Taihu Lake Scenic Area is located in the southern part of the Yangtze River Delta, spanning Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces. It is a large-scale national landscape integrating lakes, mountains, forests, springs, rocks, garden buildings and water towns. Scenic area. In ancient times, it was called Juqu and Lize. It consists of Changtang Lake, Shegui Lake, Shanghu Lake, Ganhu Lake and Taihu Lake, so it is also called the Five Lakes. It evolved from an ancient lagoon and was formed by river and sea erosion on the basis of regional faults. It is 68 kilometers long from north to south and 56 kilometers wide from east to west. The lakeshore has a circumference of about 500 kilometers and an area of ??2,420 square kilometers. It is the third largest freshwater lake in my country after Poyang Lake and Dongting Lake. The total area of ??the planning area is 3,091 square kilometers, of which 888 square kilometers are scenic areas and 2,203 square kilometers are peripheral protected areas. The scenic spots include the four cities of Suzhou, Wuxi, Changshu and Yixing, as well as parts of the three counties of Wuxian, Wujiang and Wuxi. The scenic spot is famous for its natural lakes and mountains. It is dotted with large and small peaks. It is said to have forty-eight islands and seventy-two peaks. The combination of mountains and rivers is rich in layers, forming a magnificent picture of islands in the lake, lakes on the islands, and mountains outside the mountains. natural picture. The east, west and north coasts of Taihu Lake and the islands in the lake are the birthplace of Wuyue culture, with a large number of cultural relics left behind. There are a large number of famous temples, classical gardens and other buildings around the lake area, as well as legends and relics about historical figures. It is called the "Wuzhong Resort". The scenery of Taihu Lake is famous for its majestic and delicate scenery. It is famous for its combination of mountains and rivers. The distance, middle and close views are perfectly harmonious. The scenery of the four seasons is different, and the artistic conception of morning, noon and night is very different. As the weather changes, there are thousands of sunny, cloudy, rainy and foggy weather conditions. Since ancient times, many literati have left countless masterpieces. Due to the interlaced combination of these mountains and rivers, the scenery is rich and varied, thus creating a number of famous tourist attractions: such as the Mudu Scenic Area where Xi Shi dressed up and Fu Chai regretted it; the Shihu Scenic Area with the fragrant green lotus and bamboo fence thatched cottages; the Dark Fragrance Scenic Area; Guangfu Scenic Area with sparse shadows; Dongting Dongshan Scenic Area and Xishan Scenic Area with mountains full of flowers and fruits; Jiaozhi Scenic Area and Tongli Scenic Area in the ancient town with small bridges and flowing water; Yushan Scenic Area in Changshu with green pines and bamboos; There are Xihui Scenic Area with Qionglou Yuyu; there are also Li Lake Scenic Area, Meiliang Lake Scenic Area, Mashan Scenic Area, Yangxian Scenic Area and the pottery capital Yixing with its secluded caves and ravines, etc. The landscape of Taihu Lake Scenic Area combines natural scenery, historical relics, literature and art, and social products. It is elegant, plump, and beautiful, and fully embodies the pastoral style of Jiangnan with soft mountains and beautiful waters. The main attractions in the scenic area are:
1. Yuantouzhu
It is located directly north of Taihu Lake, southwest of Wuxi City, on the shore of Taihu Lake, at the west end of Chongshan Mountain, about 10 kilometers away from Wuxi urban area. A peninsula surrounded by water, its bird's-eye view looks like a big turtle's head extending into the lake, hence its name. Garden construction began here in 1918, and there were Hengyuan Xiaozhu, Zhengyuan, Tuilu and other scenic spots. After liberation, it was carefully constructed, connected and merged, and became a famous tourist attraction at home and abroad. It is characterized by mainly natural scenery and supplemented by artificial modification. The unique garden architecture is located close to mountains and rivers, making it a great place to enjoy the scenery of Taihu Lake. The entire park faces the lake, covering an area of ??about 20 hectares, and is roughly divided into four tourist areas. Each scenic area allows visitors to view the vast Taihu Lake from different angles. Looking at the three mountains from a close distance, they look like a jade plate inlaid with emeralds; looking from a distance, Mashan Mountain looks like a galloping horse. The modern celebrity Guo Moruo wrote a poem praising: "Walking on the turtle's head, the turtle hills are floating on the water. There are waves all around, and the vast expanse is covered with gold. The Fanli Temple is still there, and the female Yi wind is blowing. In the brightest place, the shadow of the sail and the returning boat." .
