Silk Road journeys in Jiangsu

Day 3 You'll take the time of the morning, enjoying the poetic sceneries that praised by men of letters across dynasties at the Slender West Lake. After lunch, visit the famous Daming Temple where the renowned Chinese Master Jianzhen has been the abbot there for many years. And with a beautiful evening at the hot springs will end your trip.

With willows fluttering in the breeze and ripples glimmering under the Lotus Bridge, and five pavilions sit at each corner with one in the center, the Slender West Lake in Yangzhou amazes visitors with its graceful beauty of nature and architecture. In history, Yangzhou used to be a famous salt trade center for its location at the intersection point of the Yangtze River and the Grand Canal.

Originally developed from the water gardens built by rich salt merchants along the Baoyang Lake, the Slender West Lake got its name from the poem of a Hangzhou poet Wang Hang during the Qing Dynasty (1368-1644).

At its apogee in history, it has 24 scenic attractions, including the White Pagoda, the The Twenty-Four Bridge, the Tiny Gold Hill and the Fishing Pavilion (Diaoyutai).

Both the Qing Dynasty Emperor Qianlong and Emperor Kangxi praised the good sceneries in the Slender West Lake and visited the spot every time they made inspection tours to the regions south of the Yangtze River.[Photo/jstour.com]

First built during the Daming reign (457-464) of the Southern Dynasty (420-589), the Daming Temple in Yangzhou features religious buildings, important historical sites and beautiful gardens. It is a famous temple in history where the renowned Chinese monk who travelled to Japan to propagate Buddhism. Jianzhen decided in 742 to embark his journeys on Japanese emissary monks' invitation despite opposition from his disciples. After overcoming various difficulties during his five journeys on the sea, the blind Jianzhen succeeded in his sixth attempt 11 years later. The temple now houses the Jianzhen Monk Memorial Hall in memory of his contributions to China-Japan friendship. [Photo/jstour.com]

Located at the northern gate of the Slender West Lake, the Tianmu Hot Springs have got over 130 pools with various aroma and colors. You can get your heart relaxed while savoring wonderful moments of your journey there! [Photo/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]