Xihui Park

Xihui Park

Xihui Park is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

Xihui Park is located in the western suburbs of Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, covering an area of 90 hectares. It is a large comprehensive park that combines numerous cultural relics and historic sites with comfortable leisure and recreational activities. The park features famous tourist attractions such as the Second Spring Under Heaven, Jichang Garden, and Huishan Temple. Established in 1958, Xihui Park is one of the fourteen core scenic areas of the Taihu Lake Scenic Area, which is among the first batch of national key scenic spots, as well as a national key park and a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

Huishan Mountain was historically known as Huashan, Lishan, or Xizhao Mountain. It is said that a monk from the Western Regions named Huizhao once lived here, and thus it came to be called Huishan after the Tang Dynasty. Xishan is the eastern peak of Huishan Mountain, where the mountain range abruptly rises. At just 75 meters high, it was named Xishan because it was rich in tin mines during the Zhou and Qin dynasties. After the construction of Yingshan Lake in 1958, Xishan became connected to Huishan, forming the integrated Xihui Park.

The scenic area focuses on cultural tourism, complemented by springs. With its layered peaks, lush greenery reaching into the blue sky, and scattered mountains that complement each other, the park features pavilions and towers nestled against the hills and overlooking the water. The mountain springs babble, birds chirp, and the area is covered with exotic flowers, rare plants, ancient trees, and famous woods, presenting an exceptionally serene and beautiful landscape. It showcases the rich historical and cultural heritage of the Wuxi region, renowned for preserving numerous cultural relics and historic sites that span over a thousand years from the Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. It is honored as Wuxi's "open-air museum."

More than 20 scenic spots and historic sites, including the Tang Dynasty’s Second Spring Under Heaven, the Song Dynasty’s ancient Jinxian Bridge, the Ming Dynasty’s Jichang Garden and Yugucun, the Southern Dynasties’ Huishan Temple, and the Spring and Autumn–Warring States period’s Huanggongjian—where the Lord Chunshen watered his horses—are scattered across the mountains and fields. The gathering of famous mountains, springs, ancient gardens, and temples embodies the refined charm of past dynasties. Literary figures throughout history, such as Lu Yu, Qin Guan, Huang Tingjian, and Wen Zhengming, have left behind magnificent poems and legendary anecdotes here. Strolling through the scenery evokes a sense of nostalgia for ancient times, while exploring the history allows one to appreciate the stunning landscapes and vibrant culture of Wuxi.

Jichang Garden is situated at the eastern foot of Huishan Mountain, on the western side of Wuxi City, within Xihui Park near Huishan Temple on Huishan Hengjie. The site was originally two monk quarters of Huishan Temple, including the Ouyu Room. In the early Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty (around 1527 AD), Qin Jin, who served as the Minister of War in Nanjing and was also known as Fengshan, acquired the land and turned it into a garden, naming it "Fenggu Shanzhuang."

The main attractions of Jichang Garden include: Jinhuiyi (Gathering Reflections Pool), Qixing Bridge (Seven-Star Bridge), Shans色xī Guāng (Mountain Colors and Stream Light), Yùjiágāngcōng (Jade Clappers and Golden Pines), Fènggǔ Xíngwō (Phoenix Valley Retreat), Jichang Yuan Fatie (Jichang Garden Calligraphy Models), Bǐnglǐ Tang (Hall of Observing Rites), Hèbù Tān (Crane Stride Beach), and Zhīyú Kǎn (Fish-Knowing Railing).

Fold - The Second Spring Under Heaven

Located at the eastern foot of Huishan Mountain, the Second Spring Under Heaven was originally named Huishan Spring. The Tang Dynasty tea sage Lu Yu once visited Wuxi to see a friend and stayed at Huishan Temple. He greatly admired the scenery of Huishan, with its "deep-flowing springs and dense green bamboo." After tasting the spring water, he was even more captivated by its clarity and delicious taste. Later, Lu Yu ranked the waters of the world in twenty grades, placing Huishan Spring second, thus giving rise to the name "Second Spring Under Heaven."

The current Second Spring Under Heaven features notable attractions such as the Upper Pool of the Second Spring, the Lower Pool of the Second Spring, Wanjuan Tower (Tower of Ten Thousand Volumes), and Luzi Shrine.

