Byxj Xu

Byxj Xu
Suzhou is a city with a long history on the lower
reaches of the Yangtze River and on the
shores of Lake Taihu in the province of
Jiangsu, China. The city is renowned for its
beautiful stone bridges, pagodas, and
meticulously designed gardens, which has
become a great tourist attraction. Suzhou has
also been an important center for China's silk
industry since the Song Dynasty (960-1279),
and continues to hold that prominent position
today.

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The pagoda was first built in the Sui dynasty
(581-618) and rebuilt in 961 AD in the Northern
Song dynasty. It is the oldest pagoda in
Suzhou. Built on an octagonal base, it is 47.5
meters high with 7 stories. From 1638A.D, the
pagoda began to lean aside and now the
biggest obliquity reaches 3o59', known as
China's Leaning Tower. With a history over
1000 years, the pagoda now is regarded as the
symbol of Suzhou city.
Hanshan Temple right on the
Grand Canal.
It has become the citys most
important landmark.
The temple was first built
between the years 502-519.
It was named after Han Shan,
a Tang-dynasty monk who lived
there.
Through the years, the temple
had undergone several rounds
of destruction and restoration.
The temple has been
immortalized by the
famous poem
Mooring at Night by
Maple Bridge
written by the prominent
Tang Dynasty poet,
Zhangji.
Covering an area of about 10,000 square meters (two and a half acres), Lion Grove Garden
is an ideal sightseeing site as it has richly ornamental pavilions and towers in different
styles; each has its own history and story.
Reputed as the "Kingdom of
Rockery", the rocks were piled up
skillfully and ingeniously, and most
of them look like lions in different
postures and verves:
playing, roaring, fighting, sleeping,
or even dancing.
Walking through those numerous winding pathways and caverns of the anfractuous
stone forest, one could easily lose one's way.
A part of the Imperial Summer Resort of the Qing Dynasty in Chengde of Hebei
Province was a mimic of Lion Grove Garden. The garden occupies a very
important place in history, representing the diversity of cultural and
architectural development in Suzhou over the years.
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