Things to see and do Coastal China

Located in a villa of the French concession. In 1950, Chen Yi, the first mayor of Shanghai, elected his home. Established in 1956 with a view to maintaining the traditional tradition, the Institute conducts research on local and national heritage. It oversees the creation of new models, the development of artistic treaties, is responsible for research on materials and techniques. We visit various workshops where craftsmen, sorted on the strand, manufacture embroidery, sculptures, jade work, lacquer, or painting. An interesting visit to better perceive regional crafts. Large shop of objects made on site and in workshops in the region.

Proposes the booking of train tickets with a commission of 10 RMB. Most hotels also have agencies that can sell tickets.

It is advisable to reserve long distance train tickets at least two days in advance, especially for hard berths.

It is now possible to take a return ticket to Shanghai. There is a choice between two categories: hard seats (ying zuo 硬座, no reserved spaces) and soft seats (ruan zuo 软座). To the extent that sleeping trains for Beijing are very coveted, it is recommended to book one week in advance to have a comfortable berth.

Manufacture of clay figurines from the Huishan hills. Traditional traditional crafts dating from the Ming River and reached its apogee under the Qing when more than 150 workshops were in operation. These grotesque characters, old man dodu or child kissing a fish, the respective symbols of wealth and good fortune, were produced for the faithful who went to the temple Huishan on the weekend as a souvenir of their stay. Visit of the museum to the Research Institute on Niren, art and Local crafts (Niren Yansuo, Gongyimeishu Yanjiusuo).

It's nothing less than one of China's five largest freshwater lakes!

This vast expanse of shallow water (less than two meters), 500 times greater than that of Xihu Lake in Hangzhou (2,400 km ²) is the central element of regional culture. To the northeast, fish and freshwater crabs are stretched inseparable from the mulberry plantations. Boiled chrysalides serve as food for fish whose feces produce rich fertilizers. To the north, the nine peaks of the Huishan hills overlook the lake. This landscape, evoking a dragon seeping along the banks is a sign of good Shui feng, Chinese geometry…

At the end of May 2007, severe pollution caused the sudden onset of algae on Taihu Lake, leading to the interruption of the water supply for over one million Wuxi inhabitants and triggering the start of national reflection on environmental issues…

Located at the foot of Nandu Hill, on the edge of Lake Taihu, approximately 8 km from Wuxi, this peninsula is the shape of a turtle head moving in the waters of the lake. Yuantouzhu offers an excellent perspective of the lake.

Guo Moruo (1892-1978), the famous contemporary Chinese writer, says «The beauty of the Lake is revealed in Yuantouzhu». A few steps away, the terrace of an old tea house offers a pleasant stopover. The clarity pavilion at the top of the hill offers an exceptional view of the lake and 72 peaks.

The Temple of Universal Happiness (Guangfu Si, 光复寺), built in 1924 on the ruins of a temple of the Southern Kingdoms, is still active today.

A boat trip between Yuantouzhe and the islands in the Three Mountains (Sanshan, 三山) allows a nice walk. The pier is located on the side of the Arche ark and the bridge of the Spring spring.

Tonglu is a city of water. There are boats along the very animated docks. The city centre is characterized by small streets lined with traditional houses with black tiles and white walls. The city is a fairly large river port. Many fishing boats, jonques and boats are covered by the site. Many boatmen live and work on these rudimentary boats.

You can take a boat from Tonglu to Meicheng. On this section, we saw the bank where Yan Ziling was fishing, a senior official of the Han dynasty who decided to pursue a hermit existence there. His descendants made a temple in his honour. The river gradually narrows, draped between bare rocky hillsides in dark grey color. The currents are still very strong.

This former small village dates back to the days of the Fighters (453-221 BC). Under the Ming River (1368-1644), Meicheng provided itself with ramparts and five main doors: The village has preserved its charm and a very picturesque typical architecture.

This lake has an area equivalent to 3 000 lakes in the West! Qiandao has 1 078 islands, the best known being: Longshan island, De, Xianshan, Jhongjhiguan Guangyu, De. Take one or two days of visit.

