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| Hello, China! > Wuxi |
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Wuxi
October-November 2008
The city of Wuxi is situated on the northern shore of the lake Taihu, in 126 km from Shanghai, in 50 minutes by a CRH electric train. It took me quite a long time to decide to which of the nearest to Shanghai cities go - Hangzhou, Suzhou or somewhere else. Quite by chance I learned about the city of Wuxi and a giant Buddha mounted not far from it. Keeping in mind my complete itinerary around China I decided to choose Wuxi for visiting.
Wuxi turned out to be a larger and more developed city than I imagined. No wonder it is called «little Shanghai».
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Xihui Park, Huishan Temple, Jichang Garden
From any point in Wuxi you can see the Huishan hill, in the eastern part of which the Xihui park is located and on its territory — Jichang Garden and Huishan Temple. The park is situated not far from the hotel Wuxi Ramada Encore in which I stayed, and therefore, I decided to walk there.
In the park itself I failed to find a cable railway, and it so happened that I climbed the top of the hill along a forest path. Local people seem to like that park: all paths and glades are filled with holidaymakers, but with this all cabins of the cable railway go up and down empty.
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Huishan ancient street
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Near to the park Xihui the «old» quarter Huishan is under construction. I think it will become a pretty place for walks.
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The Grand Buddha at Ling Shan
Buddha on the hill Ling Shan is situated in 25 km from Wuxi on the shore of the lake Taihu. One can get to majestic Buddha from Wuxi from the bus terminal which is near the railway station, by buses No.88 and No.91. Or you can get there by taxi, by the meter it is 100 yuans ($15 USD). The entrance fee is more than in any other tourist spots of China — 103 yuans! Under Buddha there is a beautiful hall of 10 thousand Buddhas and a great number of small souvenir shops.
Official site: http://www.lingshan.org
First video (in the bottom) — washing of little Buddha in the fountain of 9 Dragons.
video 1
In this, second video, tourists touch the feet of 88 meter 700 tons bronze Buddha.
video 2
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The Grand Canal of China in Wuxi
The Grand Canal of China, the oldest among presently active, is passing through the city of Wuxi. Construction of the Canal between the rivers Huai and Yangtze started in 486 B.C. by the order of prince of the city Wu (modern Suzhou) for military and trade purposes. The Canal was named Han Gou.
Further development of the Canal continued after hundreds of years, at the time of rule of the Sui dynasty (581 — 618 A.D.). 5 million people used to work at that great construction. In 604 — 609 two portions of the Canal that joined the cities of Luoyang and Yangzhou, were handed over.
Later, other parts of the Canal were completed, rebuilt and destroyed during wars and floods. After invention of sluices they started to be built in the Canal. One fine day the Canal joined Hangzhou and Beijing, with this its length was 1782 km.
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Wuxi Ramada Encore hotel
I liked everything about the Wuxi Ramada Encore hotel. Fair price — 258 yuans, cosy room, convenient location, free internet, there is something for a breakfast, including for vegetarians. If you are lazy or do not have time to go to the railway station, the hotel employees will get you a train ticket without any problems.
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All pictures on one page:
Beijing - The Great Wall of China - Kaifeng - Wuxi - Shanghai - Nanjing - Jinan
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© Rem Sapozhnikov, 2008 - <e-mail> |
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