Guifu Ancient Town

Guifu Ancient Town

Guide | Guifu Town is located 28 kilometers west of Suzhou and is a peninsula bordering Taihu Lake. It is also known as Dengwei due to the Dengwei Mountain to its south. As early as 2,000 years ago during the Western Han Dynasty, plum trees were planted here, and their numbers have only grown since. In late winter and early spring, various types of plum blossoms bloom competitively, covering the mountains and valleys in a spectacular sea of flowers, hence earning the beautiful name “Sea of Fragrant Snow” and becoming the most famous plum blossom viewing destination in the Jiangnan region. Introduction | At the foot of Wujia Mountain lies the SITU Temple, dedicated to Deng Yu, the Grand Tutor of the Eastern Han Dynasty. Inside the temple courtyard are four Han cypresses planted by Deng Yu himself, known respectively as "Clear, Unique, Ancient, and Strange." These trees have stood for over 1,900 years, retaining their unique shapes and enduring through hardships, truly a marvel in the world. The Guifu Pagoda, built during the Datong era of the Liang Dynasty, is a seven-story square pagoda standing 38 meters tall. It dominates the mountaintop, towering into the clouds. Other major attractions in the town include: Sea of Fragrant Snow, Tianshou Sheng’en Temple, Shiliang Bridge, and Bronze Guanyin Temple. Transportation | Take bus 64 from the train station (4 RMB), which takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes to reach Guifu, or take buses 43 or 63 from Wuzhong Bus Station to Guifu. Buses run every 12–18 minutes with a fare of 5 RMB. Within the town, the main mode of transport is motorized tricycles, with a starting fare of 5 RMB. Admission/Open Hours | Sea of Fragrant Snow: 20 RMB per person; SITU Temple: 25 RMB per person; Bronze Guanyin Temple: 15 RMB per person; The combined Guifu Scenic Area ticket is 56 RMB, including SITU Temple, Bronze Guanyin Temple, Sea of Fragrant Snow, and Shizhu Garden. Special admission fees apply during the Plum Blossom Festival.

Jiangsu, Suzhou