Dongwu National Forest Park

Dongwu National Forest Park

Dongwu National Forest Park is a national-level forest park.

Jiangsu’s Dongwu National Forest Park was officially established in 1993 with approval from the Ministry of Forestry and opened to the public. The entire scenic area spans 1,200 hectares and is located in Cangshu Town, five kilometers west of Lingyan Mountain. The park features attractions such as the King Wu Well, King Goujian Cave, Flying Peak, One-Line Sky, White Cloud Cave, White Cloud Spring, and Lake-Forgotten Platform.

The Dongwu National Forest Park scenic area covers 3,739 mu and is located in Cangshu Town, five kilometers west of Lingyan Mountain. Just one kilometer southwest and along the north side of the Suzhou-Fujiu Highway, buses of all sizes can reach the park directly, making transportation very convenient.

The "Qionglu Mountain" in Wuzhong, known as a cave heaven paradise, is tall and majestic, with broad terrain and high ridges. Its widest point stretches 4 kilometers. The main peak, Liumao Peak, stands at approximately

341.7 meters, making it the tallest among the mountains in the Suzhou area on the eastern shore of Taihu Lake. Qionglu Mountain boasts four superlatives in the Suzhou region: first, its main peak at 341.7 meters is known as the “Number One Peak of Wuzhong”; second, it is the largest mountain in the Suzhou area, featuring the deepest mountain valleys; third, it has the longest mountain-winding road in Suzhou, stretching 6.5 kilometers; and fourth, it is the only provincial-level nature reserve in the Suzhou area, home to 217 species of plants under state protection and unique to China—including nanmu—as well as 151 species of medicinal plants. It is also one of Suzhou’s science education bases.

Qionglu Mountain is not only majestic in presence but also blessed with enchanting scenery.

Occasionally, mist connects with the mountaintops, drifting like smoke, appearing and disappearing; on clear days, the mountain stands proudly, lush and green. The mountain paths twist and turn, winding their way up to the summit, where dense forests thrive in the crisp, high-altitude air. Crossing over to the southern slope, one can gaze at the vast expanse of Taihu Lake, dotted with fishing boats, and the Seventy-Two Peaks that seem to emerge and vanish amid the clouds—an absolutely breathtaking view.

Lingyan Mountain is home to the ruins of the King of Wu Fuchai’s palace—Guanyin Palace—as well as the King Wu Well, Moon-Playing Pond, and Qin Terrace, all of which remain well-preserved to this day. On the mountainside lies the King Goujian Cave (later renamed Xishi Cave), where the King of Yue Goujian was once imprisoned. At the foot of the mountain lies the tomb of Han Shizhong, a famous anti-Jin general from the Southern Song Dynasty. Tianping Mountain is renowned for its rugged rocks. At its base lies a vast maple forest, where red leaves blaze brilliantly in autumn. The mountain also hosts the tomb of Fan Zhongyan, a prominent statesman of the Song Dynasty. Attractions on the mountain include Flying Peak, One-Line Sky, White Cloud Cave, White Cloud Spring, and Lake-Forgotten Platform. Tianchi Mountain features peculiar peaks and rocks such as Golden Toad Peak, Bhikkhu Stone, Heavenly Lantern Tower, and Lotus Peak.

The mountain is crisscrossed by clear streams such as Washwater Spring, Cold and Withered Spring, Landmine Spring, Yingying Spring, and Bowl Spring, which converge to form Tianchi (Heavenly Lake).

At the foot of the mountain lies the Secluded Temple, historically a retreat for eminent monks and scholars. The temple’s three stone halls are the only surviving Yuan Dynasty stone structures imitating wooden architecture in Jiangsu Province. Huashan Mountain is lined with verdant pines, its winding paths and deep, elegant cliffs offering serene beauty. The mountain houses Taoist temples and Buddhist shrines such as Chunyang Hall and Cuilan Temple, the carved stone statue of the Great Guide Buddha—the largest Buddha in Wuzhong—and the stupas of the 36th, 37th, and 38th patriarchs of the Linji School. There are also ruins of pavilions and towers built during the visits of Emperors Kangxi and Qianlong.

Hanshan (Cold Mountain) is said to have been named after the Jin Dynasty monk Zhidao Lin tasted its spring water and called it "cold spring," hence the name Hanshan. In the Ming Dynasty, Zhao Hanguang built his retreat here and carved out a mountain path to channel the spring. The spring water cascades down the rocky wall, forming a waterfall like white snow, known as the Thousand-Foot Snow. Nearby is a pavilion bestowed the name "Listening to the Snow Pavilion" by Emperor Qianlong, who also inscribed a poem on the rock wall. Qionglu Mountain is one of the highest peaks in western Suzhou, with Liumao Peak standing at 331 meters above sea level. From its heights, one enjoys a sweeping, refreshing view.