Duji District 杜集区

History

The district government traces local history from a city founded by the lord of Xiang (相王) to the Han-dynasty county of Wu (梧县). Wutong village (梧桐村) in Shitai Town (石台镇) was the seat of the Han state of Wu (梧国), and the story of 'high mountains and flowing water, meeting one who understands the music' (高山流水遇知音) is set there. The village keeps Han carved stone reliefs, prehistoric rock paintings and the site of a New Fourth Army (新四军) rear hospital.

People born or raised here include Zhuansun Zizhang (颛孙子张), one of the twelve worthy disciples of Confucius; the sculptor Liu Kaiqu (刘开渠); and the actor Liu Shilong (刘世龙), who played Wang Cheng in the film 'Heroic Sons and Daughters' (英雄儿女).

What to see

The Nanshan scenic area (南山风景区), a national 3A site in Nanshan village in the hills of eastern Huaibei, has an old 'Tang locust tree' (唐槐), Baoyuan Cave (抱元洞), Yingshui Temple (迎水寺), Qing-dynasty houses of the Zheng family (郑氏) and Han carved stones. Local promotion runs 'Changshou Nanshan zou yi zou, rensheng zhishao jiushijiu' (长寿南山走一走，人生至少九十九: walk on Longevity Nanshan and you will live to at least 99).

Shuoxi Lake (朔西湖) lies between Shuoli Town (朔里镇) on its east and Huaibei North high-speed station (淮北北站) on its west, about 10 km from the city. It is kept as a wetland of shoals, dikes and islands for birds, amphibians and reptiles, with bird-watching and a specimen hall. In the Wutong valley east of Wutong village, stone houses, springs, terraced fields and a hillside trail are at their greenest in summer.

Food and local products

Duanyuan Town (段园镇), on the Huang–Huai plain, has grown grapes for more than 300 years, and a local saying pairs 'Dazhuang grapes and Dangshan pears' (大庄葡萄砀山梨). Duanyuan grapes (段园葡萄) are a national geographical-indication product. Nanshan village is known for walnuts, 'longevity peaches' (寿桃), mountain apricots and purple sweet potatoes.

Getting oriented

The Fujia railway (符夹铁路) crosses the district from north to south, and the Beijing–Fuzhou and Lianyungang–Khorgas expressways pass through it. The Duanyuan area sits where two provinces and three cities or counties meet, 15 km from central Xuzhou.

Highlights

• Nanshan scenic area 南山风景区: National 3A village site with a 'Tang locust tree', Baoyuan Cave, Yingshui Temple and Qing houses.
• Shuoxi Lake 朔西湖: Wetland lake between Shuoli Town and Huaibei North station, with bird-watching.
• Wutong village 梧桐村: Seat of the Han state of Wu and setting of the 'high mountains and flowing water' story.
• Duanyuan grapes 段园葡萄: National geographical-indication product; grapes grown here for over 300 years.