Memories of 16 July 2004
Hangzhou + Xi Tang + Suzhou
Have to wake up very early today, cause we were leaving Hangzhou to Xi Tang then to Suzhou. Had an early breakfast and gathered at the hotel lobby at 7.30am and reached the famous "Bao
Shu Tang". "Bao Shu Tang" was famous for its medicine, it's a national brand, only sold in their
shops and nowhere else. At "Bao Shu Tang", we were shown a demostration on how their most famous product "Bao Fu Ling" can heal burn injuries fast. It was really amazing. We bought 2
bottles of "Bao Fu Ling" & a bottle of pain plaster to ease the bodyache that we had from walking. Em, just joking...........
At 10.00am, we left Hangzhou for Xi Tang. As the sayings goings, "Shang You Tian Tang",Xia You Su Hang, Zhong Jian You Ge Xi Tang". The bus journey from Hangzhou to Xi Tang was about an hour or so. Upon reaching Xi Tang, we had our lunch, which was full of local flavours. After the lunch, we went for a tour around Xi Tang.
[Lao Jie Fan Dian]
By 4.00pm, we reached the Singapore-Suzhou Industrial Park. When the bus went around the place, I saw familiar brand names that we see in Singapore, so near n yet so far.... We were allowed to take a walk around the area n took some photographs before we headed for "Han Shan Si" to meet our next Suzhou tour guide, Qu Qin. There was a great crowd of people at the "Han Shan Si" when we arrived. We meet Qu Qin over there and she introduced the "Jin Han Yun He" to us before we went in to the "Han Shan Si".
[Han Shan Si]
Hanshan Temple is located in Maple Bridge town in the west outskirts of Suzhou, only 1 kilometer west of the Lingering Garden. It was first built in the Tianjian period of the Liang Dynasty (502-557) with the name of Miaolita Yuan (Miaolita Temple). During the Tang Dynasty (618-907), a famous monk named Hanshan was said to have lived and was the temple's care-taker. The temple's name was later renamed after Hanshan.
The temple used to be one of the ten most famous temples in China. The poem of "A Night Mooring by Maple Bridge" by Zhang Ji, a famous poet of the Tang dynasty, is so oft-quoted and widely loved that the poetic rhyme and the bell-tolling sounds have made the Hanshan Temple celebrated at home and abroad.
Destroyed and rebuilt for many times, the present complex mainly dates from the Qing dynasty at the time of Emperors Guangxu and Xuantong. Covering an area of 45 hectares, the main architectural structures in this temple include the main hall, the hall with a circular gallery, the sutra library, the bell tower, a pavilion tower known as Maple River Tower, and many more.
The Bell Tower is an important component of the Hanshan Temple. The bell mentioned in Zhangji's poem has long been lost and the present one was made in 1906 during the Qing Dynasty. When the bell is tolling, the deep strokes that echo in the halls mix with the deep-toned chants of the monks evoking both a solemn and reverent feelings for all worshippers in the temple.
According to Buddhist legend, each layman has 108 kinds of annoyance per year and each bell tolling can help people dispel a kin of annoyance. Hence, listening to the bell tolls of the Hanshan Temple on New Year's Eve has been an exceptionally grand occasion since 1979. During New Year's Eve, thousands of visitors at home and abroad gather inside and outside of the temple to listen to the one hundred and eight bell tolls at the same time praying for luck and happiness in the New Year.
There are cultural relics including a stone tablet inscribed with the poem "A Night Mooring at Maple Bridge" by Zhang Ji, stone carvings and a large number of steles inside the Hanshan Temple.
After visiting "Han Shan Si", we went for dinner at one of the famous restaurant. The food was nice and there were musical performance during the show. Of course, the show have to to be paid. Following that, we went to "Guang Qian Jie". Reached at 7.15pm and we were on our own before we re-meet up at 9.15pm. There were many shops here including U2, Giordano, Xin Hua BookShop, Cai Zi Zai n so on. We were warned what can be bought & what cannot be bought. Else we may have "crocodile brand" of shoes. Ha......Ha....... We went back to the hotel and rested for the day. The hotel we were staying in was known as "Chang Men Fan Dian".