The valley of the river Qiantang or Zhijiang is the longest in the province, 410 km with a watershed covering approximately 420 000 km ². The river takes its source in Huangshan Mountains, in the Anhui. It is known as the Xin'an river, before joining the river Fuchun, then the river Qiantang which flows into the East Sea, some tens of kilometres north of Hangzhou. The valley of the south-west is a marvel. Little known to tourists, it remains very wild in the extreme variety of its successive sections: walk through richly wooded hills, the plains of rice, then massive massifs planted to get and reach the lake to the Thousand Islands (Count 1 078 to be exact), point of rallying of tourists. The lake is artificial, this is the result of the construction of a dam in 1959.

For some years, design studios, fashion shops and workshops of renowned artists have invested an old factory of candy and then a whole neighbourhood around. ChinArtBuilding 5, Lane 200, Tai Kang Lu Tel (021) 6472 9896 is one of these galleries. It hosts a new exhibition of Chinese or international artists every month (sculpture, painting or photos). In the same place, the Music Pavilion, is also visiting. A complex of recording studios and a music school where traditional Chinese instruments can be taken.

Built in 1993 following the description of the famous Chinese classic novel Le Dream in the red pavilion. Together interesting, well arranged, which is unanimous in Chinese tourists. A great deal of air for locals on the weekend in this 107 hectare area with numerous pavilions, buildings, pagodas, rockeries and other caves.

Created between 1522 and 1619 by Zhu Sansong, a craftsman specialising in bamboo engraving, this garden was destroyed during the war against the Japanese in 1937-1945. The current package is a reconstruction of the late 1950 s: the garden is now 6 hectares against only 1,8 hectares.

Located in the temple of Confucius, the "Mare de reunion des dragons" (named because of its winding shape) was dug in 1588, under the Ming, and then integrated into a traditional garden. At the centre of the water plan emerges a small island, Yingkui hill (symbolizing five dragons playing with a jade pearl) built in 1660. The garden underwent a significant expansion in the late 1970 s a Qing theatre Scene (1888) from Shanghai installed there: a finely decorated artwork, the main attraction of the site.

About kilometres from Shanghai, Sheshan is a little bit of the Shanghai leisure Centre. The surrounding area of Sheshan has many tourist facilities, allowing the Shanghaiens to enjoy the greenery and mountains. Nevertheless, some cultural sites deserve to be mentioned, including its cathedral.

The latter passes to be the largest cathedral in Asia. It was built by the Company of Jesus between 1863 and 1866 and was completed in the 1930 s by a basilica. Above all, the outdoor show is worth a detour; perched on a hill, the cathedral dominates the region. The interior is not of particular interest.

This small village has a quiet atmosphere and a little over time. A number of interesting sights can be found in the alleys of the village.

This 125 km long Shanghai cut from east to west, from Taihu Lake to Suzhou, to throw into Huang Pu. At the beginning of the th century, it marked the separation between British, American and Japanese concessions. But the river has played an important role in the trade and transport of goods. Throughout the banks, industrial zones have been established, with factories, warehouses of all kinds: textiles, steel, electronic materials or flour. In the 1990 s, the Shanghai government ordered the relocation of all these plants outside the city. The buildings were abandoned, some demolished, others invested as artists'squatter (one closer to Moganshan Lu). Today, some of the wharves have been redone, so they can walk freely.

The main city of the district is a pretty small town of canals lined with traditional roof roof houses overhanging walls of pristine white. A multitude of small round bridges cross the canals. Besides walking in the streets, the city offers tourists an interesting garden: the Qushui garden (曲水园).

Read: State travel agencies (CITS) simply sell airline tickets, train tickets or boats or circuits.

They do not correspond to the western concept of the National Tourism Office, since they do not provide any practical information about the country. For long distance journeys, book at least three days in advance.

Shanghai Tourism Offices distribute city plans, a fairly comprehensive tourist documentation: sites to visit, bus excursions, useful addresses, underground plans, list of hotels and restaurants. These information centres are spread across the city. In addition to Shanghai Station (No. 1 south exit), Renmin Square metro station, and the Arrivée and Pudong airports, districts also have their own antenna.

Located in the west of the island, this park stretches over 430 hectares, with a total of 200 hectares of water. It is an ideal place to make a little boat, pedal boat or to enjoy the afternoon in front of a nice hot café on the terrace. Atmosphere over time.