Archive for category Tourist Attractions
Bonsai Garden
Posted by act2009 in Tourist Attractions on June 29th, 2009
Bonsai Garden
The Bonsai Garden in Jiangling of Jingzhou is a recreational park that has bonsai scenery and gardening artistry with easy access. The 25,000-square-meter bonsai garden is built by imitating the traditional Chinese style, which is combined the artistic layout of the China’s classical gardens in the south and the grand architecture of the royal courtyards in the north. The watery area of the garden occupies around 80 percent. Walking inside, you will see the excellent juxtaposition of large houses, small kiosks, tranquil corridors and rustic rockworks has made the scenes of the park related to one another. Crossing slowly the tiny stone bridge, listening to the flowing sound of the brooks and seeing the ancient architecture will make you feel you’re living in ancient China.
The delicate tree root carvings and the rough-looking stone bonsais are as if they are made by the Nature. They demonstrate the power of human artistry. The bonsai competition of Hubei Province and in the state’s contests have awarded the bonsai making masters.
Transportation
Take bus No. 18 in downtown Jingzhou as far as the Bonsai Garden directly.
Food
Nine-yellow Cake (九黄饼) is a traditional famous snack in Jiangling having over a thousand years’ history. In the past, people liked to bring this kind of dry cake for hiking and traveling far. The Nine-yellow Cake gets its name from Chinese saying, “the chrysanthemums are in pretty yellow in the Ninth Month of Lunar Calendar”. The ingredients for making the cake are choicest and demanding in technique. The outer layer is made of quality wheat flour with sesames and sugar. It should be quite crispy. The stuffing includes rose, sugar-preserved gourd, walnut pieces and some sweet fruits. Bake in medium fire and make it dry. The Nine-yellow Cake is so sweet with heavy stuffing, long storing period and easy to carry.
Shopping
Jiangling lacquerworks
Jiangling lacquerwork has been well developed in history. Today’s lacquerworks are made according to the excavated relics in tombs from Chu State over 2,500 years ago. Hanging Drums by Dragon and Phoenix, A Giant Bird Standing on the Back of a Small Tiger, The Lying Deer and Fast Galloping Horse and so on are of great cultural value.
Feather fan and paper fan are Chinese traditional handicrafts made from feathers of wild bird and paper respectively. There are feather fans of vividly colored, in different shapes and some have scenery painted on. Paper fans are also painted with animal images and natural landscape. In addition to their aesthetic value, the fans can be used for cooling yourself during hot weather.
The Stele Garden
Posted by act2009 in Tourist Attractions on June 26th, 2009
The Jiangling Stele Garden (江陵碑苑, Jiang Ling Bei Yuan) was found in 1992, located in Jingzhou, Hubei Province. It was built under the financial support of the Taiwanese Jiangling Citizens’ Association. The whole garden maintained the traditional architecture of China’s stele parks that is combined the imposing verve and elegant simplicity. The Stele Garden consists of 18 buildings, the Front Hall, the Stele Hall and the Stele Pavilion, to name a few.
The garden collects about 300 steles by past masters and modern artists in China, Japan, Singapore and the US. The most eminent ones are elegant writings by the founding father of modern China, Dr. Sun Yat-sen and the Chairman Mao Zedong. There are also many calligraphic steles of different styles in Chinese characters by some notable historical figures and men of letters. The Stele Garden has almost all the existing styles and fonts in Chinese calligraphy, it is an ideal venue for calligraphy lovers to see, learn and cultivate your soul.