My Thoughts:
Today seems to be a bit rush cause we have so many places to go and visit. But it was an interesting one. Visiting "Bao Shu Tang" was an eye-opener, you won't know how effective was their medicine unless you see it with your own eyes. The lady who did the demo, so amazaing .....I think everyone bought something there. Indeed, Hangzhou was a nice place but a 2-days stay at Hangzhou was really not enough, should have be longer but 2-days allowed us to see quite a lot of things but not deep.
On the way to Xi Tang, I did not sleep, I was listening to my discman. Luckily it's not spolit cause on the airplane, something was wrong with my discman. At the same time, I watched the beautiful scenary or should I say I am trying to understand people there. Upon reaching Xi Tang, lunch of deep local flavours were served on the table. As I'm quite picky in my food, the food dun really suit me but I still got eat some to have some energy to carry on my journey. The short tour at Xi Tang was a fine one, you won't find those display rooms in Singapore. I like the "Ban Hua" a lot n I bought one and the author signed for me. So happy.
The journey to Suzhou was a longer one about 2 hours or so..... The road was rocky and not flat, a diffcult road at first, but got better later. Singapore (Suzhou) Industrial park used to hear the name only but got to see it today. How great is the place!! We took some photos here and proceed to meet the Suzhou tour guide, Qu Qin at "Han Shan Si". There was a famous saying "Gu Su Cheng Wai Han Shan Si, Ye Ban Zhong Sheng Dao Ke Chuan". "Han Shan Si" was a great place, saw the huge "Zhong", the "He He Er Sian". I went went into the "He He Er Sian" Temple to pray. There was a lot of people but no doubt, its a good place.
The dinner was a good one, I love the food in this restaurant. The performance by the Suzhou ladies were great too but of course have to pay. But it was an experience.
Guan Qian Jie was a nice shopping street, it was beautiful done up not like those pasar malam. The sides of the streets were full of shops. Things were quite cheap here as compared to Singapore, it's really cheap to some of the tour members. We bought some clothes, a map of shanghai- for free and easy travel on the last two days of the trip, accessories, sweets from the famous "Cai Zi Zai" and so on... It was a nice shopping trip at Guan Qian Jie.
The hotel for tonite was "Chang Men Fan Dian", it was near the "red light district", so we were asked not to anyhow walk out of the hotel area. I think there was something wrong with the hotel tap, it's either very very hot water or very very cold water, cannot mix, so quite tough bathing. But still have to bath, no choice, just bear with it. As usual, I watched TV in the hotel room instead of sleeping, wat a TV lover I am.
Have to wake up very early today, cause we were leaving Hangzhou to Xi Tang then to Suzhou. Had an early breakfast and gathered at the hotel lobby at 7.30am and reached the famous "Bao
Shu Tang". "Bao Shu Tang" was famous for its medicine, it's a national brand, only sold in their
shops and nowhere else. At "Bao Shu Tang", we were shown a demostration on how their most famous product "Bao Fu Ling" can heal burn injuries fast. It was really amazing. We bought 2
bottles of "Bao Fu Ling" & a bottle of pain plaster to ease the bodyache that we had from walking. Em, just joking...........
At 10.00am, we left Hangzhou for Xi Tang. As the sayings goings, "Shang You Tian Tang",Xia You Su Hang, Zhong Jian You Ge Xi Tang". The bus journey from Hangzhou to Xi Tang was about an hour or so. Upon reaching Xi Tang, we had our lunch, which was full of local flavours. After the lunch, we went for a tour around Xi Tang.
[Lao Jie Fan Dian]
"Lao Jie Fan Dian" is located near the attraction "Xi Yuan". This shop has a infront of the house and a river at the back, which allows ones to see the river and the long corridors, a very elegant environement. This shop provide excellent homecooked food for tourists. Since its opening, it had received may large tour groups and earned many excellent praises.
