Overview of Rugao:
Rugao is located in the northern wing of the Yangtze River Delta , latitude 32 ° 00′-32 ° 30′, longitude 120 ° 20′-120 ° 50′. South of the Yangtze River, and Zhangjiagang City across the river, north and Haian City, east and Rudong County, southeast and Tongzhou District adjacent to the west and Taixing City, southwest and Jingjiang City border. The city's total area of 1576.47 square kilometers, of which, 99 square kilometers of the Yangtze River water.
Rugao Yangtze River shoreline length of 48 kilometers, can be directly utilized Yangtze River deep-water shoreline 18.6 kilometers. The Tongyang Canal, Ruhai Canal, Rutai Canal and Jiao Gang River are four first-class rivers with a total length of 158.52 kilometers.
History:
Shangshu - Yugong records: in ancient times, Rugao belonged to the domain of Yangzhou; during the Shang and Zhou dynasties, it was called Haiyang. The beginning of the Zhou name Fayang, Spring and Autumn belonging to Wu, Wu died back to the Yue, the Warring States period belongs to Chu, Qin returned to Jiujiang County, Han belongs to the Hailing County. In the Eastern Jin Dynasty, it was formerly Rugao County in the seventh year of Yi Xi (411), and in Sui Dynasty, it was incorporated into Ninghai County of Yangzhou. Tang Taihe five years (831) set Rugao field. Southern Tang Paodai ten years (952 years) rose to Rugao County, under the Taizhou. Later generations followed the county system, in Song Dynasty it was a lower middle county, and in Yuan Dynasty it was upgraded to a superior county. The Ming and Qing dynasties were still under Taizhou, and in the second year of the Yongzheng era (1724), it was transferred to Tongzhou Zhili Prefecture. In the Republic of China, it was a first-class county and was listed as the largest county in the country together with Shaoyang in Hunan Province. In August of 29th year of the Republic of China (1940), the New Fourth Army marched eastward to Rugao Xixiang and set up Rugao County Government in Lu Gang, and in October, the county government took over the Rugao County Government along with the army as it continued to march eastward to Rugao Dongxiang. Republic of China 30 years (1941) in March, in Rugao West Township established Rugao County Government. So far, the original Rugao County to the Tongyang Canal as the boundary is divided into 2 counties, Ruoxi County under the Suzhong third administrative commissioner's office, Rugao County under the Suzhong fourth administrative commissioner's office. Republic of 34 years (1945) September 21, the New Fourth Army recaptured the city of Rugao, Ruoxi County renamed Rugao County, originally set up in Rugao East Township of Rugao County renamed Rudong County. December 1 of the same year, the first Suwannian Border Region Administrative Commissioners Office was established in Rugao City. January 28, 1949, Rugao was liberated. May 12, the first Suwannian Border Region Administrative Commissioners Office was renamed as the Commissioner Office of the Northern Jiangsu Taizhou Administrative Region, Rugao belongs to its jurisdiction. May 29, Rugao was approved as a first-class county. January 1950, Rugao County to the Commissioner Office of the Northern Jiangsu Nantong Administrative Region in 1952, up to a special grade county. 1983, Rugao County, Rugao County, Rugao County. In 1983, Rugao County came under the jurisdiction of Nantong City, and on June 1, 1991, the county was abolished and Rugao City was established.
Administrative divisions:
Rugao City has jurisdiction over three streets, Rucheng, Chengbei, Chengnan, and eleven towns, namely, Dongcheng, Dinyan, Baipu, Xiayuan, Jiuhua, Shizhuang, Wuyao, Jiang'an, Mojing, Mutou, and Changjiang. Chengbei Street and Rugao Development Zone, Chengnan Street and Rugao High-tech Industrial Development Zone, Rucheng Street and Rugao Industrial Park to implement the "district with the street, district and street together" management mechanism, the Yangtze River Town and Rugao Harbor District to implement the "town and district together" management system. The city has 347 villages (communities), including 181 communities and 166 villages.