Second and Third Mountain
Also known as Turtle Mountain and Bijia Mountain, it is located at the southern end of Chongshan Mountain in Wuxi and is a small island in Taihu Lake. Sanshan is 2.6 kilometers away from Yuantouzhu. The highest point is 49.8 meters above sea level. The total area is 12 hectares. It is a lake island composed of four islands: Dongya, Xiya, Daji and Xiaoji. Originally an uninhabited desert island, it was turned into a tourist spot in 1974. There is a road around the mountain between Xiya and Daji and Xiaoji, and there are bridges connecting the three mountains into one. The mountains are planted with pine, bamboo, maple, camphor, loquat, red orange, etc. There is a hexagonal pavilion on Xiya Mountain, and a Sanshan Tea House and reception room on Daji Mountain, where visitors can enjoy the scenery of the lake and mountains. The three mountains are unique and unique, and they win by being small. There is a ferry between Sanshan and Yuanshanzhu, which is a must-visit place for water tours in Taihu Lake.
3. Liyuan
Located in Qingqi Village on the north bank of Lihu Lake in the southwest of Wuxi City, the garden covers an area of ??5.8 hectares, including 2.4 hectares of water surface. Liyuan is one of the famous gardens in the south of the Yangtze River, decorated with water. It is composed of the merger of the original Liyuan and Haizhuang. Li Lake was originally called Wuli Lake and was a part of Taihu Lake. According to legend, in the late Spring and Autumn Period, Fan Li, a senior official of the Yue State, retired from active service and went boating on the lake with Xi Shi, hence the name.
Liyuan faces the lake on three sides. Pavilions, corridors and embankments are all built near the water. They are exquisite and delicate with harmonious colors. In spring, the willows along the lake ring road are green and pink, the breeze blows on your face, and the fragrance of flowers is endless beside the pavilion in all seasons. The thousand-step promenade has a curved bank and water pillows. The walls are inlaid with calligraphy bricks of Su Shi, Mi Fu and Wang Mingyang. The rockeries, caves, peaks and hills in the north are like clouds and beasts, circling and twisting, flickering in and out. Against the background of distant mountains and near water, the scenery is open, the scenery is bright, and the scenery is beautiful, which is especially distinctive among gardens in the south of the Yangtze River.
4. Majishan
Mashan is located in the west of Yuantouzhu and Sanshan. It is the second largest island in Taihu Lake, covering an area of ??34 square kilometers. The entire island is majestic with many mountains. It has been a battleground for military strategists since ancient times. During the Warring States Period, Wu King Fu Chai defeated Yue King Gou Jian here; during the Song Dynasty, the patriotic soldiers and civilians fought against the Jin soldiers here. There are magnificent pavilions and pavilions in the scenic area, and everything is natural. The island has clear springs, secluded valleys and orchards. There is something special about tasting fruits and admiring the scenery here.
