Mudu, Jiangsu Province, China
An Introduction
Mudu, a historic cultural town, is located at the foot of Linyan Hill in the west of Suzhou city. Surrounded by quiet, delicate landscape and connected to the Tai Lake through numerous waterways, it gains a reputation of superb tranquility and elegance. Two clear and charming rivers, Xiangxi River and Xujiang River, wind their ways through the peaceful town. History told us that Fucai, the Emperor of the ancient Wu State 2500 years ago, especially had his Guanwa Palace built here for his queen Xishi, one of the Four Beauties in the history of China. In addition, Qianlong, Emperor of Qing Dynasty had visited this beautiful town six times.
Mudu may be the only ancient town worth the reputation of Chinese Garden town. Its architectural style is unique from many ancient towns sitting south of the Yangzi River. She has more than 30 private gardens built during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, including Yan Family Residence, Hongying Mountain Villa, Ancient Pine Garden and Bangyan Mansion, etc. All these gardens have been renovated and open to the public. Yan Family residence, used to be the residence of the former Taiwan Politician Mr. Jiagan Yan, is now one of the most renowned gardens in China with meticulously designed details. Hongyin Villa was once the temporary dwelling for Emperor Qianlong and it treasures up to 20 original imperial edicts of Qing Dynasty, which are especially rare.
No matter walking on the stone-paved streets along the ancient canals, or stepping into the private gardens, we are savoring the history and classical grace of Mudu Town with the relaxation and peace that we many times so much desire as tourists.
Mudu is rated as AAAA State-level Tourism Spot and Best Tourism Spot of China in 2006.
Some of the Highlights in Mudu Town
The Yans Garden is the former residence of Mr.Yan jiagan of Taiwan, which occupies 16 mu of land. An ancient magnolia has an extensive crown, blotting out the sun. As the legend goes, the tree was planted by Emperor Qianlong when he put up for the night at Shens Residence on his tour of the south of the Yangtze River. Built in the Ming Dynasty, the Emphasize Virtue Hall --the nanmu hall, with spacious volumes and imposing appearance, is rare in the region. What is even more characteristic is that the Four Seasons Garden has a layout of uneven density, zigzags, and appropriate ups and downs, with some parts exquisite and tasteful, deep and tranquil, graceful and restrained, demonstrating the builders’ unique art of construction. Professor Liu Dunzhen, a contemporary renowned architect calls this garden a “classical work of gardens south of the Yangtze River”.
Hongying Mountain Villa is a famous private garden dating back to the reign of Emperor Qianlong of Qing Dynasty, its beauty of stream, rockery, wind and moon, its charm of pond, pavilion, flower and tree surpassing the other gardens. Emperor Qianlong visited Hongying Mountain Villa each time during his six south tours. Here he went ashore from the boat and started appreciating the garden and enjoying dramas. The escorted officials led by Liu Yong lodged at Hongying Mountain Villa for twice, leaving many legends behind. Hongying Mountain Villa consists of two Ming Dynasty gardens i.e. Xiuye Garden and Xiaoyin Garden. At the end of Qing Dynasty,Xiaoyin Garden became the residence of Embroidery Empress Shen Shou. Xiuye Garden now is the Imperial Edict Museum of Mudu.
The Ancient Pine Garden at Shantang Street is famous for a 500-year-old LuoHan pine of Ming Dynasty in the garden. It was originally the residence of a rich man Cai Shaoyu of Mudu, in the late Qing Dynasty. This garden is compact in overall arrangement and well preserved to the date. The well-decorated brick-carving gate tower is vivid both in appearance and manner. The eight lutes inscribed on the square rafters of the garden have the auspicious meaning of the get-together of eight notes . Such a style has no comparison among the gardens and architectures in the south of the Yangtze River. Being the prior-period pieces of the Engraved Building of the Dongshan town, the Phoenix Tower presents exactly the same architecture and engraving art. The rear garden is featured as delicate, elegant, charming and gentle. Standing in the two-storied long corridor, people are able to enjoy the charming scenery of gardens and lively ancient pines; admiring the graceful view of the Linyan Hill in the distance. West side of the rear garden is the Chinese craft art master, the inheritor of Shen Shou---Yao Jianping’s Embroidery Showroom .
Shown: Bangyan’s Mansion
Bangyan’s Mansion at Xiatang Street was the former residence of Feng Guifen, a political critic and disciple of Lin Zexu. Feng Guifen was a bangyan, the No. 2 candidate in the highest imperial examinations in the 20th year (1840) of Emperor Daoguang of Qing Dynasty. Therefore, his residence is called “Bangyan’s Residence” or “Bangyan’s Mansion”. The residence with the structure of a house in the front and a garden in the rear, occupies a land of nearly 10 mu of land, presenting a typical garden construction style of Qing Dynasty. The mansion finds its major characteristics in the three carvings (brick carving, wood carving and stone carving) in the region south to the Yangtze River . The rear garden, with a pond in the center, and decorated by pavilion, balcony, corridor, bridge and yellow rock rockery dispersing around and strewing in high and low manner under green shades, presents a poetic and idyllic picture.
