苏州之虎丘

虎丘(HuQiu, Tiger Hill) is a garden like tourist spot at 苏州(SuZhou). It was made famous 2500yrs ago (yes, 500BC) for a burial of a king 吴王 at this region of ancient China during the warring states 春秋era. His son 吴王夫差 buried him with thousands of famous swords at the 剑池Sword Pond (see picture), including the famous 鱼肠剑(YuChang) Sword, according to legend. Many emperors since then trying to search for these treasure but without any luck. The tour guide did mention about the huge rock about size of a few modern day concert stage that we stand on next to the sword pond was the place where a feast for the labor/worker/craftman was held after the burial. And all these labors were slaugthered at this same spot after the feast...err...and that's why there are a few of the column like pillars at at four corners of this stage/rock to "control" or "protect" if you know what I meant. The characters on the stone walls dated from 明朝Ming dynasty (1400+ AD) and some even older.

The hill mentioned, is actually 30m tall. Per geological information, this place was originally under the sea and it surfaced from sea level, that the reason it was also name 海涌山(Hai Yong Shan, "hill came out from sea"), as labeled at the banner/signboard at the main entrance, next to the stone lion. As I don't know much about rock or geology, I cannot tell those signs of sea in this place...one may ask...it's SuZhou, it's 1.5hr from Shanghai, how can this be sea? There must be evidence to say so, and I believe it.

SuZhou people are lucky as this huge park/garden is full of awesome scenery's; not like the smaller scale Chinese gardens园林 for some royal or rich families...one can spend a day there to do some painting, take pictures (I wish I can stay longer, and the light is brighter) of the little pond, the moat, the walls, the pagoda (it's leaning too), steps (108 if I recall it according to the tour guide), greenery, flowers (lots of them), and walking around... Most of the buildings were NOT 2500 yrs old, as 虎丘HuQiu has gone through multiple wars, fires (some man made), and negligence ...

How to get there: join the tour by buying a tour package ~RMB200 at Shanghai travel center next to Shanghai Stadium 上海旅游集散中心(上海体育场南) at Puxi, which includes a few of the famous spots at SuZhou, including this 虎丘. Duration 0900-1800. Check with the hotel concierge on the ticket purchase and package 24 hr ahead so don't have to take subway to the Puxi, Shanghai Stadium/Sport Center exit and walk to this travel center to buy ticket on the same day.

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