Silk Road journeys in Jiangsu

The Hanshan Temple in Suzhou is famous for its midnight bell rings depicted in the poem "A Night Mooring by Maple Bridge" by Tang Dynasty poet Zhang Ji. Built during the Tianjian era (502-519) of Liang Dynasty, the temple was called "Miaoli Puming Temple" at first. Legendary has it that its name was changed into Hanshan Temple because Hanshan, an eminent monk in the Tang Dynasty, was once the abbot of the temple. It used to be one of the ten most famous temples in China. [Photo/asianewsphoto]

With a history of over 2,000 years, Suzhou embroidery is one of the oldest embroidery techniques in the world. The Suzhou Embroidery Art Museum established in 1986 has a fantastic collection of great embroidery works dated back to the Han Dynasty. Visitors can have a clue about the profound history and unique craftsmanship of Suzhou embroidery from items produced in different periods. [Photo/en.visitsz.com]

Cruising down the Suzhou section of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, you’ll have a wonderful night enjoying the brightened landscapes on both sides and appreciating the folk art performance pingtan, a storytelling and ballad singing form in Suzhou dialect on boat. [Photo/jstour.com]