Location: Changshu
Top Things to do in Changshu
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The 10 Best Things to Do in Changshu, China
Changshu (Chinese: 常熟; pinyin: Chángshú; Wade–Giles: Ch'ang-shu; Suzhounese: Zaon so; literally: "evergrow") is a county-level city under the jurisdiction of Suzhou, Jiangsu province, and is part of the Yangtze River Delta. It borders the prefecture-level city of Nantong to the northeast across the Yangtze River. Due to the mild climate and terrain there, it has enjoyed a high level of agriculture civilization since ancient times, and is named after this, for the first character of its name (常) means "always, often", while the second (熟) means "ripe". The name of the adjacent county-level city of Taicang means "great granary".
Restaurants in Changshu
1. Shang Lake
Overall Ratings
4 based on 35 reviews
2. Yushan Mountain National Forest Park
Overall Ratings
4 based on 48 reviews
Reviewed By GustavoConstantino - Shanghai Region, China
At the Yushan Mountain you have a big & amazing natural view, Chinese buidings and a temple, it cost time to get there on foot, but it's really much better than a car, you can exercise a lot during the way and you will have a chance to see the tea plantation as well and get a lot of good pictures. But take care on the way because the drivers are driving fast. By the way, I can recommend a taxi to go back, because in the end you are tired.
3. Shajiabang Scenic Area
4. Fangta Park of Suzhou
Overall Ratings
4 based on 12 reviews
5. Xingfu Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7 reviews
Reviewed By BetCrooks - Toronto, Canada
Xing Fu Buddhist Temple
兴福寺 xing fú sì
兴福寺
江苏省.苏州市 常熟市寺路街148号
电话[--]
Bright Light Good Fortune Temple
Suzhou Changshu Temple Road Street 148
Xing Fu is a working temple, not a museum. It is important to be respectful of the monks that are praying and working in the temple. It is located about mid-way along the east side of Yu Mountain.
There has been a temple on this site for about 1500 years. Many of the buildings are new, built from the old plans. Wooden buildings burn easily, and there are strict rules to control where fire, smoking, and incense are permitted.
There is an admission fee for the temple (10 yuan per person in March 2009).
Outside the temple, when we visited, there was a small market. This market was meant for Chinese, not foreign tourists. Some of the items for sale are for use at the temple. For example, we bought our incense sticks at this market. They also sell plants, herbs for medicines, decorations, jewellery and other small goods.
We bought some of the machine-embroidered knots for hanging as decorations. They are about 5-8 cm in diameter. They cost about 3 yuan each. In Suzhou, the same souvenirs at stalls selling to foreigners cost 10-15 yuan each. They are not very well made, so 3 yuan is a good price.They also had some decorations with portraits of Chairman Mao.
The temple complex is very large. There is a map in Chinese at the entrance gate. There is also some information about the temple on a sign in English and Chinese at the entrance.
As well as statues of Buddha, there are statues of other Buddhist religious figures. One guards Buddha, by standing at his back. He holds a sword.
Inside one of the buildings was the XingFu rock. The rock may look like the character Xing from one side, and like Fu from the other.
The temple was very beautiful. We would like to explore more.
When we left the temple, we needed to find a taxi to return to our hotel. The temple is not on a busy street. Luckily, a taxi did come by as we walked towards the city. There are some restaurants not too far from the temple, but it would take some walking to get to them. In March, these were not busy, but perhaps in summer it would be easier to get a taxi from them, if necessary.
The start of the cable car ride to the top of Yu Mountain is close to the Xing Fu temple. We did not try using it as it was getting dark at 5:30 p.m. (There is an admission fee, but I do not know what it is.)
6. Zhaoyuan Garden of Changshou
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6 reviews
7. Changshu Museum
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 11 reviews
8. Xingfu Temple Pagoda
Overall Ratings
5 based on 2 reviews
Reviewed By Ari P - Milan, Italy
Maybe the best temple in Changhsu. Before you reach it there is a street full of changhsu people relaxing on the bars or selling their product. The temple is big and have a lot of little temple inside, little lakes and a bamboo garden. I reccomend it 100%, you can smeel the real religious life and not a touristic place.
9. Weng Tonghe Memorial Hall
Overall Ratings
4 based on 2 reviews
Reviewed By herproxy - Suzhou, China
三代帝师，清朝元老。清朝有名的顾命大臣，即使在光绪变法中犯了错误，慈禧也没拿他怎么样。把他送回常熟养老，有名的状元及孝子。
在这个纪念馆，感受最深的就是中国的孝文化，这个可以从大厅的匾额可知（彩衣堂）。
另外还能获知常熟历史上的一些名人。比如 张旭，草书的创始人哦
10. Yan Yuan - The Swallow Garden
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2 reviews
Reviewed By BetCrooks - Toronto, Canada
Yan Yuan – The Swallow Garden
燕园Yān Yuán
Yan Yuan is a classical Chinese garden. It includes buildings, walkways, special window openings that “frame” views, ponds, and rocks arranged into sculptures representing distant Mountains. Although there are flowers and flowering trees in the garden, it is mostly shrubs, trees, bamboo, water, pathways and buildings.
Yan Yuan is named after a description of the owner returning like a swallow bird migrates back in the spring.
There is an admission fee for the garden (8 yuan per person in March 2009).It is open from 8:00-16:00.
There is a map at the entrance in Chinese. It does show where the tea room is (with a teapot symbol) and where the toilets are (with a male/female symbol).
In the first building there was an exhibit about famous people. The information was in Chinese. The garden belonged to important politicians and administrators in the past, so possibly the information was about them. There is also a beautiful carved screen in the first room. The edges are carvings of bats. (Bat is a pun for good luck in Chinese.)
We explored in the spring on a cool day. There are small tunnels and passageways, even a tiny room, inside the rocks arranged like a mountain.
These Gardens are full of details worth noticing. Even the paths are often decorated with stone patterns.
The rocks used in the garden are full of twists and holes. The rocks like this in the Gardens in Suzhou (which are UNESCO world heritage sites) are from Lake Tai. (For more information see http://depts.washington.edu/chinaciv/home/tgarrock.htm ) These rocks are probably also from Lake Tai.
In late March, the fruit trees, and camellias were in bloom. The azalea bushes were in bud and would be very beautiful soon. Many of the trees have labels in Chinese and Latin to help visitors. Spring flowers including irises were not yet in bloom. A few dandelions were blooming.
One small room, enclosed on all sides by walk ways, held slender bamboo. It made lovely rustling whispering noises when the breeze ruffled the leaves.
There are goldfish in some of the ponds.
We enjoyed our visit to this garden. We also visited a Suzhou garden on a day trip. The Suzhou garden was larger but also was very crowded with tourists from bus tours. This Changshu garden was much more calm and pleasant
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