Zhangjiagang Phoenix Mountain Scenic Area

Zhangjiagang Phoenix Mountain Scenic Area

Zhangjiagang Phoenix Mountain Scenic Area is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

The history of Fenghuang Town can be traced back to the Majiabang Culture period over 6,000 years ago. The ancient inhabitants who thrived here created a splendid prehistoric culture. From the Spring and Autumn Period to the late Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, the area belonged to Wu Commandery and was then called Heyang. During the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty, Heyang Town was destroyed due to pirate raids and later relocated to Tiantzhuang. Starting from the sixth year of the Liang Datong era, it was under the jurisdiction of Changshu County until 1962, when it was transferred to Shazhou County (abolished in 1986 to establish Zhangjiagang City). In 2003, the former three towns of Gangkou, Fenghuang, and Xizhang were merged to form the new Fenghuang Town. It has successively received honors such as “Hometown of Chinese Wu Songs,” “Hometown of Chinese Folk Culture and Arts,” and “Famous Historical and Cultural Town in China.” In August 2011, the Phoenix Mountain Scenic Area successfully became a national AAAA-level tourist attraction, and in December 2012, it was established as an Jiangsu self-drive tourism base.

Fenghuang has long been known for its flourishing literary culture and a steady stream of talented individuals. From the Tang Dynasty to the late Qing Dynasty, 36 people achieved the honor of imperial examination jinshi (presented scholars), earning it the title of “Land of Jinshi.” Notable figures include Lu Qi, Suzhou’s first zhuangyuan (number one scholar), Sun Cheng’en, the Shunzhi-era zhuangyuan, Wang Yi and Wang Yingquan, zhuangyuans of the Kangxi era, the father-and-son prime ministers Jiang Tingxi and Jiang Pu who excelled in both calligraphy and painting, and the Qing Dynasty calligrapher Yang Yisun renowned for his seal and clerical scripts. Together, they form a brilliant cultural legacy. The late Yuan and early Ming novelist Shi Nai’an once resided at Yongqing Temple, where he penned his immortal masterpiece *Water Margin* in the Wenchang Pavilion.

The Phoenix Mountain Scenic Area includes the Tiantzhuang Ancient Town district, Yongqing Temple, Heyang Mountain Song Museum, Hongdou Garden, Ten-Thousand-Mu Peach Orchard, Golden Phoenix Hot Spring Resort, and Phoenix Lake Ecological Park.

1. Tiantzhuang Ancient Town Exudes Historic Charm. The Tiantzhuang Ancient Town district preserves a complete ensemble of Ming and Qing historical architecture and historic streets. The core protected area spans 4.62 hectares and was originally established by the Qian family of Shipu during the Ming Dynasty to collect land rents. It flourished during the Qianlong and Jiaqing eras of the Qing Dynasty. Existing structures such as the Yang Family Residences (Bangyan Mansion, Yang Family Filial Piety Archway, Yang Family South Residence), the Jiang Residence, and the Stele Museum are precious legacies left by historical figures. The Bangyan Mansion was built during the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty by Yang Dai, a famously filial son of that time. His great-grandson Yang Sisan later achieved the rank of bangyan, hence the name. The building follows high-ranking official standards and is a classic example of Qing Dynasty official architecture, covering 1,948 square meters across five courtyards with a flush-gable brick-and-wood structure. Original relics such as stone drum pedestals and brick-carved gateways remain inside. In May 2013, the Yang Family Residences were designated as a National Cultural Heritage Protection Unit. The ancient town also features a well-preserved 280-meter-long historical street with 481 remaining stone steps. The Stele Museum, elegant and majestic, exhibits and collects 100 stone tablets and components. Some of the precious inscriptions document the historical status, social influence, and meritorious deeds of local officials and prominent families. Among the displays are authentic calligraphy works by the late Qing master calligraphers Liang Tongshu and Wang Wenqi, as well as those of the Yang and Jiang families, making it a cultural treasure trove for understanding local heritage. The ancient streets are lined with quaint alleys, Ming and Qing buildings, old wells, and ancient ginkgo trees that whisper tales of bygone eras. The serene and peaceful rhythm of life here offers a unique scenic charm.