Longevity Garden
Posted by act2009 in Tourist Attractions on June 26th, 2009
The Longevity Pagoda in Longevity Garden
Longevity Garden is located at the Kwan-yin Water Rock from the Southern Song Dynasty in Jingjiang River Levee, Shashi, Jingzhou in Hubei Province. It is the state’s key protected cultural unit, combining the functions of cultural heritage sightseeing and Yangtze River’s flood prevention. The Longevity Pagoda inside the garden was built in 1552 during the Ming Dynasty for honoring and celebrating the birthday of Ming’s Jiajing Emperor. It is height about 40 meters with seven levels, 20 meters higher than the Jingjiang River Levee. During its 450 years’ history, the riverbed of the Jingjiang River has been elevating by 7 meters, the bank was also heightened, and therefore, the pagoda was immersed under the bank. The whole pagoda looks like a giant coming from the earth crust. By the side of the pagoda, it still has 87 Han jade Buddhist statues and 102 stone tablets. There are about 2,300 pieces of brick carved with bas-relief of animal and flower images, as well as characters in Han Chinese, Manchu, Tibetan, Mongolian and Hui languages.
Longevity Garden covers more than 16,000 square meters, and the overall architectural style is following that of Ming Dynasty. It consists of Reception Hall, Nine Dragons Wall, Long Corridor, Pavilion for Watching the River and Kwan-yin Kiosk and so on, with about 10,000 trees, including gingko, winter sweet, pomegranate and osmanthus etc.
Magnificent architecture from the Ming Dynasty
The Kwan-yin Water Rock is like a river dam in Jingjiang River. It prevent the flood water comes to the plain area in Jianghan (Hubei Province). Today, it left the historical height scores of Yangtze River’s water level in 1998 and the all time high in Jingjiang River in 1954. In memory of the serious flood of Yangtze River in 1998 and the braveness of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army in rescuing the masses, the Fighting Flood 1998 Pavilion is built near to The Kwan-yin Water Rock.
Zhangfei Temple
Posted by act2009 in Tourist Attractions on June 25th, 2009
Zhangfei Temple
Zhangfei Temple is located at the foot of Feifeng Mountain on the bank of Yangtze River in Yunyang County. It was built about 1,700 years ago in memory of Zhangfei, a famous general of Shu Kingdom in the Three Kingdoms Period.
A legend goes that his staffs in Langzhong area killed Zhangfei. They kept his chopped-off head in order to surrender themselves to Wu Kingdom. On their way, they suddenly heard the information of pacification between Shu Kingdom and Wu Kingdom. They are so scared that they plunged Zhangfei’s chopped-off head into the Yangtze River. A fisherman found Zhangfei’s head and buried it at the foot of Feifeng Mountain. Also, locals also built a temple in memory of him. Thus, there is a saying that Zhangfei’s head in Yunyang County but body in Langzhong area.
Zhangfei Temple's square
This temple is a big building with many rooms and halls. The most attractive part of Zhangfei Temple is its characteristics in collection and exhibition of Chinese calligraphy works created by many famous celebrities. In other words, it is a calligraphy museum focusing on the beauty around Yangtze River landscape. The famous historic men include, Huang Tingjian, Su Dongpo, Wang Xizhi, Mao Zedong, Yan Zhenqing, Zheng Banqiao and many others. It deserves to take a long time to visit if you are interested in calligraphy and inscription.
Zhangfei Temple is with traditional buildings with typical Chinese architectural style on the highland are most attractive among natural scenery. If you onboard a ferry, it will be much nearer to it. There is no automobile. On the way to Zhangfei Temple, there are all the traditional civil residences and the local sculptures. The tranquility and silence will make you forget the crowdedness and dysphoria of urban life. All traditional stuffs around this area are indeed beneficial for you to feel the ancient life and imagine the ancestors’ living environment.
Fengdu – China Ghost City
Posted by act2009 in Tourist Attractions on June 23rd, 2009
Located on the northern bank of Yangtze River’s upper reaches in Chongqing Municipality, Fengdu (in Chinese called 酆都 before 1949 and now 丰都) is a city made famous by the ancient legends of sinister spirits and terrible ghosts that are the essential ingredients in traditional Chinese culture. Of course, human beings fabricated those ghost legends and the hellish atmosphere is man made too. Therefore, Fengdu is China’s ghost city.