Temperament:
The Rugao dialect belongs to the Tai Ru slice of the Jianghuai official dialect, which is strongly influenced by the Wu language, and has its origins in both the Gan and Hakka dialects. The Rugao dialect is a small piece containing the current Rugao City, Rudong County, Hai'an City, Taixing City, and the southern part of Dongtai City and Duanshan District of Zhangjiagang City, with a total area of about 6,000 square kilometers, and a total population of about 5 million people, represented by the Rucheng dialect. The language of Rucheng and the surrounding area is Rucheng dialect. Three kilometers to the west of Rucheng, there is the Taixing dialect flavor, friction is obvious, known as Xixiang dialect. Baipu, Jiuhua and Tongzhou District border, for the two transitional dialect zone, the southern half of the language are characterized by Nantong dialect with two sets of fricatives, known as Nanxiang dialect. South of Yongansha area into the land only a few decades, immigrants from 18 provinces and districts, and its descendants, although the use of Rugao dialect, but the village, between every difference between the polder, known as the polder words.
Rugao residents mainly Han Chinese, simple and rustic folkways, folklore and Yangzhou similar, in the long-term production, life, the formation of food, clothing, housing, marriage, childbirth, birthday, funeral, festivals, rituals and other aspects of the unique folk customs. Rugao age customs have summer breakfast to eat hard-boiled eggs, eat beets at noon, children weighing, Dragon Boat Festival to eat zongzi, children wearing hundreds of rope and bags of incense, in the Yuan Festival burnt ancestor, "Zai Lone", Mid-Autumn Festival to eat mooncakes, lotus root cakes, ducks, etc., especially before and after the Spring Festival rituals for more activities, and accompanied by a number of taboos. Wedding and funeral customs include the bride can not go to friends, relatives and neighbors within the month of marriage, "burning jingya" in the funeral, "boy's play" and so on. The birthday custom of congratulating the centenarian is the most solemn, and the main family should burn "centenarian bowl" to give to relatives, friends and neighbors. Folks do "Qingmiao Hui", perform "boy's play", sing "Yixing tune" (Yueju Opera), "Xihe tune" (Yangju Opera), "Chichihua tune" (Yangju Opera), and "Chihuai tune" (Yangju Opera). Yang Opera), "Seven Character Duan", and during the Spring Festival, it is customary to perform programs such as swinging the lake boat, stepping on stilts, pulling the waist, playing flower drums, dancing dragon lanterns, and singing Taoist songs, etc. With the gradual improvement of social civilization, the people have become more and more civilized. With the gradual improvement of social civilization, folklore has also undergone great changes, some of the old unhealthy customs in the traditional festivals were abandoned, and some festivals were given a positive and healthy content, while also gradually formed some new customs.
Scenic Spots:
1) Water Painting Garden Scenic Area
National AAAA level tourist attractions. Located in the northeastern corner of the ancient city of Rugao, covers an area of about 270,000 square meters, by the Water Painting Garden and the water bright building ancient architectural complex, China Rugao Longevity Museum (Anonymous Peak Lodge), China Rupai Bonsai Garden (Gutama Garden), Yat Garden, East Street historical and cultural neighborhoods, such as the composition of the attractions.
Water Painting Garden was built during the Wanli period of Ming Dynasty (1573-1620), the late Ming Dynasty genius Bao Peijian had been hiding here with Dong Xiaowan, one of the "Eight Beauties of Qinhuai", and it is a national key cultural relics protection unit. There are more than 10 places in the garden, such as Hanbi Hall, Yimozhai, Yinshulou, Xiangzhong Pavilion, Hanging eaves from the mountain house, Mirror Pavilion, Shibulangpo, Xiaosangwu Pavilion, Pillow Smoke Pavilion, Miaoyin Xianglin, Ancient Walls, Smokey Jade Pavilion, Bilu Lodge, Hanging eaves from the peak, Baptismal Pond, Xiaosangwu Stream, and Crane Island, etc., which is a famous garden in the sea, as the waves of the smoke and mist, and the hidden reflections are as if they were painted, as if it were a landscape painting with a quiet elegance and an airy meaning. The garden is filled with water, reflections like a picture, the romantic love story of Bao Dong, deep historical and cultural heritage and unique garden landscape, so that the water painting garden has become a natural landscape, cultural landscape and history of the great success of the tourist attractions, known as the "China's first couples cultural garden.
Shuiyingyuan
Shuiyingyuan architectural complex is another important attraction for the water painting garden scenic area, built in the 23rd year of the Qing dynasty qianlong (1758), for the boat type water pavilion building, exquisite modeling, by the garden of the great Chen from Zhou evaluation as "emblematic style of the garden of the sea of the unique book". West of the building, hidden jade, rain and incense nunnery has precious relics and documents for tourists to appreciate. China Rupai Bonsai Garden, formerly known as the garden built 400 years ago, "pot collar garden", displaying the country's largest five-needle pine bonsai, tree age of more than 1,000 years of the Song Dynasty bonsai, and so on.
