Zhouzhuang South Lake

Zhouzhuang South Lake

Zhouzhuang South Lake is located in the south of Zhouzhuang Town, commonly known as nanbaidang. One third of its area belongs to Zhouzhuang, and the rest belongs to Wujiang City. The new Nanhu garden, which takes advantage of the natural scenery and historical relics of Nanhu, is known as the "water Buddha kingdom" with Quanfu temple as the center.

Water Buddhism

There are many scenic spots in Zhouzhuang, and the most impressive one is Nanhu Lake, which is known as the "water Buddha kingdom". On the edge of the vast South Lake, there is a South Lake Garden, covering an area of more than 50 mu, which is divided into four scenic spots: spring, summer, autumn and winter. In spring and summer, the lotus pond is the center of the scenic area, surrounded by the Wanghu building, Huxin Pavilion, Jiuqu bridge and other buildings, as well as the stone boat, which is opposite to the water. It is a quiet and elegant classical garden scenery. After a short rest on the stone bench in the Jiuqu corridor, we went to the autumn and winter scenic spot. The autumn scenic spot integrates halls, pavilions, temples and rockeries. With lush trees and barrier rockeries, it is a Buddhist complex centered on Quanfu temple. It is full of religious color. Countless faithful men and women come here to worship. The reason why Nanhu Lake is called "water Buddhism" is also because of Quanfu Temple.

Cultural details

According to the records of Zhouzhuang Town, Nanhu was originally named zhangyanyu lake, which was the hometown of Zhang Han, a litterateur in the Western Jin Dynasty. During the reign of emperor Hui of the Western Jin Dynasty, Zhang Han served as the Assistant Minister of Sima Dongcao. But he suddenly resigned and returned home, isolated from the turmoil of the world, and spent many years fishing in the South Lake of Zhouzhuang, leading a leisurely and peaceful life. There is also an allusion of "the thought of the sea bass": someone asked Zhang Han why he resigned. He replied with a smile: "life is so expensive that you can't keep an official for thousands of miles to ask for a glass of wine." Is it true that a writer does not have great political ambition? No! It turned out that the government was corrupt and the world was in turmoil. In order to avoid unexpected disasters, Zhang Han had to return home on the pretext of missing his hometown's wild rice, water shield soup and perch. I'm afraid only Zhang Han could understand the taste. Later, in the Tang Dynasty, Liu Yuxi, a poet, was demoted and came to live by the South Lake in Zhouzhuang, a water town. After he left, the people converted his residence into a Buddhist hall. There is a Qingyuan nunnery by the lake. In the nunnery there is Liu Gong's temple. It is Liu Yuxi who is not worshipped in the temple. In memory of these two celebrities, people have built new Siwo hall, jiyingzhai, Liubin guest house and mengdexie.

After visiting the autumn and winter scenic spot, it's already dark. Because it is winter, although there is no ten thousand mu of golden farmland, but that night, the sky is clear, the scenery is also good. After dinner in the restaurant, we looked at the night view of the South Lake. I saw a bright moon hanging in the vast sky, light silver like a layer of gauze shrouded in the South Lake, the fishing boat at night swaying gently in the blue waves, coupled with the ancient music from nowhere, just like a beautiful landscape painting.

Address: South of Zhouzhuang Ancient Town, Kunshan, Suzhou

Longitude: 120.850932

Latitude: 31.111149

Ticket information: no ticket required. Included in the ticket of Zhouzhuang Ancient Town