2. A Time-Honored Temple of Renown. Yongqing Temple is famed for its “antiquity”: founded during the reign of Emperor Wu of the Southern Liang Dynasty, it boasts a history of over 1,500 years and was one of the “Four Hundred and Eighty Temples of the Southern Dynasties,” once rivaling Hangzhou’s Lingyin Temple and Zhenjiang’s Jinshan Temple. Over the centuries, it experienced periods of prosperity and decline but was repeatedly restored. Records highlight its “Three Wonders”: the thousand-year-old cypress, the flesh-bodied Buddha, and the natural stone well. The stone well’s rim remains in the temple to this day. In the 12th year of the Tang Tianbao era, the eminent monk Jianzhen visited Yongqing Temple before his successful sixth attempt to sail to Japan, following five failed tries. According to records, one of Yongqing Temple’s most famous sights was the “Three Wonders”: the thousand-year-old cypress, the flesh-bodied Buddha, and the natural stone well. The stone well’s rim remains in the temple to this day. In the 12th year of the Tang Tianbao era, the eminent monk Jianzhen visited Yongqing Temple before his successful sixth attempt to sail to Japan, following five failed tries. He set sail from the ancient Huangsipu Wharf and arrived safely in Japan. Since its reconstruction in 1992, Yongqing Temple has seen growing incense offerings. Yongqing Temple is also “wondrous”: in October 2002, a small lingzhi mushroom miraculously grew on the right arm of the Amitabha Buddha statue enshrined in the Mahavira Hall, and it remains preserved to this day, astonishing countless visitors and worshippers. The temple has also witnessed mystical phenomena such as Buddhist halos. Furthermore, Yongqing Temple is “elegant”: the inscriptions “Yongqing Temple” and “Mahavira Hall” were personally written by Zhao Puchu, the late Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, former President of the Buddhist Association of China, and renowned poet and calligrapher. The carved character “Fo” (Buddha) is the work of the famous calligrapher Wu Zhongqi. “Wu Shang Qing Liang” (Unsurpassed Coolness) was penned by the modern eminent monk Hongyi, “Fa Xiang Zhuang Yan” (Solemn Buddhist Appearance) by the master calligrapher Qi Gong, and “Diao Yu Zhu Fu” (Tamer of Beings) by Shen Peng, current Chairman of the Chinese Calligraphers Association. Throughout history, many literati have left poetic verses praising Yongqing Temple. Legend says Shi Nai’an once lived in seclusion in the Wenchang Pavilion, writing chapters 28 to 32 of *Water Margin*. In the 1930s, residents of Fenghuang reported seeing Shi Nai’an’s funerary tablet, and some still visit the mountain to explore his traces. The Buddhist plaza within the temple radiates profound Buddhist culture. Statues of the Four Great Bodhisattvas from China’s four sacred Buddhist mountains and the Three-Faced Guanyin of Sanya, Hainan, are exquisitely crafted. The Nine Phoenix Wall and Emperor Kangxi’s inscription “The Greatest Blessing Under Heaven” are finely carved. Quotations on Buddhism by notable figures and Master Shengyan of Taiwan’s Foguangshan Monastery on life’s 108 teachings offer deep inspiration…