5. Huishan
Located in the western suburbs of Wuxi City, it is one of the famous mountains in the south of the Yangtze River and stands on the north bank of Taihu Lake. In ancient times, it was called Huashan, Lishan, and Xishenshan. After the Tang Dynasty, it was called Huishan or Huishan. The mountain has nine peaks, winding like a dragon, and is also called Jiulong Mountain. The main peak is 328.9 meters above sea level and has a circumference of about 20 kilometers. It is famous for its spring water, including Huishan Spring, Longyan Spring and more than ten places, so it is commonly known as Huiquan Mountain. At the east foot there are Chunshen Stream, ancient Huishan Temple, Li Yangbing seal carving "Tingsong" stone bed in the Tang Dynasty, stone scripture building in the Tang and Song Dynasties, Jinlian Bridge in the Song Dynasty, Ji Chang Garden in the Ming Dynasty and Qingzhu Lushan House and other places of interest. There are Longguang Pagoda and Longguang Temple on the top of Xishan Mountain in the east of Huishan Mountain. There are Longguang Cave at the bottom of the mountain and Qingyun Pavilion and other buildings on the mountainside.
6. Dongting Dongshan
Commonly known as Dongshan, it was called Xumu Mountain in ancient times, also known as Moli Mountain. It is located at the southeastern end of Taihu Lake 40 kilometers southwest of Suzhou. It was originally a small island in Taihu Lake, but later became connected with the east coast and became a peninsula. Its main peak, Mori Peak, is 293 meters above sea level and is one of the best places to view the lakes and mountains. Surrounded by water on three sides and filled with flowers and fruits, it is known as the "Flower and Fruit Mountain" in the south of the Yangtze River. There are many places of interest on the mountain, including the Zijin Temple in Ximaowu, which contains 16 Arhat statues. Later, 2 more were sculpted by Yin Mi Tuo, collectively known as the Eighteen Arhats. It is a masterpiece of ancient sculpture art. The carved buildings on both sides of Dongshan Town were built from 1922 to 1925. They were originally a private manor with two floors, front and back. The gate towers, doors and windows, railings, and door fans are respectively engraved with patterns such as Songs and Cranes Prolonging the Year, Taigong's Eighty Years, Ziyi's Birthday, Phoenix Wearing Peonies, Two Immortals in Harmony, Twenty-Four Filial Piety, Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea, and Romance of the Three Kingdoms. There are also ancient buildings from the Ming Dynasty and the Liuyijing Temple ruins from myths and legends, which are tourist attractions in Wuzhong.
7. Dongting Xishan
Located in Taihu Lake more than 30 kilometers southwest of Suzhou City, it is the largest island in Taihu Lake. The island has a circumference of more than 50 kilometers and an area of ??90 square kilometers. The highest peak on the island is 336 meters above sea level. At the southern end of the island, there are scenic spots such as Shigong Mountain, Guiyun Cave, Xiguang Cave, and Yixiantian, as well as ancient buildings such as Laihe Tower and Duanshan Pavilion. Under the main peak is the "Ancient Village House Cave", commonly known as "Dragon Cave", also known as "Zuo Shen Youxu Tiandaoshu Cave", which is praised by Taoists as "the ninth cave in the world". It is a large limestone cave. On the stone wall next to the cave are inscribed inscriptions such as "The Heaven of the Village House", "The Ninth Cave in the World" and "Lingcheng's father-in-law got Dayu's longevity bookstore". The cave is winding and deep, and the widest part can accommodate hundreds of people. The stalactites have different shapes and are endlessly changing. There is a stone gate inside, called "Ji Moran". The mountain is famous for its rich rockery stone - Taihu Stone. Climbing the mountain and looking far into the distance are full of scenery. To the east, there are dots of sails on the lake, like a group of white butterflies flying in the sunset; to the west, there are wisps of milky white smoke floating in a dark green orange forest. From this, you can appreciate Tao Yuanming's "Nuan Nuan Yuanren Village, Yiyi Ruins" The artistic conception of "smoke inside" is one of the eight scenic spots in Xishan, "Evening Smoke in Village Houses". The strange cliffs and rocks on the mountain are like thousands of hibiscus blooming: some are exquisite and clear, some are towering and abrupt, and they are in various shapes and forms, which is dizzying for the eyes.