By human’s imagination, the Chinese built the Hell Emperor Hall, the Gate of Hell, the Realms of Life and Death, the Eighteen Levels of Hell and so on according to some earthly laws that punish people who have done evils. In the hellish scenes, the gestures and expressions of the ghost figures are very strange, fierce and even horrible. Also, the tools for hell punishment are so terrible. One has the feeling of fear in seeing these stuffs. This is the hell scenery of Fengdu city. When you enter the city through the great gate, you will see the Bridge of Life and Death, which is the must-go passage that people will return to earth from hell. Arriving at the lower mountainside, seeing an ancient house, with three giant Chinese characters – “鬼门关” (The Gate of Hell) in bloody-red-like color background of a plaque. Tianzi Temple on mountaintop is the largest temple there.
Moreover, the Palace of the Ghostly Nation and the Hellish Street in the downtown are all concerning the old stories of ghosts. Traditionally, Chinese think that after people passing away, their souls must visit Fengdu. They are to be judged by the Hell Emperor whether they are good or evil and he will decide where will be the proper place of transmigration for them. If people have done evil during their lifetime, after their death, they will be tortured in hell, and then their appearances will become so terrible. The sinister spirits will come out at night and they will scare the people who did wrong in the daytime.
Don’t be afraid. Apart from the sinister scenes in Fengdu County, it still has beautiful scenery, good-listening sound of flowing streams, brilliantly colored flowers at mountainside and birds’ flying. From Third to Fifteenth Days of the Third Month of Lunar Calendar every year, a temple fair is held. It is rich in ethnic cultural characters and beneficial to local businesses. The fair also adds joyful atmosphere to sinister face!
The Hometown of Wang Zhaojun
Posted by act2009 in Tourist Attractions on June 22nd, 2009
The statue of national heroine, Wang Zhaojun
There are two steles from the Qing Dynasty (1644 – 1911) in Zigui County, Yichang, one is for Quyuan (屈原), and the other is Wang Zhaojun (王昭君). Actually, Wang Zhaojun’s hometown is located in Xingshan County. There are many sites such as Zhaojun House, dressers and so on. There are 16 steps on the way to dressers. It means Wang Zhaojun had been lived in her hometown for 16 years.
Wang Zhaojun was born in 52 BC and one of the ancient 4 great beauties in China (alongside with Xi Shi, Diao Chan and Yang Gui Fei the concubine). She knew much about playing musical instruments, playing chess, traditional calligraphy and painting when she was very young. She contributed herself to the barbaric and invading Hun for peace and China’s national development. The Hun emperor selected her to be the maid of honor by for her beauty and versatility. It is said that the emperor used to select beauty among those young girls in the royal court by looking of the paintings; hence at that time the imperial painters were bribed by those girls except such an honest lady servant, Wang Zhaojun, and then one of painters, Mao Yanshou, deliberately uglified her and caused her to lose favoritism. In 33 BC, emperor of Hun wanted to marry a girl from the Han Dynasty, and Wang Zhaojun volunteered to be that bride. Before Wang Zhaojun left the capital, the emperor found she was so beautiful and he wanted to change his mind, but he had made decision. The emperor was so angry and he killed the painter. In fact, Wang Zhaojun has been regarded the national heroine in Chinese history.
Chibi, Yangtze River tours
Posted by act2009 in Tourist Attractions on June 19th, 2009
The Red Cliff
Chibi (赤壁, literally the Red Cliff) is located in the southeast of Hubei Province and on the south bank of Yangtze River, 36 kilometers to northwest of Chibi city. Chibi is the famous ancient battlefield, where the historic Chibi Battle happened. Between summer and winter of 208 AD, the cooperation of Liu Bei (刘备) on behalf of Shu Kingdom and Sun Quan (孙权) of Wu Kingdom, defeated the northern power, Cao Cao (曹操) of Wei State, with less army than Cao Cao used. The handsome, young and versatile General Zhou Yu (周瑜), born in Lujiang County, Anhui Province, was a historic character in China’s history. He was good at music, tactics, kongfu and writing when he had been the youngest first-rank general in Wu Kingdom with high reputation and respect from government and public, and his wife, Xiao Qiao, was also the most beautiful woman at that time of Wu Kingdom, conducted this great and significant battle and stabilized the basic structure of Three-Kingdom condition.
