Liangxi District 梁溪区

History

The district government traces the area back 3,000 years and describes it as an important birthplace of Wuxi's industry and commerce: the city's historic silk market, rice market, cloth wharf and money wharf all began here. The painter Gu Kaizhi (顾恺之), the calligrapher Wang Xizhi (王羲之) and the musician Hua Yanjun (华彦钧), better known as Abing (阿炳), all lived in what is now Liangxi, and the area produced figures such as Xue Fucheng (薛福成) and Qian Zhongshu (钱钟书). The district counts 84 protected heritage sites at city level or above, 13 of them national.

What to see

The old canal loop around the city (环城古运河), which the district government calls the only loop on the entire canal, runs through Liangxi. The Qingming Bridge Historic Street (清名桥历史文化街区) lies where the canal meets the Bodu Creek (伯渎港); streets and waterways still run side by side, with more than a hundred historic buildings and nine old bridges. It was named one of China's famous historic streets in June 2010 and became a national 4A scenic area in 2014. Shops line Nanchang Street (南长街) and Nanxiatang (南下塘), while Dayao Road (大窑路) keeps rows of traditional houses.

Nanchan Temple (南禅寺), on the canal in the south of the city, was founded in the Taiqing era of Emperor Wu of Liang. Its Miaoguang Pagoda (妙光塔), seven storeys and 43.3 metres high, was first built in the Northern Song dynasty.

Xihui Park (锡惠公园), laid out in 1958 on the western edge of the city, covers 90 hectares of Xi Hill (锡山) and Hui Hill (惠山). It contains Huishan Temple (惠山寺), Jichang Garden (寄畅园), created around 1527 by Qin Jin (秦金) on the site of monks' lodgings, and the Second Spring Under Heaven (天下第二泉), ranked second among China's waters by the Tang tea master Lu Yu (陆羽). Huishan Old Street (惠山老街) is also listed as a famous historic street.

Donglin Academy (东林书院), founded in 1111 where the scholar Yang Shi (杨时) taught, was revived in 1604 by Gu Xiancheng (顾宪成) and became a centre of political debate in the late Ming. It has been a national key heritage site since 2005.

Getting oriented

Wuxi's combined transport hub, with the railway station, coach station and city bus centre, is in the district, and Wuxi Metro lines 1 to 4 all meet here. The city's museum, library and sports park are also in Liangxi.

Highlights

• Qingming Bridge Historic Street 清名桥历史文化街区: Canal-side quarter with over a hundred historic buildings and nine old bridges; named a famous historic street in 2010.
• Nanchan Temple 南禅寺: Canal-side temple founded under Emperor Wu of Liang, with the 43.3-metre Miaoguang Pagoda first built in the Northern Song.
• Jichang Garden 寄畅园: Garden at the eastern foot of Hui Hill, created around 1527 by Qin Jin on the site of monks' lodgings.
• Second Spring Under Heaven 天下第二泉: The Huishan spring that Lu Yu ranked second among China's waters.
• Donglin Academy 东林书院: Academy founded in 1111 and revived in 1604 by Gu Xiancheng; national key heritage site since 2005.