Centuries of vicissitudes have left behind a profound cultural heritage in Suzhou. To the south of Suzhou urban area lies Shegu Platform, where Chen Sheng and Wu Guang swore an oath to overthrow the tyrannical Qin regime. To the north stands Huangcangyu, a national forest park that sheltered Liu Bang when he fled Qin soldiers. The east boasts the ancient Gaixia Battlefield and Consort Yu’s Tomb. The west features Yanxi Platform, where Li Bai drank wine and composed poems. At the city’s heart sits Donglin Cottage, where Bai Juyi resided for many years.

Min Ziqian, a disciple of Confucius; Ji Kang and Liu Ling, two of the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove; and Emperor Wen of Later Liang Zhu Wen were all natives of Suzhou. Erudite literati including Li Bai, Han Yu, Bai Juyi and Su Shi once travelled or sojourned here, leaving numerous timeless poems, essays and historical relics. The immortal line Wild fires cannot burn the grass away; spring breezes bring it back to life was composed by the young Bai Juyi at ancient Fuliji in Suzhou.

Originally named Huangsangyu (Valley of Mulberry Trees) after the mulberry trees covering the valley, it was renamed Huangcangyu (Emperor’s Hiding Valley). Before ascending the throne as Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty, Liu Bang hid here to evade pursuit by Qin troops. The Book of Han · Records of Geography records: “Before he rose to power, Emperor Gaozu often concealed himself among the Mangdang Hills; this valley within the mountains is Huangcangyu, the very refuge where he escaped danger.”

Huangcangyu belongs to the eroded low hills in the southern Taoxu Mountain Range. Its bedrock consists of limestone, dotted with natural caves, mountain springs and unique rock formations. Layered peaks surround the valley, with clear brooks murmuring through ravines. Over 3,000 mu of primeval forest grow within the valley, home to 146 tree species and more than 600 varieties of medicinal herbs. Amid the flat vast Huaibei Plain, such lofty peaks and deep valleys are exceptionally rare, making it a popular scenic retreat for travellers across the Xuhuai region.

Admission Ticket: 60 yuan per person

Located east of Lingbi County seat, the tomb of Consort Yu once adjoined a temple housing statues of Xiang Yu and Consort Yu. Legend describes Consort Yu as gentle, well-read and deeply beloved by Xiang Yu. After Consort Yu took her own life with a sword, Xiang Yu fled south carrying her body. When Han army troops closed in, he was forced to abandon her remains. After Xiang Yu broke through the encirclement, surviving Chu soldiers who failed to escape buried her body 2.5 kilometres east of Bali Pu. The village that later developed there was named Yuji Village (Consort Yu Village), the origin of Consort Yu’s Tomb.

Tianmen Temple was first built around the Zhizheng reign of the Yuan Dynasty (1341 AD). It maintained flourishing incense offerings through the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. During the Zhizheng reign, Chan monk Jingben and fellow monks were drawn to the valley’s secluded tranquility and founded the temple here. Since the valley on the southern slope was known as Tianmen (Heavenly Gate), the temple took the same name.

In the 4th year of the Xuande reign of the Ming Dynasty, Prefect Yang Mi reconstructed the complex and renamed it Tianmen Chan Courtyard. Alternative historical records state that in 425 AD, Liu Yilong, son of Liu Yu — founding emperor of the Southern Song Dynasty — erected a temple on Tianmen Mountain. The mountain’s two flanking ridges stretch outward like a giant winnowing basket, resembling two heavenly gates, hence the mountain’s name Tianmen Mountain, and the temple built upon it became Tianmen Temple.

Lingbi County in Anhui Province abounds in chime stones, earning it a worldwide reputation as the hometown of chime stones with a millennia-long history. As early as the Shang Dynasty over 3,000 years ago, craftsmen carved ritual chimes from local stone, pioneering the ancient Chinese art of stone-and-bronze music.

Ciyuan (Source of Words) notes: “Qingshi (Chime Stone) is the name of a mountain north of Lingbi County, Anhui, south of the Sishui River.” The Book of Documents states: “‘Floating chime stones by the Sishui River’ refers to this very place. The mountain yields stone suitable for ritual chimes, producing clear, resonant tones widely adopted for imperial music bureaus.”

For thousands of years, chime stones have been mined and carved, revered by generations and fostering a unique Chinese chime stone culture. Connoisseurs of all dynasties rank Lingbi chime stones first among China’s four great ornamental stones.

In 209 BC, Chen Sheng, Wu Guang and 900 conscript villagers set out for garrison duty in Yuyang. Trapped by heavy rains at Dazexiang, they faced execution for missing the deadline. “Whether we flee or rise up, death awaits us. If we must die, let us die fighting for our kingdom!” Chen Sheng and Wu Guang outwitted and killed the military supervisors, led the crowd to fashion weapons from tree branches and raise banners of woven poles, then built an altar to swear an oath to overthrow the tyrannical Qin Dynasty. Since Chen Sheng’s courtesy name was She, later generations named the oath altar Shegu Platform (Altar of She’s Covenant).

Shaped like an inverted square pyramid, the platform stands 4.6 metres tall on its northern side and 3.2 metres on the southern side. It stretches 67.6 metres east to west and 65.5 metres north to south, covering an area of 4,427.8 square metres. Lush green trees surround the platform, creating a serene setting. Several ancient cypresses grow atop the mound, and a 20-metre-deep ancient well known as Dragon Eye Well still survives along the eastern edge, a relic of an old temple. Four stone steles stand on the platform, dating to the Wanli reign of the Ming, Daoguang and Guangxu reigns of the Qing, and the 29th year of the Republic of China. Stele inscriptions record that a temple named Loutai Temple once stood here before the Ming Dynasty. Along the southern edge grows a withered ancient tree with dragon-like bark covered in scale patterns, dubbed the Dragon Pueraria Tree.