Chibi is comprised of three hills – Chibi, Nanping (南屏山) and Jinluan Hills (金鸾山). The greenery on the hills and the towers, pavilions and kiosk surrounded by trees give Chibi magnificent beauty. Nowadays, there is a Zhou Yu’s large marble sculpture, and two Chinese characters “Chibi” in red color on the steep cliff were still predominate and they are the best attractions in this site. It is said that Zhou Yu wrote it excitedly and happily when he saw his army burnt the warships of northern power were and the reddish light of fire emitted. It may not be dependable, but we indeed could feel the grandeur and magnificence from these two regular red characters.
Chibi scenery during a Yangtze cruise
Chibi Hill’s southwest is facing the Yangtze River, its slanted cliff is height about 300 meters, with odd and rugged stones, to which the pounding waves of the river hit with thundering sounds. Alongside the two giant Chinese characters “赤壁”, there are the rock-carving figures of Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, the most mysterious man with endless wisdom, he was able to predict the future, and could chat directly with god), Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei. You may see some stone tablets of Chinese calligraphy as well. On the top of the Chibi Hill, sees the Yijiang Kiosk (Wings over the River). It is said the during the Chibi Battle, Zhuge Liang and Zhou Yu watched the Cao Cao’s forces on the opposite side of Yangtze River on the hill. However, the kiosk we see today was built in later times.
There is the Baifeng Kiosk on the Nanping Hill. It is said that legendary Zhuge Liang “borrowed” the east-wind from the heaven on Seven-star Platform in this hill. A Buddhist convent was on the mountainside of Jinluan Hill but the one we see today is a rebuilt version in 1846. The architectural style gives the atmosphere of grandeur and solemn. It was the former residence of Pang Tong (庞统), who was one of the brains that serves Liu Bei of Shu Kingdom.
Shibao Stockade Village
Posted by act2009 in Tourist Attractions on June 17th, 2009
Magnificent architecture
Shibao Stockade Village (石宝寨) is one of China AAAA scenic areas and one of the state’s cultural protection units, located in Yuyin Mountain of northern bank of Yangtze River in Zhong County (忠县), 278 kilometers apart from downtown Chongqing. It stands out as a high hill that looks like a blunt sword extending up on the flat ground. It is said that in ancient times Nv Wa (女娲), who was the creator of human beings, resided here to make colorful stones by casting fairy spells to repair the broken sky. She left a piece of rock. Locals regarded this was the treasure stone, so Shibao meant treasure stone.
It has a tower with 12 floors, of which the top three levels were added in 1956. The tower is made of wood with a height of 56 meters. Its architectural style and surroundings make it looks like a heavenly building. Hence, it is taken as one of world’s eight architectural miracles.
The village was built in the Ming Dynasty about 400 years ago. Tan Hong’s Uprising (谭宏起义) in late Ming Dynasty took this as their base. Therefore, the name of Shibao came from this. Shibao tower is one of several high wooden buildings left in China nowadays; also, a typical and symbolic building characterizes China’s southern folk architectural techniques. In 1979, the village was opened to tourists for sightseeing purposes. Climb to the top of the Shibao tower and command the panoramic view of the majestic Yangtze River will be an overwhelming travel experience.
Great view of the majestic Yangtze River
During the climbing, you will see stone carvings, painted images and poem inscriptions, all about ancient Buddhist religion. On the top, 1,200 square meters of area and 230 meters above sea level, you may feel like you are in a paradise. Just see the clear sky above and you will forget what you are.
The ancient temple carved the images of Nv Wa repairing the sky story. In the backyard of the temple, a large piece of stone with a hole which size looks like a common cup. It is said that after building the Buddhist temple, the stone hole would flow out some amount of rice, which was for daily meals of monks resided in the temple. It was also called the stone of treasure. However, some greedy monks made the hole bigger by digging. The Buddha punished them and the hole was no longer to provide rice. Therefore, greedy is an evil.
