Things to do in Rugao

Shuihui Garden, located in the northeast corner of Rugao Ancient City, Jiangsu Province, was first built during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, boasting a history of over 400 years. The garden's name, meaning "water paintings all around from north to south and east to west," reflects its location. It was the retreat of Mao Pijiang, one of the "Four Gentlemen of the Late Ming Dynasty," and Dong Xiaowan, one of the "Eight Beauties of Qinhuai." The garden features shimmering waters and picturesque scenery, comprising attractions such as Shuiming Tower and Gudan Garden. Designated a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit in 2001, it enjoys the reputation of being a "Famous Garden Under Heaven." Admission is free.

Rugao Ancient City: A "Double Ring City" with a Round Outside and a Square Inside Rugao Ancient City is located in Rugao City, Jiangsu Province. It is an ancient city with a profound historical and cultural heritage. The ancient city was built in the 33rd year of Jiajing in the Ming Dynasty (1554 AD), and has a history of nearly 500 years. Its name comes from the historical story of "Yu Yi Rugao Shooting Pheasants" in "Zuo Zhuan•Zhao Gong 28th Year", which implies the scene of reaching the high ground by the water to hunt pheasants. Later, people named this place "Rugao". Rugao Ancient City is divided into the inner city and the outer city. The overall layout is round outside and square inside, resembling ancient coins. It is called "Double Ring City" by Chen Congzhou, a famous garden master and professor at Tongji University. This layout is relatively rare in China, giving the ancient city a unique charm. There are many historical and cultural attractions inside and outside the ancient city, such as the Shezhi Pavilion of the Spring and Autumn Ruins, the Yingchun Bridge of Gaoqiao in the Ming Dynasty, and the thousand-year-old Dinghui Zen Temple, which show the unique historical style of the ancient city.

The museum houses many precious items, including the 2016 Connecticut Lifetime Achievement Award certificate awarded to Li Changyu, the silver medal of the Magnolia Memorial Award, an on-site footprint collector, an old black microscope used in Dr. Li Changyu's laboratory, a dissection tool set, stone fragments from the Oklahoma City explosion site, and more.

Nantong Forest Zoo was absolutely my most delightful and surprising trip recently! Unlike the rushed experience of traditional zoos, it felt like a magical world where fairy tales and reality intertwine. The most captivating feature was undoubtedly the fairytale treehouses hidden among the trees. Stepping inside felt like becoming a forest sprite. Even more delightful was the friendly welcome when you opened your door – adorable raccoons and lively deer would peek in and wander around your feet. They weren't afraid of people at all and would even approach you. Offering them carrot sticks and vegetables, watching them happily munch on their food, their furry touch and watery eyes were incredibly soothing and interactive! Besides the close encounters with the animals, the zoo's circus performance was also exceptionally captivating. The amazing acrobatics, the intelligent animal stars, the fast-paced and energetic show kept both adults and children engrossed. Most importantly, it's perfect for a road trip. You can drive freely through the open park, stopping whenever you see an animal you like to observe its natural behavior up close – a truly liberating experience. Overall, Nantong Forest Zoo perfectly combines accommodation, interactive activities, entertainment, and self-driving options, ensuring enjoyment for families and young people alike. Highly recommended for anyone wanting to reconnect with nature and rediscover their inner child!

Shanghai After Dark — The Bund Never Sleeps ✨“Where the river reflects a thousand city lights and the future rises above a timeless waterfront. The Bund is more than a view — it’s Shanghai at its most magical, where elegance, ambition, and endless dreams meet.” 🌃❤

On the last day of the National Day Golden Week holiday, I went to Disneyland. There weren't as many tourists as I expected, and the lines weren't long. It was great value for money! There were several parade floats, and the evening fireworks show was extended by 5 minutes for the 10th anniversary celebration! Awesome! 👍🏻

My second visit to West Lake was great; the boat tour was excellent. The dock was easy to find, the staff were very friendly, provided clear explanations, and helped with any issues. There were also sightseeing buses, which were nice but a bit pricey. Taking the boat tour and then walking around was both perfectly fine.

This Jiuhua Mountain is not that Jiuhua Mountain. This Ksitigarbha is not as big as you think. Nowadays, the temples are very tricky.

It is not open during the epidemic, so you can only look around. The yellow exterior wall reveals the unique atmosphere of the temple. From a distance, you can see the tall pagoda, the breeze blows, and the wind chimes jingle, as if to tell the history of this ancient city.

This was my first time trying this style of dressing up for a meal and watching a show, and it was quite novel. It was fun and interesting, but if you're looking for a quiet meal, don't try it! 🤪 Overall, it was pretty good.