Huishan Old Town

Introducing Huishan Old Town (from Chinadaily & wuxinews)
Huishan Old Town, situated at the foot of Huishan Mountain west of Wuxi, is a place of memory for the people of Wuxi. The scenic area is a combination of Xihui Park (Xihui Scenic Area) and Huishan historic and cultural street. It covers 3.5 square kilometers, with a 1.09 sq km core area. It has been listed as a national key park, Chinese Historical and Cultural Street and is in the tentative list of World Cultural Heritages in China. In 2020, with forests, parks, gardens and ancient buildings, Huishan Ancient Town scenic area it became the city's fourth national 5A-level tourism attraction. It is home to Erquan, the second most famous spring in China, as well as Jichang Garden, which has watched Wuxi grow from an ancient town to a modern city. Huishan Temple has also stood on the mountain for over 1,500 years.

Huishan Old Town Fast Facts
• Chinese Name: Hui Shan 惠山古镇
• Best Time to Visit: All year around
• Recommended Visiting Hours: 2-3 hours
• Things to Do: Photography, Architecture, Culture
• Opening Hours: 07:00-16:30 for Qingshan Gate, Xiuzhang Gate, Xishen Square & Qinyuan Gate; 08:00-16:30 for Guhuashan Gate
• Entrance Fee: CNY 70 including the cultural relics and historic sites area & Xihui scenic area
• Address: No 18 Baoshan Street, Binhu District, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province

What to expect at Huishan Old Town

Huishan Ancient Town is divided into four scenic areas: the cultural relics and historic sites area, Xihui scenic area, Huishan historic and cultural street area, and the mountain forest conservation area. It covers 3.5 square kilometers, with a 1.09 sq km core area, and The 200 scenic spots in Huishan Ancient Town Scenic Area showcase a vista of mountains, rivers and forests, and also contain numerous cultural relics and traditional cultural resources with thousands of years of history. Of these, there are 23 cultural relics protection units at or above municipal level. The area is honored as the city's outdoor history museum and the people's spiritual home.

 

Popular scenic sites include Liangzhu Culture Ruins of Xishan Ancestors, the place where the Lord of Chunshen watered his horse in the Warring States Period (475-221 BC),Huishan Temple Garden which dates from the Southern and Northern Dynasties(420-581), the Second Best Spring in Vast World from the Tang Dynasty (618-907), the Ancient Jinlian Bridge from the Song Dynasty (960-1279), the ancient Garden of Lodging One's Expansive Feelings (Jichangyuan)from the Ming Dynasty(1368-1644), Yugong Valley, and A Bing's Tomb Park, as well as 108 ancestral halls and gardens dating from between the Tang Dynasty and the Republic of China (1912-49). It also contains the China Rhododendron Garden. The Huishan historic and cultural street shows the charm of the ancient water township. The local specialty, Huishan clay figurines, and the Huishan Temple Fair, reveal its ancient folk customs.

 

All these attractions embody the lingering charms of ancient water towns by the mountains in the Jiangnan region (a geographic area to the south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River), as well as the culture that people have brought to the place. Emperor Qianlong (r. 1736-95) said that "only Huishan Mountain appears elegant, leisurely and quiet" - and that is why it is regarded as the most splendid cultural highlight of this scenic area.

 

Huishan clay figurines have a recorded history of 400 years. The clay is suitable for craftsmen to sculpt vivid figurines with colorful paints. The most iconic Huishan clay figurine is the lovable pair of baby dolls called 'Da A Fu', which represents a hard-working spirit, kindness, happiness and a helpful personality

How to get to Huishan Old Town
• Take bus 4, 15, 43, 75, 76, 81, 83, 126, 139, 158, 216 or 611 to Huishan Station.
• Rent a car/bus from GGC to enjoy a hassle free private transfer from hotels in Wuxi to Yuantouzhu Scenic.

Additional travel advice on Huishan Old Town
• Tickets are available online at www.chinahuishan.com or through the WeChat public account (ID: Xihuipark).To ensure smooth entry, please place your order before 7:00 am on the day of your visit. Once the tickets are booked, no rescheduling is allowed.