Changjing Town, nestled in the southeast of Jiangyin City, boasts a prime location with Taihu Lake to the south and the Changjing River to the north. It shares borders with Wuxi, Changshu, and Zhangjiagang, creating a region enveloped by verdant hills and a central plain. This area is not only rich in natural resources but also a cradle of distinguished individuals. The convenience of land and water transportation is another of its notable features, making it the sole renowned historical and cultural town in Jiangyin City, China.
The town carries the ancient name ‘Dongshun City’ and has been a site of human civilization for over 5,000 years. The site where ‘Shun cultivated’ still stands preserved today. Among its landmarks are the key units in Jiangsu Province, such as the Dafu Silkworm Seed Farm, and six cultural relic protection units at the city level: Liangwu Weir, Wangjia Stone Archway, Former Residence of Zhang Dalie, Dongzhuang Bridge, Former Residence of Shangguan Yunzhu, and Lianminxuan Library. Moreover, there are 17 town-level cultural relic protection control units scattered throughout the town. Ancient houses, streets, bridges, and temples are ubiquitous, making every step a journey through history, culture, landscape, and story.
Changjing Old Street, which dates back to the Song Dynasty and was constructed during the Ming Dynasty, stretches over 1,000 meters in length. Strolling along this historic street, one is greeted by the simple yet striking white walls and black tiles of buildings from the Ming and Qing Dynasties, which are particularly captivating in the soft autumn rain.Shun, as recorded in the “Records of Local Customs” compiled by Zhou Chu of the Western Jin Dynasty, once lived in Changjing, where he cultivated the land with primitive tools and initiated the ancient civilization of the region. Today, the site of Dongshun City has become a popular scenic spot.
During the reign of Emperor Wu of Liang, Xiao Yan recognized the strategic importance of Changjing’s high terrain and the frequent droughts that plagued the area. In response, Crown Prince Zhaoming personally visited Changjing and constructed a series of weirs, known as the Liangwu Weir, to manage water resources effectively. These 18 dams allowed for the layered storage of water, which in turn transformed Changjing into a fertile land with abundant irrigation, eventually leading to its reputation as a land of fish and rice.
In the Song Dynasty, Changjing’s strategic location at the central node connecting the Yangtze River and Taihu Lake, along with its developed water systems and convenient transportation, facilitated the formation of two major markets, leading to the renaming of the area to Dongchengli.
The Ming Dynasty marked a significant period in Changjing’s development. In the first year of the Chenghua era (1465), Xia Ximing, a prominent figure from Xili Village, constructed water conservancy projects that interconnected the water systems of the ancient town. His son, Xia Huiliang, later built houses along the banks of the Changjing River, creating a community that spanned dozens of miles and came to be known as ‘Xia Bantian’. This community continues to thrive to this day, with remnants of the Xingshun Bridge and Xingfu Bridge still standing as testaments to the area’s rich history.In the Qing Dynasty, Changjing Town, with its strategic geographical location, convenient transportation, and thriving culture, became a hub for merchants from across the southern regions of the Yangtze River. Residents from around Taihu Lake also migrated and gathered there. Officially named Changjing during the Kangxi period, it evolved into a historic town nestled by the river and the lake.
Boating through the Jingshui River, which flows through the town, one can take in the picturesque scenes of life along the water’s edge. Strolling along the kilometer-long flagstone-paved old street and the Ming and Qing-era street, visitors can immerse themselves in the rich cultural tapestry of this millennium-old town. In the 650-mu Dongshun Lake Park, the allure of the water town is palpable as one enjoys tea and fishing, evoking the poetic imagery of ‘the setting sun and the lone wild duck fly together, and the autumn waters merge with the sky in one color.’
Changjing, a tourist destination in the eastern countryside of Jiangyin, boasts a variety of tourism experiences. These include the dream-seeking journey in Dongshun, the art appreciation journey, the regional culture journey, and the rural leisure journey. The ancient town of Changjing welcomes guests and tourists from around the world. In spring, it offers a bounty of blooming flowers; in summer, it provides a retreat from the heat; in autumn, it serves up fresh fruits; and in winter, it offers a place for relaxation. The ancient town of Changjing has crafted a vivid chapter in the cultural history of Taihu Lake’s water towns and has recited a grand poem of the Yangtze River.Main tourist attractions: Jingshui River, old street, Ming and Qing Street, Dafu Silkworm Egg Farm, Memorial Hall of Shangguan Yunzhu, Former Residence of Zhang Dalie, Lianminxuan Library, Dongshun Lake Park, Baichuan Park, etc.
Opening hours: Open all year round and all day.
Preferential policies:
Children: Free for those under 1.4 meters (inclusive).
The elderly: Free for those aged 70 or above (inclusive); 15 yuan for those aged 60 (inclusive) to 69 with senior citizen certificate.
Military personnel: Free with military officer certificate.
Disabled people: Free with disability certificate.
Students: 10 yuan with student ID.
Supplementary note: The above are the preferential policies for some paid scenic spots in the scenic area for reference only.
It will also expel the old and take in the new, showing its unique historical and cultural connotations between the Yangtze River and Taihu Lake and continuing to write its magnificent chapter that combines firmness and softness.
