Jiangsu Get in touch with the poetic Jiangnan Location of Jiangsu In the old days, Jiangnan was a prosperous place to which many people aspired. It was also a gathering place for many talented literati, who enjoyed the beautiful sceneries of water towns and classical gardens in a poetic life. Today, visiting Jiangsu is a way to get a glimpse of the ancient Jiangnan. Nanjing was once the provincial capital of Jiangnan, the “Jiangnan Gongyuan” which located in Fuzimiao was the site of ancient imperial examinations, where literary scholars from all over the region gathered; whereas Suzhou, known as the “Venice of the East”, is a charming place to experience the beauty of the ancient Jiangnan water town. What’s hot Zijin Shan Zijin Shan, also known as Zhongshan and Purple Mountain, is the highest mountain in Nanjing. It is one of the four most famous mountains in Jiangnan. There are three major scenic spots on the mountain from west to east: Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum, the Ming Tomb and Linggu Scenic Area, of which the first two are the must-visit attractions in Nanjing. Various dynasties and aspects of culture can be found on the mountain, such as the Six Dynasties, Ming Dynasty, Republic of China, city and forest, ecological leisure and Buddhism. Many aristocrats, heroes and literati have deep connections with this mountain. 2 Sifangcheng, Xuanwu District, Nanjing City, Jiangsu Province, China Take Nanjing Metro Line 2 and get off at Muxuyuan Station, then transfer to the scenic tour bus and walk to Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum or the Ming Tomb Scenic Area. +86 400 9288 312, +86 25 8576 9157/9051 All day 100RMB (package for all scenic areas), please refer to webpage for other fares zschina.org.cn Imperial Examination Museum of China & Fuzimiao In ancient times, the easiest way for poor literary scholars to achieve social advancement was to study hard and take the imperial examinations. China’s imperial examination system has a history of about 1,300 years, one can feel the strong literary and educational spirit at the Imperial Examination Museum of China (formerly Jiangnan Gongyuan) located in Fuzimiao (Confucius Temple). Fuzimiao was the first national university in China and a cultural hub in ancient China, while Jiangnan Gongyuan was the largest imperial examination hall, accommodating more than 20,000 candidates at its peak. Imperial Examination Museum of China 1 Jiling Road, Qinhuai District, Nanjing City, Jiangsu Province, China Take Nanjing Metro Line 2 and get off at Pingjiangfului Station (Exit 2), or Line 1 and get off at Sanshanjie Station. 9am-10pm, daily 50RMB njiemuseum.com Fuzimiao 152 Gongyuan Street, Qinhuai District, Nanjing City, Jiangsu Province, China Take Nanjing Metro Line 1 and get off at Sanshanjie Station. All day Free Yuejiang Tower Yuejiang Tower is one of the four famous buildings of Jiangnan, it was designed in the Ming Dynasty but was only completed in 2001. Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, built the tower to commemorate the Battle of Lion Mountain. In addition to building a foundation on the Lion Mountain, he ordered his court’s scholar-officials to write many literary works about the tower. However, Zhu Yuanzhang stopped the construction for various reasons. In 1997, the Nanjing Municipal Government decided to continue the construction which had been halted for nearly 1,000 years to give the tower its full appearance. 202 Jianning Road, Gulou District, Nanjing City, Jiangsu Province, China Take bus no. 10 at Nanjing Railway Station and get off at Daqiaofandian Stop. +86 25-5859 0255/0298 7:30am-5:30pm, daily 40RMB Hanshan Temple The Hanshan Temple is one of China’s ten most famous temples, with a thousand-year history and numerous historical relics. It is a temple that demonstrates the influence of classical Chinese literature. The temple is famous for a poem “A Night Mooring by Maple Bridge” which was written by Zhang Ji, a poet of the Tang Dynasty. This poem is a must-read for Malaysian Chinese who study Chinese language. There are 12 scenic spots in Hanshan Temple, among which the “thousand-year bell” refers to the bell heard from the passenger ship in the poem. 24 Hanshansi Alley, Fengqiao Road, Gusu District, Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province, China Take bus no. 30, 44, 300, 307, 406, 622 or 816 and get off at Heshanqiao Stop. +86 512 6533 6634/6723 6213 7:30am-5:30pm, daily 20RMB (Entrance fee for Dec 31 is 380RMB) hanshansi.org Shantang Street Located in the northwest of the Suzhou Old Town, Shantang Street has a history of about 1,200 years and is representative of Suzhou’s streets and lanes. One side of the street is connected to the Chang Gate, a place of wealth and elegance portrayed by Cao Xueqin in his novel “Dream of the Red Chamber”, while the other side leads to Huqiu (Tiger Hill), the most famous scenic spot in ancient Wuzhong. Song Dynasty Literati Su Dongpo once said, “it is a pity that you do not visit Huqiu when you are in Suzhou”. Therefore, it is highly recommended to walk from Shantang Street all the way to Huqiu to have no regrets. 