Zhouzhuang and Suzhou Tour 13th-15th July, 2018 ~,___ - - .,.• SuzhouNanjing i....- -.,. Zhouzhuang “Suzhou: One of the 35 beautiful cities in the world you must see in your lifetime.” —The Telegraph, 1 May, 2018 Celebrating 15 Years of the UN China Study Programme 1 Itinerary Friday, 13th July 1:00 pm: Depart from Nanjing U on tour bus for Zhouzhuang 4:30 pm: Arrive in Zhouzhuang and check in the water-side hotel 5:30 pm: Dinner at hotel 7:00 pm: Show/Performance "Zhouzhuang in Four Seasons" Saturday, 14th July 7:00 am: Breakfast at hotel 8:30-11:30 am: Tour Zhouzhuang, the Water Town 12:30 pm: Depart for Suzhou 2:00 pm: Arrive in Suzhou and visit the Humble Administrator’s Garden 5:00 pm: Dinner 7:00 pm: Cruise on the Grand Canal Sunday, 15th July 7:00 am Breakfast at hotel 8:30 am Tour Pingjiang Old Street 11:00 am Visit Suzhou High School and lunch at School 1:00 pm Depart for Suzhou Industrial Park with a stop at the Christian Church by the Dushu Lake 4:30 pm Return to Nanjing *Tour details are subject to change depending on local conditions. 2 PartⅠⅠⅠ: Zhouzhuang Zhouzhuang, one of the most famous water-towns in China, is situated in Kunshan City, 30 km southeast of Suzhou. It is noted for its profound cultural background, well-preserved ancient residential houses, elegant waters and traditional lifestyle with a strong local flavor. In the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 B.C.), Zhouzhuang was a part of the fief Yaocheng, called Zhenfengli. Zhouzhuang got its present name in 1086 during the Northern Song Dynasty, in the memory of Zhou Digong, a very devout Buddhist, who donated this piece of land to the Quanfu (Full Fortune) Temple. The town covers an area of 3600 hectares. About 60 percent of its residential houses were built during the Ming and Qing dynasties. With lakes on four sides, the beauty of Zhouzhuang is specially to be found along the waterside lanes and around a number of the stone bridges. A different vista at every turn can be found here. All those make a visit most enjoyable. Also, one can enjoy the fairyland atmosphere of the evenings here when the myriad stars twinkle as though in communication with the glittering lights. ··;,· ) ' l ' I I. ·i I i~' ~ -..._, ,;,, ... '' - . .._.. ~.-.,-~i!!~.1-~-..,. r.,.. -• ' -,r< - I /I I - -I_ .''- t_ ,~1' I.,,~~:,""" ~ ,.l ,.. I ' L 1, . , ,r. ,..__ I 3 Accommodation: Shui Zhi Yun Hotel Shui Zhi Yun Hotel is located in Zhouzhuang, covering an area of about 60 mu (roughly 40,000 square meters) and a floor area of over 30,000 square meters. The outside of the hotel is built in a local antique architectural style and inside there are comfortable modern living rooms, clean and tidy. The hotel integrates guestrooms, dining halls, a recreation center and a fitness center and office rooms. It adheres to the purpose of “guests supremacy, service first”. Scenic Spots in Zhouzhuang Shuangqiao (Twin Bridges) Twin Bridges, or the Shide Bridge and Yongan Bridge, in the northeast of the town, are the most famous and have been considered as the symbol of Zhouzhuang. The bridges were built during the Wanli reign (1573-1619) of the Ming Dynasty. Shide Bridge lies east-west and has a round arch, while Yongan Bridge goes north-south and has a square arch. Joining each other after crossing the two rivers, Yinzi Creek and Nabeishi River, respectively, the Twin Bridges look like an old-fashioned Chinese key. In 1984, Chen Yifei, a promising contemporary Chinese painter, exhibited 38 of his canvases in a New York gallery owned by Armand Hammer, chairman of the Occidental Petroleum Corporation. One of his works, 4 Memory of Hometown, which depicts the Twin Bridges, drew worldwide attention to Zhouzhuang. The painting was chosen as the design of the first-day cover of the United Nations’ postage stamps in 1985. Fu’an Bridge Located at the eastern end of Zhongshi Street, Fu’an Bridge was built in 1355 during the Yuan Dynasty. The unique trait of the bridge is the consummate combination of the single-arch bridge and the bridge towers used as tearooms, restaurants and stores, as well as a venue to appreciate the water views. The Zhang House The Zhang House was built by Xu family in the Zhengtong reign (1436 - 1449) of the Ming Dynasty and bought by the Zhang family in the early Qing Dynasty. Located to the south of the Twin Bridges, the Zhang House has more than 70 rooms in an area of about 1,800 square meters. The Ruojing River winding through it makes the Zhang House a dapper and graceful residential house with a tranquil courtyard, a pond and various halls. 