The Longevity Museum shows and explores the mystery of Rugao's longevity phenomenon from various aspects, giving people useful enlightenment in health care.
The Dongda Street Historical and Cultural Neighborhood has the style of Rugao's ancient street in the late Qing Dynasty and early Civil War, with pavilions such as Li Yu Memorial Hall, Silk Carpet Museum and Scholar Culture Hall, as well as historical relics and cultural relics, such as Yingchun Bridge and the Medicine King Temple, which was awarded the China Habitat Environment Paradigm Award in 2016.
Rugao East Street
2) Dinghui Zen Temple
National AAA-level tourist attractions. Located in the southeast corner of the ancient city of Rugao, was built in the Sui Kaihuang eleven years (591 years), with a long history, large-scale, unique pattern, incense is famous at home and abroad. Ming Wanli thirty-fifth year (1607) rebuilt the hall and vajra hall, change the door towards the north, and then successively built the bell and drums two buildings and Tibetan scripture pavilions, Zen hall, ancestral hall, fasting hall and so on. Dinghui Zen Temple gate facing the Yudai River, east of the release pool, southwest of the Jade Lotus Pond, the layout of the temple was "back" shape, the building around the hall, the temple is located in the center, forming a "water around the temple, building embracing the temple," a unique pattern.
Dinghui Zen Temple
3) China Longevity City
National AAA-level tourist attractions. Located in the western suburbs of the city, with a total area of about 100 hectares. Theme symbol of copper casting of longevity, 49 meters high, body back hats, smiling, for the Rugao flower farmers traditionally dressed to imply hard work and longevity, by the Chinese Taoist Association, President of the Master Ren Falong known as "the world's first great longevity star". The Chinese Longevity Museum takes the shape of meteorite from the sky, which is one of the core attractions of the Longevity City, with a preface hall, Rugao Hall, China Hall and World Hall, concentrating the long history of longevity, gathering the classic mysteries of longevity and displaying the wonderful culture of longevity. There are also other attractions such as the World's Largest Bronze Bowl - Wanshou Hundred Years Bowl, which is certified by Guinness World Records. China Longevity City is a tourist attraction with the characteristics of a longevity town and a place to hold birthday celebrations. If you have the chance, you can discuss the secret of longevity with centenarians up close.
Hundred Longevity Monument
4) China Longevity Culture Valley
National AAA level tourist attraction. Located in the southern suburb of the main city, "China's most beautiful countryside" Rucheng Street Guzhuang community, with a total area of about 3,000 hectares, is a collection of eco-tourism, business and leisure, sightseeing and recreation in one of the characteristics of ecotourism scenic spot, covering the core scenic spot of Guzhuang Ecological Park, Sutong Ecological Tourism Garden, International Horticultural City, 200 hectares of lawn bases of Qiangchang Village, the Oriental Bonsai Garden, Hu An Ding's hometown, Baidai Orchid Garden, Shanghai Baolai Butterfly Orchid Garden, Guzhuang Longsheng Amusement City and many other attractions. The park has a unique natural landscape and deep cultural deposits, which is a natural oxygen bar in the main urban area and a leafy green lung in the city, and is a place for the majority of tourists and citizens to relax and recuperate.
5) Fabao Zen Temple
National AAA level tourist attractions. Located in Baipu Town, it was built in the fourth year of Tang Dahuo (830) and rebuilt in the first year of Song Zhihe (1054), with a flourishing incense. Zheng Banqiao, one of the "Eight Monsters of Yangzhou", a painter and calligrapher in the Qing Dynasty, inscribed a plaque for the temple. It is rumored that the Japanese monk Yuan Ren, Yue Fei, the hero of the Southern Song Dynasty, the Prime Minister Wen Tianxiang, Shen Qi, the left royal inspector of the Qing Dynasty, and Yuan Mei, the poet, have all visited and sung about the Fabao Monastery. Fa Bao Zen Temple has a unique architectural layout, resembling the shape of an elephant, and the ancients have left poems such as "Visiting the monk's elephant trunk bay, the road points to Hu Xi is" and "a bay into an elephant trunk, Fa Bao has long been known". Inside the temple, fish, shrimps, turtles, soft-shelled turtles and other fish swim freely in the release pond, and around the pond, moonflower, peony and peony bloom, and in the center of the pond, there is the Shaoxin Pavilion, and the curved bridges by the Pavilion connect the banks, which is a good place for tourists to take a cool break from the heat in the summer. The Wan'an Bridge in the east of the Pond is a miniature of the ancient bridge in Baipu Town.
