Schedule:
Day 1: Start in Xuzhou - Yunlong Lake Scenic Area - Xuzhou Museum - Ximatai Ruins - Hubushan Historical and Cultural District (Jiangsu Opera)
Day 2: Han Culture Scenic Spot - Guishan Han Dynasty Tomb – Return
Yunlong Lake Scenic Area
Yunlong Mountain has nine winding sections and resembles a mighty dragon. It is one of the 50 famous historical and cultural mountains in China and is situated on the shore of the picturesque Yunlong Lake to have the blessing of mountain and water. It is known as the best of Xuzhou's famous scenic spots. If you come to Xuzhou, Yunlong Lake is a must-see.
In the Scenic Area, the vast Yunlong Lake ripples sparklingly. With stunning scenery, the lake is reputed as the sister lake of West Lake. The Xiaonan Lake in Yunlong Lake Scenic Area features the classical splendor of garden architecture in Jiangsu culture. As you travel among mountains and water, you can relax and feel the charm of history.
Suzhou Museum
The best way to know a city is to go to the local museums. A museum is the history of a city's development. When in the Xuzhou Museum, you can walk through the old historical articles such as gold artifacts, jade, porcelain, costumes, paintings and calligraphy. Through more than a thousand cultural relics permanently displayed in thematic areas such as "Xuzhou Historical and Cultural Exhibition", "Exhibition of Han Dynasty Cultural Relics in Xuzhou", "Exhibition of Han Dynasty Jade in Xuzhou" and "Xuzhou Han Dynasty Cultural Relics Display", you can feel the charm of Xuzhou's long-lasting Han glory and cultural heritage.
Ximatai Ruins
The Ximatai Ruins is one of the earliest surviving monuments in Xuzhou, and is one of the three treasures of Jiangsu, together with the Suzhou Garden and the Stone Carvings of Six Dynasties in Nanjing. The structure of the ancient Ximatai Ruins is rigorous, the layout is well-proportioned, and the garden is elegant and quiet, which is very suitable for meditation.
When walking into the Ximatai Ruins, you can see flying flags, and the echo of history lingers in the ears. The six exhibition halls in the park, with rich collection of exhibits and detailed and accurate historical materials, tell the life of Xiang Yu (the King of Western Chu) and the history of the Chu–Han Contention, taking you to appreciate the charisma of the legendary King of Western Chu.
Hubushan Historical and Cultural District
Strolling through the ancient houses of Hubu Mountain, you can trace back the memory of "Pengcheng" that has a history of more than 2000 years. Located outside the south gate of Xuzhou ancient city, Hubu Mountain is a cluster of ancient buildings reflecting the architectural style of the Ming and Qing dynasties. It represents a high level of architectural art in the region and is a bright pearl on the Grand Canal cultural belt.
The ancient dwellings there have a variety of styles, such as the delicate beauty of the water town in the south and the stateliness of the dwellings in the north. It is the “vital transportation hub of five provinces” with the cultural charm of a famous historical and cultural city, which is a microcosm of Xuzhou's cultural and historical development.
Celebration activities related to intangible cultural heritage are held here regularly, such as a series of creative activities like "intangible cultural heritage + cultural creation", "intangible cultural heritage + study", "intangible cultural heritage + performance" and "intangible cultural heritage + festival”, to bring Xuzhou culture into life.
Han Culture Scenic Spot
Xuzhou Han Culture Scenic Spot is the largest theme park featuring Han Dynasty culture in China, including Han tombs, Han terracotta warriors and Han stone portraits, which are the "three best things of Han Dynasty". The painted terracotta warriors and horses from the Western Han Dynasty are the representative of Han culture in Xuzhou. More than 4,000 terracotta warriors have lifelike expressions and postures. It is very interesting to observe their vivid expressions.
The Shizishan Chu King's Mausoleum is the largest in Xuzhou, with the most cultural relics and the highest historical importance. More than 2,000 precious and exquisitely-made relics of gold, silver, copper, iron, jade and pottery have been unearthed in the tomb, which is amazing!
There is also a unique museum with the theme of "experience of Han stone portrait culture", which exhibits nearly 50 pieces of Han stone portraits, such as travel by carriage and horse, buildings and people, and pictures of welcoming guests. Through these stone portraits, we can catch a glimpse of the people’s life in the Han Dynasty.
Guishan Han Dynasty Tomb
Located at the western foot of Guishan Mount in Xuzhou City, Jiangsu Province, the Guishan Han Dynasty Tomb was constructed during the reign of Emperor Wu of the Western Han Dynasty, and was the tomb of King Liu Zhu (the sixth king of Chu in the Western Han Dynasty) and his wife. The tomb is also called the "Pyramid of the East" because it holds many unsolved mysteries. The tomb was excavated more than 2,100 years ago, and it took 13 years to finish. Although Guishan Mount is not tall, the tomb almost hollows the entire mountain. It’s magical that the tomb was dug out in the middle of the mountain, which is comparable to the Egyptian pyramids built by piling stones into a tomb. In the underground palace, the majestic and unrestrained Chu and Han styles will deeply shock those who come in.
