Xiangshan Scenic Area is located within the territory of Zhangjiagang Free Trade Zone (Jingang Town), and is recognized as a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.
Xiangshan has been known for its enchanting scenery and numerous historical sites since ancient times. It is rugged yet beautiful, majestic yet elegant, earning the reputation of being a famous mountain in the Jiangnan region. Throughout history, countless celebrities have left their footprints on Xiangshan. There are not only the Fragrant Path left by Xi Shi, the Meihua Hall inscribed by Su Dongpo, and the Peach Blossom Brook praised by Xu Xiake, but also the newly developed attractions such as the expansive and mirror-like Xiangshan Lake, and the ten thousand plum hills known as the ‘Snow Sea Waves of a Thousand Acres’. These form a picturesque scroll of lake and mountain scenery that is pleasing to the eye and leaves visitors lingering.
The Xiangshan Historical and Cultural Exhibition Hall (open hours subject to the scenic area’s announcement) is located on the south side of the main entrance of Xiangshan. It showcases the natural scenery and historical culture of Xiangshan, serving as a microcosm of the region’s folk culture and local flavor.
The Cherry Blossom Garden, with the verse ‘Willow green can be held, cherry blossoms snow not dry.’, covers an area of 200 acres and has nearly 5,000 cherry trees of the Somei Yoshino variety, predominantly white in color, blooming from late March to mid-April each year. During the cherry blossom season, visitors can immerse themselves in the cherry blossom forests, enjoying the view and lingering on.
Fishing Platform, dating back to the 11th century BC, Jiang Ziya, after assisting the Zhou dynasty in defeating the Shang dynasty, was ordered by the king to travel east in search of the descendants of Tai Bo and Zhong Yong. He once fished by the river on the northern foot of Xiangshan. ‘Jiangyin County Chronicles’ and ‘Fengtu Records’ mention, ‘Twenty miles east of Jiangyin, on the northern foot of Xiangshan, there is a stone that is thirteen feet wide, which is where Jiang Tai Gong fished.’ A fishing pavilion was later built in memory of this.
Plum Blossom Hall (Opening hours are subject to the scenic area’s announcement). As recorded in the Qing Qianlong era’s ‘Jiangyin County Records’, ‘Plum Blossom Hall is located at the summit of Xiangshan, surrounded by clear pools and stone walls with plum blossoms reflecting all around. The hall originally had five bays, with a plaque written by Su Dongpo himself, which was vigorous and elegant, and later generations came to admire the calligraphy here. After the hall was destroyed, a local Xu family rebuilt it on Xiaoxiang Mountain as a secondary residence.’ Xu Xiake visited Xiaoxiang Mountain three times and wrote ‘Five Poems on Plum Blossom Hall at Xiaoxiang Mountain.’ Lingfeng Tower (No tower visits provided) Lingfeng Tower features upturned eaves and corners, a golden spire, eight sides, and nine levels. The tower’s eaves are 49.8 meters high, and the top reaches 64.8 meters. It is a Ming and Qing dynasty style pavilion tower in the Jiangnan region, giving a sense of a jade palace and a celestial mansion. Xiangshan Lake Xiangshan Lake area is located at the southern foot of Xiangshan. The construction of Xiangshan Lake and its surrounding landscape belt adheres to the principles of natural ecological protection, investing heavily to ecologically restore the quarries and fractured slopes left by mountain quarrying. It deeply integrates and utilizes these areas to create several distinctive viewing areas such as Xiangshan Lake, Lake Heart Island, Four Seasons Garden, and Fragrance Botanical Garden. Relying on the natural scenery of Xiangshan, it forms a three-dimensional ecological pattern connected like mountains and rivers, presenting a poetic space of ‘made by humans, yet as if by nature.’ Xiangshan Mei Ling Mei Ling is located in the southern bay of Xiangshan, with tens of thousands of plum trees of various varieties. There are pure white jade butterfly plums, green-petaled plums resembling jade and emerald, light red palace powder plums, and the rosy cinnabar plums, among others. Plums are planted against the mountains, adorning them with pavilions, towers, and buildings scattered throughout. In Mei Ling, you can enjoy tea and fragrance among the plum forests on the hillside, overlooking the tens of thousands of plum blossoms competing for beauty, and gazing into the water-abundant Xiangshan Lake; you can also wander through the peach blossom stream visited by Xu Xiake three times, feeling the layers of sound pounding on stones, and the vigorous posture hanging from the sky. Plums make the mountains elegant, and the mountains are made serene by plums. Xiangshan Mei Ling has enchanting scenery all year round. Where to go in spring in the south of the Yangtze River? Come to Xiangshan Mei Ling to enjoy the flowers. Xiangshan Red Leaves Xiangshan Scenic Area is rich in tourism resources, with different scenery in all seasons, each with its unique charm. In recent years, Xiangshan’s plum and cherry blossoms have been very popular, and visiting Xiangshan for flower viewing has become a specialty card for local and surrounding residents. However, from late October, Xiangshan in autumn has a different charm. The scenic area has planted a large number of colored-leaf plants in the garden, such as red maple, Chinese tallow tree, beech, Chinese sweetgum, and soapberry, among others. The various colored-leaf plants planted along the lake on Lake Heart Island and the Fragrance Botanical Garden, along with the sparkling lake surface, form a colorful tapestry. It is also worth mentioning the circular mountain road. Currently, the scenic area’s circular mountain road and the sides of Wanghu Road are uniformly planted with Chinese tallow trees. When the leaves turn red, from a high vantage point, it looks like a bright satin ribbon. Walking among them adds to the poetic atmosphere.
Xiangshan Scenic Area is open all year round from 08:00 to 16:30.
Admission优惠政策:
– Children: Free admission for children under 6 years old (inclusive) or under 1.4 meters (inclusive) with valid identification.
– Minors: Half-price admission for minors aged 6 (exclusive) to 18 years old (inclusive).
– Elderly: Free admission for those aged 70 years old (inclusive) and above with valid identification.
– Seniors: Half-price admission for those aged 60 years old (inclusive) to 70 years old (exclusive) with valid identification.
– Military personnel and disabled individuals: Free admission for active military personnel, retired military cadres, revolutionary disabled soldiers, and the disabled, as well as one caregiver for severely disabled individuals with relevant documentation.
– Veterans: Free admission for those with a ‘People’s Republic of China Veterans’ Preference Certificate’ or ‘People’s Republic of China Martyrs, Fallen in the Line of Duty, and Deceased Military Personnel’s Dependents Preference Certificate’.
– Religious personnel: Free admission for religious personnel with皈依证issued by provincial religious associations.
– Association members: Free admission for members of provincial (autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the Central Government) level Federation of Literary and Art Circles, Artists Association, Calligraphers Association, Photographers Association, and Writers Association with personal identification and a letter from their organization.
– Journalists: Free admission for journalists with a press card issued by the National Press and Publication Administration.
– Tourism professionals: Free admission for tourism professionals with a tour guide certificate, travel agency general manager qualification certificate, or team leader qualification certificate, with a mission order.
– Residents of certain areas in Zhangjiagang: Residents of the Zhangjiagang Free Trade Zone and Jin Gang Street, Hou Cheng Street, De Ji Street areas (including Shuangshan) can enter the park directly with valid identification, free of charge.
– Zhangjiagang residents: Residents of other areas in Zhangjiagang can purchase discounted tickets with valid ID, citizen card, or residence permit on the same day.
– Students: Half-price admission for full-time undergraduate and below students.
– Service facilities: There is a nursing room located within the scenic area.