5 The Shen House Located at the southeast side of Fuanqiao Bridge, the Shen House was built in 1742 as a private property of the descendants of Shen Wansan, the first millionaire in the area south of the Yangtze River in the early Qing Dynasty. The whole complex is of the Qing architectural style. It occupies an area of more than 2,000 square meters and has over 100 rooms divided in three sections. The first section includes the water gate and wharf, where the Shens moored boats and washed clothes. The middle section includes the gate tower, the tearoom and the main hall. The bricks of the gate tower are carved with lively and ingenious figures, which either tell historic stories or express good wishes. The tearoom and main hall, where the owner met his guests, are very elegantly furnished. The last section, which consists of several buildings in a different style, is comfortably furnished. In Datang Tower, a colored sculpture of the legendary Shen Wansan is displayed, while precious cultural relics collected by the family are exhibited in Xiaotang Tower and Back Hall. Milou Tower Once called the Des' Tavern, Milou Tower perches next to Zhenfeng Bridge situated at 6 the southwest corner of Zhouzhuang. It is famous for being a rallying place of the literati in old times. Numerous poems, songs and stories about Milou Tower have been widely spread in the country. Chengxu Taoist Temple Standing on Zhongshi Street, on the opposite of the Puqing Bridge, Chengxu Taoist Temple, also known as Shengtang Hall, was built during 1086-1093 of the Song Dynasty. After several expansions, it became one of the most famous Taoist temples in the Yangtze River Delta. In an area of 1,500 square meters, there are masterpiece Taoist architectures in simple but majestic style, including the Shengdi and Doumu halls, and the pavilions of Yuhuang, Wenchang and Shengdi. Cultural Resources in Zhouzhuang Grandma Tea People of Zhouzhuang have a way of drinking tea. They use ancient tea sets, boil water in 7 pottery or earthen jars, and have bamboo slices or branches as fuel. Several minutes after washing the tea, they pour on it boiled water. By such means, the tea, beautiful in color, is both fragrant and tasteful. It was named Grandmother Tea because people used to see groups of old women sitting together and drinking tea leisurely. Bambooware and Bronze Braziers Bamboo wares A bronze brazier Bamboo wares and bronze braziers have also won enormous acclaim for Zhouzhuang. The durable bamboo-ware is known far and wide for its fine workmanship, while the exquisite bronze braziers of many shapes once won a prize in the South Pacific Industrial Expo and the reputation of “Zhouzhuang Braziers”. Local Customs in Zhouzhuang Fast Boating Fast boating goes far back to the Qing dynasty, originally started to raise the morale of soldiers. Later on, people held races on holidays, in weddings, and during the time of harvests. At present, travel boats are provided for tourists to do sightseeing around. 8 PartⅡⅡⅡ:Ⅱ: Suzhou With tremendous historical heritages, nature beauties and cultural treasures, Suzhou has been called the paradise on earth, the capital of scholars, the capital of the silk, and the city of gardens in China. Its gardens are on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites, and are generally renowned as masterpieces of the genre of classic Chinese garden design. UNESCO says: “Dating from the 11th-19th century, the gardens reflects the profound metaphysical importance of natural beauty in Chinese culture in their meticulous design.” The city's extensive network of canals is still a vital link for local transportation, truly making Suzhou the “Venice of the East”. The name Suzhou in particular brings to mind the notion of “a magic land heavenly bestowed with wealth and talent”. Thus, it is also wondrous to note how productive the land has been in turning out the finest scholars for China. The sheer number is stunning, mind-boggling—over half of the Qing Empire’s “Zhuangyuan” ( 状 元 ), or number-one imperial scholars, were from this city and its vicinity throughout the entire Qing dynasty. Retired scholars brought back wealth, as well as refined style and cultivated taste. And they had a particular passion for gardens. Suzhou is now the most exquisite garden city in China, noted for its unique layout, intertwined with waterways, stone bridges and private gardens. Humble Administrator’s Garden 9 The Humble Administrator’s Garden, covering about 52,000 square meters (12.85 acres), is the largest and most renowned garden in Suzhou. It is listed as a World Cultural Heritage site and has also been designated as one of the Cultural Relics of National Importance under the Protection of the State. Built in 1509 during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the Humble Administrator’s Garden was initially a private garden of a former government servant named Wang Xianchen.