123 acres; and the western style island covers an area of 119 acres. The three islands*** together constitute the leisure and vitality belt of Xiangcheng Central Business City. Broadly speaking, the vitality island is also called Suzhou Central Business City. The core area is 8 square kilometers. The Vitality Island business district is the CBD of northern Suzhou and the best commercial and residential core area in Xiangcheng District.
Address: Holly Island, Xiangcheng District, Suzhou
7. Suzhou Center
Suzhou Center Mall is located on the west bank of Jinji Lake, with a building area of 300,000 square meters. It is the largest commercial complex project in Suzhou. The north district specializes in international fast fashion, family and parent-child. The south zone specializes in luxury goods and restaurants.
Address: 200 meters northwest of the intersection of Su Hui Road and Xingang Street, Wuzhong District, Suzhou.
8.Suzhou Royal Kiln Brick Museum
Suzhou Royal Kiln Brick Museum in Xiangcheng District is China's first museum with the theme of "official kiln bricks".It opened on May 18, 2016, and covers an area of 38,875 square meters, with a building area of 15,087 square meters. The collections range from the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty to the Xuantong period of the Qing Dynasty.
Address: Suzhou Imperial Kiln Ruins Park, West Yangcheng Lake Road, Xiangcheng District, Suzhou