First, we were shown the famous bridge at Xi Tang, those rock bridges, following that we want to "Wang Zha", "Wa Tan Cheng Lie Si", "Nu Kou Cheng Lie Si ", "Shan Zi Cheng Lie Si" and the "Ban Hua Cheng Lie Si". In between, we took a boat ride on the Xi Tang waters. After the guided tour around Xi Tang, we were allowed to explore on our own. This will be an interesting place for people who wants to understand the past. At 1.30pm, we left Xi Tang for Suzhou. 
[Wang Zha ( Zhong Fu Tang)-王宅 (种福堂)]
种福堂系清代王氏私邸， 王氏源起宋御营司都统制王渊，王渊护驾宋高宗赵构南渡后遭明受之变， 其子孙隐没于杭嘉湖一带。清顺康年间，其中一脉子孙移居西塘， 与此宅第，前后七进加一后花园， 为典型的明清居民风格。其第三进为正厅， 厅堂正中央悬挂有康熙年间翰林读书士海宁陈邦彦题名为 “种福堂” 的匾额， 一告诫后人 “平日多行善积德， 日后定能使孙得福”。
[Xi Yuan-西园]
[Wai Dang Cheng Lie Si-瓦当成列室]
瓦当是一种材质简陋的建筑装饰配件， 由于它不易保存， 年代久远， 具有一定历史价值。该馆内有花边滴水， 筷笼， 步鸡， 砖雕， 古砖，陶佣六大类300多个品种， 其中有极富有美好愿望的传统瓦当， 有带宗教色彩的寺庙瓦。
[Nu Kou Bo Wu Guan-钮扣博物馆]
[Zui Yuan-醉园]
醉园因王宅醉经堂得名， 初建于明，原有五进， 现有三进， 有古砖砌花坛和江南罕见之微砖拱桥。 举步导游， 池石玲珑， 回廊通幽， 翠竹生研， 秀色醉人。 园内正厅“艺香齐 “辟” 水乡风韵版画”成列， 供游客评赏， 展示了西塘一户普通家庭的文化底蕴。
By 4.00pm, we reached the Singapore-Suzhou Industrial Park. When the bus went around the place, I saw familiar brand names that we see in Singapore, so near n yet so far.... We were allowed to take a walk around the area n took some photographs before we headed for "Han Shan Si" to meet our next Suzhou tour guide, Qu Qin. There was a great crowd of people at the "Han Shan Si" when we arrived. We meet Qu Qin over there and she introduced the "Jin Han Yun He" to us before we went in to the "Han Shan Si".
[Han Shan Si]
Hanshan Temple is located in Maple Bridge town in the west outskirts of Suzhou, only 1 kilometer west of the Lingering Garden. It was first built in the Tianjian period of the Liang Dynasty (502-557) with the name of Miaolita Yuan (Miaolita Temple). During the Tang Dynasty (618-907), a famous monk named Hanshan was said to have lived and was the temple's care-taker. The temple's name was later renamed after Hanshan.
The temple used to be one of the ten most famous temples in China. The poem of "A Night Mooring by Maple Bridge" by Zhang Ji, a famous poet of the Tang dynasty, is so oft-quoted and widely loved that the poetic rhyme and the bell-tolling sounds have made the Hanshan Temple celebrated at home and abroad.
Destroyed and rebuilt for many times, the present complex mainly dates from the Qing dynasty at the time of Emperors Guangxu and Xuantong. Covering an area of 45 hectares, the main architectural structures in this temple include the main hall, the hall with a circular gallery, the sutra library, the bell tower, a pavilion tower known as Maple River Tower, and many more.
The Bell Tower is an important component of the Hanshan Temple. The bell mentioned in Zhangji's poem has long been lost and the present one was made in 1906 during the Qing Dynasty. When the bell is tolling, the deep strokes that echo in the halls mix with the deep-toned chants of the monks evoking both a solemn and reverent feelings for all worshippers in the temple.