- Lingyan Mountain Scenic Area
Lingyan Mountain Scenery Area is located at the foot of the Lingyan Mountain which is always praised as "its beautiful scenery exceeding the others in the South of Yangtze River". There are showplaces in the Lingyan Mountain Scenery Area like Gusu Platform of the King of the Wu State, the residence of Bi Yuan (No.1 Scholar in the highest imperial examinations in Qing dynasty) named Lingyan Mountain Villa and the Memorial Hall of the poet Zhang Yongfu in the Qing Dynasty. All the buildings in the area are built acclimate to the circumstances. It is one of the famous scenic spots in the Wu Region. Climbing up the Lingyan Mountain, you can find relics of the Spring and the Autumn Period, the Guanwa Palace, Xishi Cavity, Qintai. You can be a pious pilgrim in the most prestigious Buddhism temple-the Lingyan Mountain Temple in Southeast China.
Lingyan Mountain, presents the stereoscopic history of the Wu and Yue States of the Spring and the Autumn Period, with simple and unsophisticated nature landscape.
- Lingyan Peony Garden——Jointly owned with Chinese Academy of Sciences institute of Plant, it contains the most species collected in south of Yangtze River region
- Mingyue Temple——One of the 481 temples of Nan Dynasty, and ancient monastery in latter Tang Dynasty.
- Yao Jianping Embroidery Art Museum——The museum of the works of Shen Shou who is the queen of embroidery Suzhou and recent work from the embroidery artist Ms. Jianping Yao whose work has been shown to worldwide or as state gifts to foreign countries.
- Museum of Ming & Qing Dynasty of Ancient China ——Learn about the culture of Ming & Qing Dynasty from different views.
- The Amorous Street of Suzhou’s 12 Beauties——the beauty of ancient Wu State lady and the culture in Wu region.
Transportation to Mudu Town:
- For Tourists from Local Suzhou
For Local Suzhou citizens, just take the Tourism Line Bus 4 , Bus 38、Bus 64、Bus 69、 Bus 58 or Bus 43 to get to Mudu directly . The return time of the last bus is 21:30 every day .
- For Tourists from Shanghai
A deluxe bus at Shanghai Entrepot will take you directly to Mudu in about 90 minutes' time. The bus can be taken at Gate 2 of Hongkou Football Court in Shanghai , or Gate 5 at Shanghai Great Stadium ( Consulting Tel: 021-64265555 ). You can even take the bus of Pudong Tourism service Center on the Zhengda Square in Lujiazui .
Traveling by train or high-speed bus to Suzhou Railway Station is also good. Take the public transportation at Suzhou Railway Station to Mudu . (For detailed information, please refer to Tourists from Local Suzhou)
If you decide to drive there by yourself, take the Suzhou New District Exit on Shanghai-Nanjing Express and go on to the Suzhou Western Viaduct until arriving at the Laodong Road Exit . Down the viaduct and go through the Suoshan Bridge along Zhuyuan Road . Mudu is just at the west end of Zhuyuan Road.
- For Tourists from Nanjing
You can take a deluxe bus at the Nanjing Entrepot located at No.400 on Southern Zhongshan Road or the Long-distance Bus Station located at Jianning Road to Northern Bus Station of Suzhou . You can also get to Suzhou Railway Station by train. The bus there will take you to Mudu directly .(Refer to For Tourists from Local Suzhou)
If you decide to drive there by yourself , take the Dongqiao Bridge which connects the Suzhou Viaduct on Shanghai-Nanjing Express and go on, then take the Guangfu or West Hill Exit on the Suzhou Viaduct Mudu is just at the west end of Zhuyuan Road.
- For Tourists from Hangzhou
You can take a deluxe bus at the Hangzhou Entrepot located near Huanglong Stadium or The Eastern Bus Station to the Southern Bus Station of Suzhou . You can catch the public transportation to get to Mudu. Refer to For Tourists from Local Suzhou)
If you would like to drive to Mudu by yourself, you can take Wuzhong Exit on Suzhou-Jiaxing-Hangzhou Express to the Suzhou Viaduct until arriving at the West Hill Exit, and Mudu is located right ahead.
Chinadreaminn.com has provided many tours for you to join a group tour to this unique water town. Check web site Tours for details.