Suizhou 随州市

Setting and landscape

The Yun River (涢水) runs diagonally across the prefecture, which the city government places where the Yangtze and Huai basins meet, between Wuhan (武汉) and Xiangyang (襄阳).

History

The city traces its name to an ancient Sui clan, and from the middle Shang to the late Warring States the states of Li (厉), Sui (随) and Tang (唐) had their seats here, until Chu (楚) conquered Sui. The tomb of the Marquis Yi, in the Leigudun (擂鼓墩) group on the city's western outskirts, was excavated in 1978 and dates to 433 BC or a little later. Its 65 bronze bells were found hanging in three tiers, and Chinese Wikipedia places most of its finds in the Hubei Provincial Museum (湖北省博物馆) in Wuhan. Yang Jian (杨坚) governed Suizhou before founding the Sui dynasty (隋朝) in 581 and named it after the city.

What to see

The Yan Emperor Shennong Hometown scenic area (炎帝神农故里风景区) at Lieshan (厉山) in Suixian (随县), 18 kilometres from the city, hosts the Suizhou Shennong rites (随州神农祭典), national intangible heritage since 2011 and traditionally associated with the 26th day of the fourth lunar month, the god's birthday. The new Suizhou Museum (随州博物馆) stands beside the Leigudun tombs and includes a hall for chime-bell performances; bronze chime-bell casting, carried on by family firms in the city, joined the national list in 2021.

Mount Dahong, a national scenic area and a Buddhist centre of northern Hubei, rises to 1,055 metres at Baozhu Peak (宝珠峰) and holds a crater lake, Bailongchi (白龙池), at 840 metres. Luoyang (洛阳镇) town is home to the Thousand-Year Ginkgo Valley (千年银杏谷) and its ancient ginkgo trees.

Food and local products

Paopao qing (泡泡青), a geographical-indication green from Suizhou, has thick, densely blistered leaves that are sweet and soft. In Maping (马坪) town in Guangshui (广水), which calls itself the home of Zhan Wang (詹王), ancestor of cooks, guaizi fan (拐子饭) began some 300 years ago as a dockworkers' meal of pig's trotters and intestines stewed in clay jars and eaten with rice. The municipal account describes braising the trotters with star anise, cinnamon and fennel.

Getting oriented

The city government sits in Zengdu District (曾都区). The Beijing–Guangzhou railway (京广线) and the Wuhan–Shiyan high-speed line (汉十高铁) cross the prefecture, as does the Wuhan–Shiyan expressway (汉十高速公路).

Highlights

• Marquis Yi of Zeng tomb, Leigudun 曾侯乙墓: Excavated 1978, buried 433 BC or a little later; 65 bronze bells, Chinese Wikipedia places most finds in the Hubei Provincial Museum.
• Yan Emperor Shennong Hometown 炎帝神农故里风景区: At Lieshan in Suixian, 18 km from the city; venue of the Suizhou Shennong rites (national heritage, 2011).
• Suizhou Museum 随州博物馆: Beside the Leigudun tombs, with a chime-bell performance hall.
• Mount Dahong 大洪山: National scenic area; Baozhu Peak 1,055 m and the Bailongchi crater lake at 840 m.
• Paopao qing 泡泡青: Suizhou geographical-indication green with thick, blistered, sweet leaves.
• Thousand-Year Ginkgo Valley 千年银杏谷: Ancient ginkgo trees in Luoyang town.