The Dazu Rock Carvings
Posted by act2009 in Tourist Attractions on June 16th, 2009
The Dazu Rock Carvings
The Dazu Rock Carvings (大足石刻, Da Zu Shi Ke in Chinese), mostly about ancient Buddhist stories, were first built in 650 AD in the Tang Dynasty (618 – 907) and to the Ming Dynasty (1368 – 1644) and the Qing Dynasty (1644 – 1911). They are the best examples in traditional Chinese rock carvings. Located in Beishan Mountain (北山, literally the North Hill), 1.5 kilometers to the north of Dazu County in Chongqing Municipality, the mountain has a 300 meters long line of stone carving images. It is the main part of the Dazu Rock Carvings – listed in UNESCO’s World Heritage and one of China’s key cultural protection units. Today, we can find over 4,600 Buddhist stone statues, among which there are 264 in Buddhist grottos, 1 mural and 8 sutra buildings. Dazu Rock Carvings is as famous as the Dunhuang Mogao Grotto in northwest China.
The Six Realms of Reincarnations in Buddhism
The rock carvings, Chinese characters of inscriptions and epigraphs collection in Beishan, Baodingshan, Nanshan, Shimenshan and Shizhuanshan here in Dazu County are of the highest artistic attainment and demonstrate the most exquisite skills. Taoist and the Confucian stone figures can also be seen. Therefore, the Dazu has been reputed as the “county of rock carving” and it covers a history of 1,230 years since it came into existence in 758 AD during the Tang Dynasty.
Admission: A joint ticket is 120 RMB, 80 RMB and 60 RMB for Baodingshan and Beishan areas respectively, and 5 RMB for either Nanshan or Shimenshan. Free for students during May Day and National Day holidays, half price for any other time of the year.
Buddhist image
Transportation: From Chongqing, you can take bus that as far as Dazu County, fare about 40 RMB. It is cost much higher when you start at Chengdu (about 100 RMB). When you arrive at Dazu County you can walk or take a taxi to Beishan Rock Carvings. In Dazu County, mini-bus is available in downtown Dazu County that as far as Baodingshan, for just 3 RMB.
Food: Pork Pieces with Eggplants and Sichuan Style Stew Pork are best dishes for travelers to taste local cuisine. Strong, spicy flavor may not be suitable for everyone, but you can try a little bit. You just have to spend 2 or 3 RMB only to sample some spicy snacks.
Gezhouba Water Conservancy Project
Posted by act2009 in Tourist Attractions on June 4th, 2009
- Gezhouba Water Conservancy Project
Gezhouba Water Conservancy Project is the experimental dam of the Three Gorges Dam, located in Yichang, Hubei Province, 38 kilometers away from the dam. When the Yangtze River goes through the Nanjin Pass, the river suddenly becomes a lot broader, widening from 300 meters to 2,200 meters. At a cost of 4.9 billion RMB, this project started in 1970 and finished in 1988. 2,606 meters long and 53 meters high, the dam divided Yangtze River into three parts, which are respectively called Da Jiang (1st River), Er Jiang (2nd River) and San Jiang (3rd River) in a south to north order. It has two hydroelectric power stations, three navigation locks, and several sluice gates some of which are used for collecting water in dry seasons. At the first sight of this huge project, people will surely be astonished at its size and the majestic waterfall pouring from water gates.
Some say that this project not only benefits the country and the people as a whole, but is also a feast to eye and imagination. There is a total storage capacity of 1.58 billion cubic meters, and a maximum discharging capability of 110,000 cubic meters per second. Since 1981, it has survived two severe floods. The two power stations generate 15.7 billion kw/h each year serving Shanghai, Henan Province, Hunan Province, and Wuhan city etc. The three ship locks, each has a chamber 280 meters long, 34 meters wide and five meters deep, make it possible for 10,000-ton passenger or cargo ships to pass through. In recent years, this project has become a popular sightseeing spot with the construction of the Three Gorges Dam Project. Standing near the sluices, people will be amazed at this manmade wonder.
Admission Fee: 10 RMB
Bus Route: Nos. 3 and 9
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