Located on the bank of the beautiful and enchanting Yangcheng Lake, Shajiabang Scenic Area also enjoys a convenient communication with Changshu Urban Area 10 km in the north, Suzhou (40 km) and Wuxi (50 km) via H-N Express Way in the south, Shanghai (85 km) via Chang-Kun Express Way in the north. The geographic prominence as an important hub in Yangtze Delta was strengthened in 2003 by the completion of S-J-H Express Way connecting S205 multi-lane and Xi-Tai Road. Reeds in full blossom, rice in ripe season, and willows in alignment, Shajiabang promptly rises to public recognition with the idyllic water town sceneries.
Shajiabang Scenic Area
Shajiabang Scenic Area is one of the Top 100 Red Tourism Classic Scenic Areas, a National AAAA-class Tourist Attraction, a National Wetland Park and a National Patriotism Education Demonstration Base. In District One of 1,000 mu, functional areas including Revolutionary Tradition Education Area, Aquatic Plants District, Red Rock Village of Local Customs, Reed Marshes Labyrinths, Recreational Center, etc and sightseeing spots including Bamboo Groves, Fragrant Reed Marshes, Lake Viewing on the Levee, Fishing in the Lake, and Twin Lotuses have been well established for visiting. Occupying a land of 13.3 thousand ㎡, the Reverence Square is built with an assortment of statues depicting the classic images of Guo Jianguang, Aunt A-qing in the center. The erect sculptured pillar signifying the 18 soldiers recovering their health in Shajiabang apply styles and textures of various sorts and vividly demonstrate the unyielding revolutionary spirit of the soldiers. The theme of mutual support between the New Fourth Army and the villagers is also intensified by relief sculptures with delicate composition and full blown appearances.
Shajiabang Revolution History Memorial
The Shajiabang Revolution History Memorial standing at the west of the Reverence Square covers a land of 1,860 ㎡ for buildings and exhibits more than 400 pictures of revolutionary history, over 60 pieces of revolutionary relics and 200 pictures of Double Support achievements. Multiple devices such as multimedia scenic closet, reproducing original scenes and granite relief sculptures are applied to ensure the output effect by combination of quiescent and dynamic exercises, billboard and multimedia devices, and art and science. A large green land is arranged at the east of the Reverence Square, providing an ideal outdoor recreational field to the visitors. The Education Center is a well-designed place for different organs and communities to experience the Red Tour. Visitors find themselves in Red Rock Village of Local Customs and Aquatic Plants District if they arrive at the monumental gateway inscribed with four characters Tian Kai Bo Jing (The Lake, the Creator’s Work) which tell the water-bounded feature of the two functional districts. The Red Rock Village is a masterpiece of construction reproducing the traditional water town style in the period of Anti-Japanese War. The houses are built by water which carries squeaking boats idling in the reeds and fills the bamboo groves, ponds and streams nurturing rural families.
Shajiabang History Museum
Museums of Shajiabang History, Ancient Boats and farming utensils demonstrate well the typical life of Shajiabang. Visitors familiarized with the Peking opera Shajiabang tend to find a seat in Chun Lai Teahouse, drinking tea and appreciating the staged opera or the dragon and lion dances. Aquatic Plants District is right in the neighborhood where visitors linger among the amazing plants and poetic constitution of pavilions and bridges. Visitors enjoy also the chance of angling here in the Club in Twin Lotus Pavilion. Three hundred meters of lakeside are planned for the angling. What a pleasant life it is to sit amid the reeds and lotuses angling for relaxation and exaltation!
Reed Zone constitutes the core of the scenic area and contains two regions - water reed labyrinth and the one on land. The complex river alignment and thick reeds compose unique spaces of expansion, narrowness, serenity and intricacy. It provides a chance to feel the natural flavor and review the battle of the New Fourth Army. With all the birds singing, breezes caressing the face and reed fragrance, tourists would absolutely fall for the natural fun here. Chun Lai Teahouse 1st in the reed zone introduces to people a typical age and place with teahouse flourishing. Driving the wheel of a water-mill and frolicking in the bamboo groves, visitors indulge themselves in the rural life responding to the Reed Marshes Labyrinths. The idea of Green Tour is realized in fact by people returning to the nature. The Shopping Centre is at the exit of the scenic area to offer a convenient access to local specialties, lake foods, and souvenirs. Also, it is wonderful venue to eat the Yangcheng Lake hairy crabs, unique lake foods, and other snacks of local flavor.
Features of Shajiabang Scenic Area
The eastward expansion covering a land of 1,200 mu broadens the view with full application of resources from original waters and natural terrains of Jiangnan style. Wherever they are in the park, visitors observe the perfect merge of land and water from different impressive perspectives.
The water town Forrest Park is in the pursuit of nature and wildness embedded in different scenes of four seasons. Together with the bamboo groves island, the poetic scenery of reeds in full blossom, rice in ripe season, and willows in alignment is well formulated with the red peaches and green willows in spring, lotuses in summer, apricot trees in autumn and reed catkins in winter. Among the waters and reed marshes, scenic spots such as Reed Catkins Village, Chun Lai Teahouse, Literary Splendors, Boat Bridges, Print House, and Lake Fishing bring visitors into a land of profound culture. Cormorants fishing, net fishing, spinning and weaving, primitive rice washing and other custom performance cast them in a dreamland of genuine idyllic life. Visitors are entitled to angling by the lake, picking vegetables with their own hands, cooking in the kitchen, or making a fire in a stove and other living interests. They linger also for the fun wandering in the bamboo pavilions and corridors, cleaving the lake in galloping yachts, and listening to local ballads in gaily-painted pleasure boats in the complex of blue sky, fresh water and green reed plants.
