[2025 Suqian Attraction] Travel Guide for Zhenru Temple (Updated Jun)

As an outdoor blogger who spends most of their time "on the road", I'm obsessed with forest oxygen bars. This visit to Suqian Santai Mountain National Forest Park gave me an unexpected surprise. It's like an underrated collection of poems, with the delicacy of a Jiangnan garden and the grandeur of a northern mountain. Avoid the crowds and keep this guide to a hidden gem! 🌿 Mist Forest Trail: A fantastic journey into the Emerald City I entered the park at 8am and headed straight for the Mist Forest Trail. The wooden boardwalk meanders through the dense forest, and the water mist erupts every 15 minutes, instantly bringing the entire cedar forest to life. The sunlight shines through the trees, and under the Tyndall effect, it feels like you can touch the shape of the light. Tips: Wear a light-colored long dress for beautiful photos. Drones need to be declared in advance. 🌸 Natian Flower Sea: A stroll into Monet's world of oil paintings Passing through the forest, the open Natian Flower Sea took my breath away. The terraced flower sea is laid out along the mountain. I recommend climbing the Rainbow Bridge to overlook the scene. The red, yellow, and purple flower belts are like a palette of colors on the earth. I accidentally discovered a few thatched pavilions hidden in the flower fields. Sitting down and listening to the wind and the fragrance of flowers passing by my ears is the right way to "waste time". 🌊 Mirror Lake: Unlock hidden spots for forest photography In the afternoon, I went around to Mirror Lake on the north side, which 90% of visitors miss. The lake surface is as calm as glass, reflecting the dawn redwood forest on the opposite bank, and occasionally egrets fly low, breaking the silence. I found an old tree leaning against the water, set up a tripod, and took a picture of the "lake view in the tree hole". The stone beach by the lake is suitable for picnics. Remember to take your trash with you! ⛩ Tianhe Pagoda: A Zen moment to climb high and look far Before my physical strength ran out, I gritted my teeth and climbed up Tianhe Pagoda. The wind at the top of the seven-story pagoda instantly blew away my fatigue. Looking east, Luoma Lake is sparkling, and looking west, the city skyline is seamlessly connected to the forest. The copper bell on the eaves rings softly in the wind, forming a wonderful resonance with the bell of the Zhenru Zen Temple three kilometers away. 🚶♀️ My favorite hiking route (with map markings) ✅ Essence route: West Gate → Mist Forest Trail (1.5km) → Rainbow Bridge → Natian Village (lunch) → Mirror Lake (2km) → Tianhe Pagoda ✅ Walking route: Enter the East Gate and go counterclockwise, 8km for the whole journey, passing through Meiyuan and Xiangsi Lake ⚠️ There are many forks in the forest, so it is recommended to take a picture of the map at the entrance or turn on the "Santai Mountain Smart Tourism" mini program for navigation. 📌 Practical information package ⏰ Opening hours: 8:30-17:30 (last entry at 16:30) 🎫 Tickets: CNY 60 in peak season (half price for students), shuttle bus CNY 20/day unlimited times 🚌 Transportation: 15-minute taxi ride from Suqian High-speed Railway Station, bus 321 directly to the West Gate 🏡 Accommodation recommendation: "Yinhua Jian" homestay in the scenic area, with a view of the bamboo forest from the window ⚠️ Must-see Tips: 1. The temperature difference in the forest area is large, so bring a windproof jacket 2. Natian Restaurant recommends stewed chicken in an iron pot, which is super fragrant when stewed with firewood 3. The experience is better during the pear blossom festival from April to May and the red leaf season from September to October every year The beauty of Santai Mountain is that it is suitable for urban escapists who want to take a light hike, and it can also satisfy photography enthusiasts' obsession with light and shadow. When I lay on the grass slope of Natian Flower Sea and watched the clouds slowly pass over the spire of the pagoda, I suddenly understood what the ancients meant by "stealing half a day of leisure from a busy life". If you are tired of the crowds of Internet-famous attractions, come here and be a forest hermit for a day.

Suqian, a small city in northern Jiangsu, condenses the essence of "Chu and Han culture + beautiful scenery of lakes and mountains". This guide will take you on a one-day tour of Suqian. 📌Route: Xiang Wang's hometown + Zhenru Zen Temple - Yingxun Lane + Snack Street - Luomahu Resort ⛩️Morning: Xiang Wang's hometown + Zhenru Zen Temple (3h) (P2-P4) The birthplace of Xiang Yu, the Overlord of Western Chu, is home to a complex of Chu-Han buildings with red walls and black tiles. You can also see the sculpture of "Overlord Lifting the Tripod" and Chu-style performances for an immersive experience of historical pride. Xiang Wang's hometown is connected to Zhenru Zen Temple. It is a temple with few tourists and is very comfortable and quiet. The guides inside are very interesting. 📷Photo spots: the giant statue of Xiang Yu at the entrance of the scenic area, the red wall of Xiang Yu's hometown, the Zhenru Zen Temple building, and the Chu-Han Cultural Street. 🌺Noon: Yingxun Lane + Snack Street opposite Suqian Middle School (1h) (P5-P7) Yingxun Lane is a relatively short alley with artistic scenery, various murals and ornaments, and it is very photogenic! 🍜After you have finished taking pictures, you can walk a few steps to the snack street next door, opposite Suqian Middle School. Ma's sesame cakes, vegetable pancakes, Yancheng egg pancakes, stinky tofu, cold noodles...taste the special snacks of northern Jiangsu. 🏝Afternoon: Luoma Lake Tourist Resort (3h) (P8-P9) Suqian people’s own little seaside! 1. Lakeside Beach Park: Pretend to be at the seaside, stroll on the beach, and enjoy the 122-meter Ferris wheel. 2. Water sports: rafting and speedboating to experience the speed and passion. 3. Sunset: Watch the sunset by the lake and take photos of the beautiful silhouettes. Food & Souvenirs 1. Special dinner: Suqian mutton soup: served with sesame seed cakes, it warms the stomach and is nourishing. Luomahu whitebait steamed egg: fresh, tender and smooth, a representative of lake seafood. Sihong Lion Head: The meat is tender and the soup is rich. Wangbulaogao: glutinous rice dessert with a soft and sticky texture. 2. Specialties: Hawthorn cake: a thousand-year-old craft, sweet and sour and appetizing (a traditional specialty of Suqian). Sihong Rice: irrigated with water from Hongze Lake, with full grains.

The Zhenru Zen Temple in Suqian, commonly known as the South Grand Temple, is located in the south of Suqian city, adjacent to the former residence of Xiang Yu, the Hegemon-King of Western Chu. The Zhenru Zen Temple in Suqian was first built in the Yuan Dynasty's Dade years (1300 AD) by the monk Shaoqing. In the third year of the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty (1370 AD), the monk Shanxiang carried out the first large-scale renovation. In the eighth year of the Tianshun period (1464 AD), the monk Zhizhao conducted another major renovation, gradually giving the temple its current scale.