Fold - Huishan Temple

Huishan Temple was first built during the Northern and Southern Dynasties. Its predecessor was the "Lishan Thatched Cottage" of Zhan Ting, the Right Minister of the Ministry of Personnel during the Liu Song Dynasty of the Southern Dynasties. In the first year of the Jingping era of the Liu Song Dynasty, the cottage was converted into a monk's quarters called "Huashan Jingshe." In the third year of the Datong era of the Liang Dynasty, Huashan Jingshe was renamed Huishan Temple.

The temple currently preserves historic relics such as Tang and Song dynasty stone sutra pillars, the Diamond Hall, the Fragrant Flower Bridge, the Sun and Moon Pools, the Jinxian Bridge, the Jinxian Pool, the Imperial Stele Pavilion, the Pine-Listening Stone Bed, ancient ginkgo trees, the Datong Hall, the Bamboo Stove Mountain House, and the Cloud-Rising Tower.

Fold - Erquan Academy

Listed as a cultural relic protection unit of Wuxi, the Erquan Academy was built in 1516. Historical records indicate that it once had fifteen scenic spots, including Haitian Pavilion, Chaoran Hall, and Dianyi Platform. Shao Bao lectured here for 11 years, teaching students that "morality comes first, fame second." After Shao Bao’s passing, it was converted into a memorial shrine for him. Throughout history, it was destroyed and rebuilt multiple times, with the last restoration taking place during the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty, though it had changed beyond recognition.

Fold - Azalea Garden

China’s Azalea Garden is a flower garden centered around the azalea, the city flower of Wuxi. Carefully constructed in the late 1970s on the hillside slopes extending from Huishan Mountain, it has won the National Garden Outstanding Design First Prize and a Science and Technology Progress Award.

The Azalea Garden currently features attractions such as Jiantang (Mirror Pond), Zhizhu Corridor (Hesitation Corridor), Yuandongmen (Moon Gate), and Zuihongpo (Drunk Red Slope).

Fold - Yugucun (Valley of the Foolish Old Man)

The water in the lotus pond of Yugucun is drawn from Huishan Spring. Over 400 years ago, the “Foolish Old Man” witnessed the shocking waste and pollution of Huishan Spring and lamented its “grave sin,” as the excessive use of the spring’s water would inevitably lead to its depletion. At the time, the saying went: “The Huishan water flows drop by drop—from wells to streams, creeks, ponds, and kitchens—for washing, bathing, watering gardens, bathing, and cleaning chamber pots—none without Huishan Spring.”

Fold - Ticket

Xihui Park ticket: 10 RMB

Xihui Park child ticket: 5 RMB

Attractions included: Tomb of Hua Yanjun, Chunsen Gully, Yingshan Lake, Xishan Mountain, Huishan Mountain (for hiking and fitness)

Cable car tour ticket: 35 RMB (round trip)

Cable car tour child ticket: 15 RMB

Fold - Guided Tour Routes

Line A (Xihui Historic Sites Tour): Ancient Huashan Gate - Jichang Garden - Huishan Temple - Emperor Qianlong's Stele - Centuries-old Ginkgo Tree - Pine-Listening Stone Bed - Second Spring Under Heaven - Huishan Clay Figurine Street - Hua Xiaozhi Ancestral Hall - Taibo Hall

Line B (Xihui Leisure Tour): Ancient Huashan Gate - Yingshan Lake - Taibo Hall - Abing's Tomb - Azalea Garden - Huishan Cableway - Nine-Dragon Wall - Ancient Huashan Gate

Line C (Xihui Panoramic Tour): Ancient Huashan Gate - Jichang Garden - Huishan Temple - Emperor Qianlong's Stele - Centuries-old Ginkgo Tree - Pine-Listening Stone Bed - Second Spring Under Heaven - Huishan Clay Figurine Street - Hua Xiaozhi Ancestral Hall - Taibo Hall - Yingshan Lake - Abing's Tomb - Azalea Garden - Huishan Cableway - Nine-Dragon Wall - Ancient Huashan Gate

Huishan Subdistrict: Huishan Subdistrict administers 9 community committees and 1 residents' committee: Mianhuaxiang Community, Xinglongqiao Community, Wulixin Village Community, Sheng'an No.1 Village Community, Sheng'an No.2 Village Community, Huichangli Community, Xinhuilu Community, Ronghu Community, Huiquan Mountain Community, and Huaying Residents' Committee. …… More details about Huishan Subdistrict ++