With 2022 incoming, so too comes some good news that six top tourist attractions in Jiangsu Province shall open their gates for free. Spread across the Province, our own Nanjing gets one; famous for its dragon boat racing and with quite a history to tell.
They’re calling it a “pilot”. In China, that generally means “permanent”. Where one meets the other is moot. But anyway, offering free admission at six top Jiangsu tourist attractions makes sense, given that authorities would rather we don’t leave the province.
So it’s a kind of a consolation prize. But not one to be sniffed at. For many of the attractions are rated 4A by the China National Tourist Attractions Quality Evaluation Committee. That’s just one A short of top marks, and there are not so many of those. Indeed, Nanjing has only two; Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum and Confucius Temple.
Back to the new freebies. Firstly, as The Paper reported yesterday, 21 December, Suzhou gets two scenic spots which will waive entry fees as the new year dawns. An 800-year-old square tower is the star attraction in Fang Tower Park (常熟方塔园) in Changshu City of Suzhou. Built during the Southern Song Dynasty, the tower is complimented by an impressive bonsai collection. The park received 4A tourist attraction status in 2007.
Also in Changshu is the Zeng Garden (常熟曾园), dating from the late Qing Dynasty. The Garden is well known for the Yushan and Xinfeng Pavilions, the reflections of which can be seen from every single part of the Garden.
Next up, the Rugao Water Painting Garden (南通如皋水绘园), another 4A tourist attraction in Nantong City. The Garden dates back to the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, making it over 400 years old. At over a quarter of a million square metres in area, it’s a unique representative of garden architecture in China’s Jiangnan region.
Up north in Xuzhou is the Horse Stage (徐州戏马台), built for Xiang Yu, known as “Overlord of Western Chu”, so that he may enjoy performances by horses. Xiang was the Hegemon-King of Western Chu during the Chu–Han Contention period, between 206 and 202 B.C.E.
Then over in Taizhou, we can soon enjoy free entry to the Qiao Garden (泰州乔园). A private garden built during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty and later owned by the local salt commissioner, the Qiao Garden is regarded as the oldest classical garden in Jiangsu north of the Yangtze. Former Chinese President, Hu Jintao, played here as a young boy.
And finally, our very own Nanjing. Mochou Lake (莫愁湖) offers a soothing-lake view and classical Chinese pavilions. But it is also where romantic legends join forces in this watery complex. The park and lake were named after a legendary female figure; Mochou (meaning “do not worry”), while there exists differing stories behind the myth. In one, the Liang Dynasty widow is said to have committed suicide in this lake to resist an undesirable marriage offer. In another, she turned herself into the lake in order to flow to the Yangtze and ultimately join her husband fighting a war in distant parts. A two-metre tall white marble statue was erected in the park to commemorate this steadfast lady. Mochou Lake got its rating as a 4A tourist attraction in December, 2019.
So if you’re looking for something to do during the last few days of the school holidays, head off to enjoy Nanjing’s beautiful Mochou Lake for free. But with 1 thru 3 January also a local holiday, just know that you will not be alone…