6) Yangtze River Medicinal Botanical Garden
National AAA-level scenic spot, national leisure agriculture and rural tourism demonstration site, provincial five-star rural tourism site. It is located in Changqingsha Ecological Tourism Resort. Total area of about 333 hectares, total investment of about 2.6 billion yuan. The first phase of the project comprehensive medicinal botanical garden, covering an area of 200 hectares, opened in October 2011, focusing on planting Chinese herbs with medicinal value or health care functions, and integrating the cultural heritage of Rugao's hometown of longevity and the hometown of flowers and trees, and integrating recreational agriculture, ecological food and beverage, protection of medicinal plant resources of Yangtze River Basin, scientific research, and popularization of science and technology in one body. The main attractions in the park are: the main entrance with the prologue of the space of water view square, both the traditional architectural flavor of Rugao and the breath of modern garden architecture of Jiangnan, the landscape culture square with the bonsai art of "a peak is a thousand searches of Taihua, a spoon is a million miles of rivers and lakes," the creation of techniques to form an island in the water, the Changsheng Lake with excellent water quality and rich produce, the vacation chalet area and honeysuckle The vacation cabin area and honeysuckle herb theme garden, aromatic medicinal plant garden, etc..
7) Golden Island Ecological Park
A national AAA-level scenic spot and a provincial four-star rural tourism spot, located in Changqingsha Ecological Tourism Resort. The total area is about 133 hectares, with a total investment of 500 million yuan. The park is located in Changqingsha Island Dongfeng Beach, draws the essence of Yangzi River, highlighting the "Yangtze River culture, long green culture, longevity culture" three major characteristics. Inside the park, the river is longitudinal and horizontal, the forest garden is spread out, flowers and birds, grass grows and warblers fly ...... full of green and vitality, pure, peaceful and beautiful. Covered in the green trees and blue water between the ecological star hotel, fitness club, business club, physical examination center, leisure center, mini-paradise and other facilities, so that tourists in the fresh natural oxygen bar to enjoy the quality of education, cultural interoperability, fitness and recreation, leisure and entertainment services.
8) Inner and Outer City River Scenic Belt
The national AAA-level tourist attraction is located in the city. Inside and outside the two rivers around the city and around, outside the circle inside the square, shaped like ancient money. The inner city river is known as Yudai River, which was formed during the Ming Dynasty (1465-1487). The Outer City River, also known as the Hao River, was dug during the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty (1522-1566). There are more than 10 historical and cultural attractions along the river, such as the Pheasant Shooting Pavilion, a site of the Spring and Autumn Period, the Yingchun Bridge of the Ming Dynasty, the Dinghui Zen Temple of the Thousand-Year-Old Ancient Temple, the Jixianli Temple where famous people have come out in great numbers, the Lingweiguan Temple which is the best in the Yangtze River and Huaihuai River, and the Fangongyuan Temple which is a memorial to the famous person of Song Dynasty, Fan Zhongyan. There are 29 bridges of different shapes over the inner and outer city rivers, carrying many wonderful legends and stories. The white stone parapets on both sides of the double-ringed river are winding like dragons, and the trees and flowers along the route are lush and colorful. "Water around the city, the city wrapped in water" peculiar landscape achievements of the ancient city of Rugao unique charm of the scenery.
9) Red 14th Army Park
National AAAA level tourist attractions, located in Rucheng Street Fushou East Road. Covering an area of 17.4 hectares, by the Red 14th Army Memorial Hall, the Red Army history education and development training base, the city's young people Red Army History Education Museum consists of three parts, is to carry forward the revolutionary tradition, patriotism, collectivism, socialism, an important base for education. The main building of the Red Army Memorial Hall, listed as a national revolutionary memorial facilities, national defense education demonstration base, by the prelude hall, the dawn of the river and the sea, the long night thunder, Chopping wood to raise the righteousness of the military flag as a picture, the reform of the old and the new, the iron horse of the Jingo, the blood of the Danxin, the spring breeze of the wildfire, the end of the hall of 10 parts, with more than 1,300 pictures, nearly 40,000 words of description of the text, more than 600 pieces of physical material, to recreate the period of the Land Revolution Jiangsu The 14th Army of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army, the only centralized Red Army in Jiangsu Province during the Land Revolution, had a hard and memorable revolutionary history.
Source of information: official website of the local government, Rugao Yearbook (2019)