Jiangsu has been a tourist paradise ever since ancient times. Nanjing, Suzhou, Yangzhou, Zhenjiang, Changshu, Xuzhou and Huai'an are famous historical and cultural cities. Sixteen cities in the province have been entitled Fine Tourist Cities in the country, including Nanjing, the capital of six dynasties, and Suzhou, the Paradise on the Earth.

There are three major tourist centers in Jiangsu, namely the Yangtze River Area, the Tai Lake Area and the Xuhuai (Xuzhou and Huai'an) Area. There are now 20 well-known scenic spots, 23 forest parks, 6 tourism and holiday resorts and 461 historical sites under state and provincial protection. Nine classical gardens in Suzhou are designated by UNESCO as world cultural heritage.

Nanjing was the capital of several Chinese dynasties and contains a variety of historic sites, such as the Purple Mountain, Purple Mountain Observatory, the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, Ming Dynasty city wall and gates, Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum (The mausoleum of the first Ming Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang), Lake Xuanwu, Jiming Temple, the Nanjing Massacre Memorial, Nanjing Confucius Temple, Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge, and the Nanjing Zoo, with circus.

Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum

Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum

The Ming Xiaoling Tomb in Nanjing is one of China's most important and impressive historical sites, and its art, architecture, and grand scale have been drawing visitors for centuries. It recently received the honor of being listed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site.

Nanjing Confucius Temple

Suzhou is renowned for its classical gardens (designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site), as well as Hanshan Temple, and Huqiu Tower. Nearby is the water-town of Zhouzhuang, an international tourist destination where Venice alike waterways, bridges and dwellings have been preserved over centuries. Yangzhou is known for Thin West Lake. Wuxi is known for being the home of the world's tallest buddha statue. In the north, Xuzhou is designated as one of China's "eminent historical cities".

Suzhou Gardens

Suzhou Hanshan Temple

The Buddhist Hanshan Temple in Suzhou is not only a charming historic temple, but a place of deep cultural resonance for people not only in China, but throughout Asia and especially in Japan. As a result, if you want to experience the beautiful scenery shown in the famous poem composed by Zhang Ji, you should visit Hanshan Temple during winter time.

Water-town of Zhouzhuang

Zhouzhuang lies at the middle between Shanghai and Suzhou, is an ancient town of Kunshan, Jiangsu Province, where abounds with rivers and lakes. So it is thought by many to be the best waterside town in China. This ancient town has a history of more than 900 years old with many houses built in the Ming and Qing dynasties. There are about 100 houses with courtyards, and 60 of them have arch gateways made by carved bricks.

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