178 Shantang Street, Gusu District, Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province, China Take Suzhou Metro Line 2 and get off at Shantangjie Station. +86 512 6531 4467 8:30am-8:30pm, daily Free entrance, ticket for boat trip 50RMB shantangjie.com.cn Humble Administrator’s Garden As one of the four major gardens in China, the Humble Administrator’s Garden is the top garden in Suzhou, a city of gardens. In 1997, the Humble Administrator’s Garden was designated as a World Cultural Heritage Site. It is divided into three parts: the East Park which is a large area with few buildings, the Central Park which is the essence of the garden, and the West Park which is beautifully built with its own distinct characteristics. The southern part of the garden is a residential area with the Suzhou Garden Museum. In summer, the Humble Administrator’s Garden blooms with the lotus flowers, and there is light show at night. 178 Dongbei Street, Gusu District, Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province, China Take bus no. 40 or 313 and get off at Beiyuanlu Stop. +86 512 962 015 7:30am-5:30pm (Mar-Nov 15), 7:30am-5pm (Nov 16-Feb) 80RMB(Apr-May, Jul-Oct), 70RMB (Jan-Mar, Nov-Dec) www.szzzy.cn What to eat Nanjing Salted Duck Nanjing people love duck, so there are many different ways to prepare duck, among which Salted Duck is the most famous. Salted Duck is one of the representatives of Jinling cuisine, it has white and tender skin, fatty but not greasy, light but with a little salty. Salted Duck that made around mid-autumn when the osmanthus flowers are in full bloom has the best colour and fragrance, which is known as the “Osmanthus Duck”. Qinhuai Bajue Jinling snacks have been handed down from the Six Dynasties period to the present day, with more than 80 varieties. The term “Qinhuai Bajue” refers to the eight most distinctive snacks of Nanjing (Jinling) with a Qinhuai flavour. The eight snacks made by seven snack shops in the Fuzimiao area are known for their fine craftsmanship, beautiful shape, exquisite selection of materials and unique flavour. Crab Roe Soup Dumpling Crab Roe Soup Dumpling (“Xiehuang Tangbao”) is a type of dumpling with meat, crab roe, crab meat and original chicken soup as the main stuffing. The main ingredients include live hairy crab, hen, high gluten flour, etc. Diners are recommended to inhale the soup from the dumpling with a straw before eating the skin. Halal Crab Roe Soup Dumpling with beef filling can also be found in Nanjing. Subang Cuisine Subang Cuisine is focusing on maintaining original flavours, fine fancy colours, seasonal freshness, moderate sweetness and saltiness, and crispness. The brightly coloured and moderately sweet “Songshu Jueyu” (Squirrel Fish) is the representative of Subang Cuisine, while the “Taihu Sanbai” (white fish, silver fish and white prawn) and Steamed Hairy Crab showcase the original flavour. Where to go By train/ subway By taxi By bus On foot Day 1 Zijin Shan Lunch: Nanjing Salted Duck TIP Zhanyuan Garden 01 Imperial Examination Museum of China & Fuzimiao TIP Night Tour of Qinhuai River 02 TIP Zhanyuan Garden is the only royal residence of 01 Ming Dynasty that open for public in Nanjing. It houses China’s only museum dedicated to the history of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, many films and TV dramas have been filmed here. TIP When visiting the Qinhuai River, it is 02 recommended to take a night boat trip to enjoy the view of ancient buildings on both sides of the river and the beauty of the light reflecting on them. Day 2 Breakfast: Crab Roe Soup Dumpling TIP Taiping Old Street 03 Shantang Street Humble Administrator’s Garden Dinner: Subang Cuisine TIP Night tour of Jinji Lake 04 TIP There are a number of attractions on Taiping Old 03 Street, such as the former residence of Wang Gao, a famous general in the Song Dynasty, and the granary monument. Don’t forget to have a bowl of delicious vegetarian noodles next to the Taiping Temple as lunch. TIP Take a night cruise on Jinji Lake to see both 04 the ancient and modern scenery of Gusu Water Town along the way. The 45-minute boat ride concludes with the dazzling musical fountain on Jinji Lake. Day 3 Hanshan Temple Nanjing TIP Lunch: Fried Beef Dumpling 05 TIP Snack: Osmanthus Tangyuan 06 Yuejiang Tower Airport TIP Halal Beef Soup and Fried Beef Dumpling of 05 Jiang Youji are the second delicacies of “Qinhuai Bajue”.