Lake Taihu is one of China’s five biggest fresh water lakes, and Wuxi,one of the cities around the lake, is referred to as a “Radiant-Pearl”on the lake.Wuxi boasts a dragon boat,2 imperial boats, a speed boat and many other pleasure boats which make Lake Taihu tour a most enjoyable one.

Wuxi is blessed with convenient transport and communications for travel. The Beijing-shanghai Raiway ,The ancient Grand Canal and a network of highways make the city easily accessible. Also available is the Wuxi airport, 20 kilometers away from the city center, which links the city with Beijing, Fuzhou, Fushan and Huiyang and other cities of tourist attraction throughout the country.

Nanjing is situated on the vast plain of the lower reaches of the Yangtse River and at 32°03′N, 118°47′E. It belongs to the northern subtropical monsoon climate zone where the four seasons are clearly demarcated, the annual mean temperature is 16¡æ, the annual even precipitation is 1,106 mm and the frost-free period is 237 days.At present, Nanjing has jurisdiction over 10 districts and 5 counties,covering an area of 6,516 square kilometres and having a population of about 5,200,000. Nowadays, Nanjing has developed into a multipleproducing industrial base in eastern China, an important hub of transportation and communication center, one of China’s four major scientific research and edu-cational central cities. The gross national products of the whole city in 1995 amount-ed to 58 billion yuan, a 12% increase over the previous year.

The name “Wu”,often applied to refer to Suzhou, derived from the local tribes who named themselves “Gou Wu” in the late Shang Dynasty about 11th century BC. Later,King Helu of Wu State in 514 BC built his capital here known as the “Great City of Helu”, and since then the city’s site and scale have remained virtually unchanged,making Suzhou a rare city of historical and cultural renown in the world.

Situated on 30. 47-32.02 degrees north latitude and 119.55-121.20 degrees east longitude and bordering on Shanghai in the east, Zhejiang Province in the south,Lake Taihu in the west and the Yangtze in the north,Suzhou enjoys a mild and humid climate and is easily accessible by water,land and air communications.

Talking about Suzhou,people would mention the old saying:”Paradise in Heaven,Suzhou and Hangzhou on earth.” Since there can be places elsewhere compared to paradise, the saying does not specify the things featuring Suzhou. Some say that the style of Suzhou lies in “softness”, like the tone of Wu dialect, which also sums up the character in feminine beauty, tenderness, serenity, subtlety and elegance.
The natural scenery of hills and waters in Suzhou is as charming as a delicate beauty. Of the whole area, 10 per cent is cultivated fields, 30 per cent hills, and the rest covered with water.
Streets and alleys in Suzhou extend side by side with canals. Small bridges and flowing waters, white walls and dark grey roof tiles match one another in tranquil elegance. As a poem describes, “On arriving in Suzhou you behold: Houses are all pillowed on water’s edge.” The gentle waters make the prominent urban scenery.
The poetic and picturesque Suzhou gardens are a typical demonstration of simple elegance,with intriguing scenes found in every season and in all weathers.

Endowed with abundant native produce,the rich and exquisite Suzhou cuisine sets a style of its own on this “land of plenty”.

The traditional performing arts of Suzhou are best represented by the Kunqu Opera, Suzhou Opera and Ballad singing ,reputed both in China and overseas for their minute acting and harmonic melody.

The folks here are honest,good-natured,friendly and hospitable-a tradition from times of yore.

As a major tourist city of wide reputation,Suzhou lives up to all the expectations in food,hotel accommodations, transport, sight-seeing, shopping and recreation.

A metropolis of industry and commerce in the south-eastern coast of China since ancient times, Suzhou has always been a hub for merchants,which as the Tang poet Bai Juyi described over a thousand years ago: “… has a population greater than Yangzhou Prefecture and more than half of the shops in Chang’an, the capital.” The Italian traveller Marco Polo praised Suzhou 600 years ago as a “noble and great city”. The classic novel “Dream of the Red Mansions” written 200 years ago sets the beginning of the story in Changmen, a prosperous area outside the city gate of Suzhou,depicted as a “prime social congregation of the rich and cultured.”

Today’s Suzhou is an open city with developed economy and frequent exchanges with the outside world. It has been officially declared part of “the coastal economic open zone of the Yangtze Delta “. Comprehensive industrial system has taken shape ,and there has been tremendous expansion in foreign trade and international economic co-operation. Currently, Suzhou has sister cities in Italy ,Canada, Japan and the United States.

Plate with polychrome design of phoenix and the eight Buddhist emblems (Qing Dynasty).

Celadon jar with modeled acrobatic figures and winged bird (Wu State of Three Kingdoms).

Primitive porcelain pot with eggs inside (Spring and Autumn Period).

Gilt silver tortoise carrying a candle-shaped tube with inscriptions of “The Analects of Confucius” (Tang Dynasty).

Chinese bronze wares are national and world treasures. Those from different regions each have their distinct characteristics. Zhenjiang bronze wares are small and, with their simple designs and patterns, refined. The museum’s phoenix patterned Zun (a kind of ancient wine vessel) is a national treasure. Its body is imposing and heavy, and the phoenix motif decorating the vessel adds vitality to its stately magnificence.

A bird-lidded cover hu (wine pot) with stylized animal mask design is another of the museum’s treasures. It is 49 cm tall, and its lid is fashioned in the form of a bird in flight, the intention being to attract the attention of the imbiber, and to give this heavy vessel a lighter aspect. It is said that there was still liquid in this vessel when it was unearthed, making it precious beyond measure.

A 5-piece Song Dynasty clay sculpture set depicts five boys. The sculpture was not glazed but subtly painted so as to emphasize the innocence, intelligence, and essential vitality of these children. One boy has fallen to the ground, but seems unworried. The second one lies prone, his rump proudly raised. The third looks to be acting as referee, as the fourth squats comfortably, and the fifth looks on with folded arms. Seals denoting the craftsmen’s name, place and time of production were clearly visible when these sculptures were unearthed, adding further to the set’s historical and cultural value.

The Zhenjiang Museum carries on regular exchange activities. It has held exhibitions in Beijing, such as the Zhenjiang Cultural Relics Exhibition, the Wu Culture Archaeological Discovery Exhibition, the Tang Dynasty Gold and Silver Wares Exhibition, the Zhenjiang Ancient Costume and Silk Exhibition, and the Ancient Yangtze River Treasure Exhibition.It has also been involved in exhibitions held in other cities in China and abroad, thus helping to promote China’s cultural exchanges with other countries.

Address:                      85, Boxian Road, Zhenjiang City, Jiangsu Province

Admission:                    10 Yuan

Daily opening hours:    8:30 — 12:00

13:30 – 17:00