According to Buddhist legend, each layman has 108 kinds of annoyance per year and each bell tolling can help people dispel a kin of annoyance. Hence, listening to the bell tolls of the Hanshan Temple on New Year's Eve has been an exceptionally grand occasion since 1979. During New Year's Eve, thousands of visitors at home and abroad gather inside and outside of the temple to listen to the one hundred and eight bell tolls at the same time praying for luck and happiness in the New Year.
There are cultural relics including a stone tablet inscribed with the poem "A Night Mooring at Maple Bridge" by Zhang Ji, stone carvings and a large number of steles inside the Hanshan Temple.
After visiting "Han Shan Si", we went for dinner at one of the famous restaurant. The food was nice and there were musical performance during the show. Of course, the show have to to be paid. Following that, we went to "Guang Qian Jie". Reached at 7.15pm and we were on our own before we re-meet up at 9.15pm. There were many shops here including U2, Giordano, Xin Hua BookShop, Cai Zi Zai n so on. We were warned what can be bought & what cannot be bought. Else we may have "crocodile brand" of shoes. Ha......Ha....... We went back to the hotel and rested for the day. The hotel we were staying in was known as "Chang Men Fan Dian".
My Thoughts:
Today seems to be a bit rush cause we have so many places to go and visit. But it was an interesting one. Visiting "Bao Shu Tang" was an eye-opener, you won't know how effective was their medicine unless you see it with your own eyes. The lady who did the demo, so amazaing .....I think everyone bought something there. Indeed, Hangzhou was a nice place but a 2-days stay at Hangzhou was really not enough, should have be longer but 2-days allowed us to see quite a lot of things but not deep.
On the way to Xi Tang, I did not sleep, I was listening to my discman. Luckily it's not spolit cause on the airplane, something was wrong with my discman. At the same time, I watched the beautiful scenary or should I say I am trying to understand people there. Upon reaching Xi Tang, lunch of deep local flavours were served on the table. As I'm quite picky in my food, the food dun really suit me but I still got eat some to have some energy to carry on my journey. The short tour at Xi Tang was a fine one, you won't find those display rooms in Singapore. I like the "Ban Hua" a lot n I bought one and the author signed for me. So happy.
The journey to Suzhou was a longer one about 2 hours or so..... The road was rocky and not flat, a diffcult road at first, but got better later. Singapore (Suzhou) Industrial park used to hear the name only but got to see it today. How great is the place!! We took some photos here and proceed to meet the Suzhou tour guide, Qu Qin at "Han Shan Si". There was a famous saying "Gu Su Cheng Wai Han Shan Si, Ye Ban Zhong Sheng Dao Ke Chuan". "Han Shan Si" was a great place, saw the huge "Zhong", the "He He Er Sian". I went went into the "He He Er Sian" Temple to pray. There was a lot of people but no doubt, its a good place.
The dinner was a good one, I love the food in this restaurant. The performance by the Suzhou ladies were great too but of course have to pay. But it was an experience.
Guan Qian Jie was a nice shopping street, it was beautiful done up not like those pasar malam. The sides of the streets were full of shops. Things were quite cheap here as compared to Singapore, it's really cheap to some of the tour members. We bought some clothes, a map of shanghai- for free and easy travel on the last two days of the trip, accessories, sweets from the famous "Cai Zi Zai" and so on... It was a nice shopping trip at Guan Qian Jie.
The hotel for tonite was "Chang Men Fan Dian", it was near the "red light district", so we were asked not to anyhow walk out of the hotel area. I think there was something wrong with the hotel tap, it's either very very hot water or very very cold water, cannot mix, so quite tough bathing. But still have to bath, no choice, just bear with it. As usual, I watched TV in the hotel room instead of sleeping, wat a TV lover I am.
posted by Sherry at 7/14/2005 11:40:00 AM
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