3. Heyang Mountain Songs Passed Down Through the Ages. Heyang Mountain Songs are an indigenous folk art form created by the working people of the Heyang region over millennia, with a history of 6,000 years. Zhou Weizhi, former Chairman of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, praised them as “the voice of the people, the sentiment of the nation, the treasure of the country, and the marvel of the world.” Experts confirm that the representative piece *Song of Cutting Bamboo* dates back over 6,000 years and is hailed as “a living fossil of ancient Chinese music.” In 1996, Heyang Mountain Songs were broadcast on the U.S. Scola TV network and New York’s Chinese TV station. In 1997, they were extensively covered by China Central Television, *People’s Daily*, *Hong Kong Ming Pao*, and Korean Chinese publishers. In 2006, as a key component of Wu Songs, Heyang Mountain Songs were included in the first batch of National Intangible Cultural Heritage listings. Fenghuang Town was also named “Hometown of Chinese Wu Songs” and “Hometown of Chinese Folk Culture (Mountain Songs) and Arts.” Heyang Mountain Songs have been featured on CCTV programs such as *Country Vows* (Channel 7), *Journeys in the Distance* (Channel 4), and *Rural Life* (Channel 7), showcasing their boundless charm to the nation. The songs come in various lengths—short, medium, and long. The epic *Zhao Shengguan Returns to Life* spans 6,476 lines and is often called the “Dream of the Red Chamber” of mountain songs. In May 2013, the Xiju opera *A Cup of Fate*, adapted from *Zhao Shengguan Returns to Life*, won the 26th China Drama Plum Blossom Award. To preserve and promote this intangible cultural heritage, Fenghuang Town invested in building the Heyang Mountain Song Museum, covering 20 acres with a floor area of 3,803.5 m². The museum blends classic Suzhou garden aesthetics with its elegant pavilions, tranquil bridges, and flowing water. It houses ten functional spaces: the Heyang Mountain Song Exhibition Hall, Historical Relics Museum, Historical Figures Gallery, Folk Custom Corridor, Academic Research Center, Mountain Song Training School, Performance Hall, Specialty Exhibition Hall, and Fenghuang Pavilion. It serves as a comprehensive cultural venue integrating exhibitions, performances, academic research, and cultural exchange.

4. Millennium Red Beans Bloom with Love. “Red beans grow in the southern land; how many load in spring the trees? Gather them till full is your hand; they would revive fond memories.” Since the Tang Dynasty poet Wang Wei wrote *Red Beans*, they have symbolized enduring love. Fenghuang Town is home to an ancient red bean tree, standing 6 meters tall with a girth of 1.41 meters. Legend says that Xiao Tong, the renowned literary figure and Crown Prince Zhaoming of the Liang Dynasty, once compiled the *Literary Selections of Zhaoming* in the Fenghuang area. There, he met a beautiful nun, and the two fell in love at first sight. However, their different social statuses tore them apart. To pledge their eternal love, they planted red beans together, creating a poignant love story passed down through generations. The tree, now 1,500 years old, has endured much. During the Ming Dynasty, it was transplanted to its current location in Hongdou Garden by the imperial censor Xu Ke. The old tree has withered, but new sprouts have taken its place. Red beans, heart-shaped and crimson, grow more vibrant with time and are prized for their hardness. They do not bear fruit every year, and when they do, only one or two branches produce blooms. Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the tree has flowered five times: in 1949, twice in the 1960s and 1980s, in 2000 to welcome the new millennium, and again in 2012, proving that “red beans are love, and love endures.”

5. A Modern Peach Blossom Paradise. Fenghuang’s loose soil and favorable environment are ideal for growing honey peaches. With nearly a century of cultivation history, the area surpassed 10,000 mu (667 hectares) of peach orchards by 2009, with fresh peaches available from May to October. Years of careful breeding have produced peaches with thin skins, juicy flesh, sweet taste, large size, and attractive appearance. In 2007, Fenghuang honey peaches were named “Suzhou’s Number One Peach.” In 2008, multiple varieties won gold awards at the Jiangsu High-Quality Honey Peach Competition. In 2009, the “Zao Fengwang” variety claimed gold at the “First National Peach Quality Evaluation.” In 2010, Fenghuang honey peaches received a National Geographical Indication Trademark. The peaches’ popularity draws tourists to the orchards during bloom and harvest seasons to pick fruit and experience rural life, savoring “Suzhou’s Number One Peach.” Since 2006, Fenghuang has hosted an annual Peach Blossom Festival, now in its eighth edition. The festival has boosted the reputation of both the peaches and the town through its cultural branding.

6. Golden Phoenix Springs Offer Joy and Comfort. The “Sunan No. 1” wellness hot spring originates from 1,206 meters underground, rich in minerals—especially fluorine and radium, rare elements that earn it the nickname “Fountain of Eternal Youth.” It is highly effective for chronic ailments. The Golden Phoenix Hot Spring Resort, invested in by Taiwan’s Kinpishi Group at a cost of 400 million yuan, opened in March 2010. Designed with ancient Zen aesthetics, the resort features meticulously landscaped gardens, high-standard business rooms, hot spring villas, holiday homes, dining options, and shopping facilities. It was honored as the “2009 International Best Leisure Resort.” The resort boasts 44 indoor hot spring rooms, 56 outdoor pools, and a four-star hotel with 99 standard rooms. Here, you can relax in steaming springs to soothing music, enjoying premium services that melt away fatigue and worldly noise—a true modern leisure paradise.

7. Phoenix Lake Harmonizes Ancient and Modern Charms. Phoenix Lake Ecological Park lies within the Zhangjiagang Fenghuang Mountain National AAAA-level Scenic Area, at the heart of Fenghuang Town and as part of the new Phoenix urban district. Covering 600 mu (40 hectares) with a 300-mu lake, the area historically hosted Southern Song-era wine pools, Shi Nai’an’s teahouse, and residences of Ming Dynasty scholars Xiao Kui and Xiao Yinggong—rich in cultural heritage. The lake’s development integrates culture, ecology, and natural beauty, creating scenic spots like Leisurely Mountains and Waters, Strolls Along Phoenix Dike, and Wilderness Wetlands. The lake and surrounding hills paint a vibrant picture of southern Jiangnan. Across the lake stands Phoenix Mountain, home to the “Inner and Outer Eight Scenic Spots.” The Inner Eight include Three Pools, Four Wells, Ancient Cypress, Hollow Poplar, Graceful Peak, Liquor Spring, Prime Minister’s Tomb, and Zhuangyuan Platform. The Outer Eight feature Sounds of Study by the Lake, Wine Shops at the Old Town Base, Fishermen’s Songs at Gangkou, Herding Chants at the Hayfield, Cuckoos on Mulberry Banks, Fish in the Lotus Pond, Sunset in the Pine Grove, and Fluttering Banners at the Secluded Hut—each steeped in history. The landscape blends natural splendor with human artistry.

In recent years, guided by the vision of becoming a “cultural hub, economic stronghold, and tourism destination,” and aiming to build a “vibrant, dynamic, and charming Fenghuang,” the town has integrated seasonal tourism resources. This effort has given rise to the “Four Seasons of Heyang” brand, highlighting “spring peach blossoms, summer honey peaches, autumn ancient streets and temples, and winter hot spring bliss.”

Since 2006, every spring, the town’s 10,000-mu peach orchards burst into bloom during the China Heyang Mountain Song Festival & Fenghuang Peach Blossom Festival. Visitors from across the nation gather to admire the blossoms, enjoy folk songs, and savor local cuisine—greatly boosting the scenic area’s fame. Over the years, these festivals have become Zhangjiagang’s most prestigious and influential cultural events in the Yangtze River Delta. In 2013, Fenghuang was named “Jiangsu’s Peach Blossom Paradise” in a poll by the Jiangsu Tourism Bureau and Xinhua Media Group, hosted exclusively by China Jiangsu Net.

Building on the “Four Seasons of Heyang, Happy Fenghuang” brand, the town has hosted diverse events: the first “Peachy Baby” tourism ambassador contest, CCTV’s “Happiest New Year in Fenghuang” children’s show, the “Thousand-Person Self-Drive Tour & First Mountain Bike Race,” bonfire parties, “Spring in Peach Blossom Land” mass tours, two Fenghuang Honey Peach Festivals, “Thousand-Person Self-Drive Peach Nights,” poetry gatherings, lantern festivals, folk culture events, and the “Shishang Fenghuang” hot pot cooking competition. Seasonal activities like the “Tiantzhuang Ancient Street Folk Week” and New Year blessings have engaged visitors, significantly raising the scenic area’s profile and elevating Fenghuang’s tourism brand.

Jiangnan’s Peach Blossom Paradise, Heyang’s Elegant Land. Admire peach blossoms, listen to mountain songs, stroll ancient streets, explore historic temples, taste honey peaches, and soak in hot springs. A trip to Fenghuang is an ecological, leisurely, cultural, and uniquely memorable journey.