Yangshe, known as Jiyang in ancient times, boasts in its natural beauty and a rich history of over 1,700 years. On the ancient land has risen this modern town which blends ancient rhyme and modernity, exquisite elements of both Chinese and foreign cultures, and favorable eco-environment. Yangshe is drawing a blueprint of happy life for the townspeople in its own way.
As the birthplace of Wu culture, Yangshe was established in the second year of Taikang era of the Western Jin Dynasty (281), and originally named “Jiyang.” Its unique geographical environment features the confluence of rivers and seas and the clear division between ancient and new lands. Thus, the traditional Jiyang culture is characteristic of inclusiveness and profound inheritance.
Although townspeople now enjoy the modern urban life, the charm of Yangshe as ancient town remains there delightfully strong, appealing to all one’s senses.
After the warfare of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the grandness of Yangshe as an ancient fortress could no longer be traced, but overall layout remains distinct. The South and North Zhonggu Alleys, Dacai Alley built in Emperor Kangxi’s reign and Shuiguan Street based on a stone embankment are all witnesses to the town’s past thrive. The old residence of the Xiao’s in Xiangyang Alley has long been regarded as a footnote to the town’s classic elegance due to its white walls, black tiles, graceful roof ridge, and tiny courtyard.
The Qinglong Bridge, a stone arch bridge, was built in the 14th year of the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty. It is a silent witness to the hustle and bustle of the local market and the daily routines of the thriving harbor nearby. There are dozens of similar old bridges in Yangshe, such as the Taiping Bridge, the Huangqi Bridge, the Liudu Bridge, the Huanlong Bridge, the Xiecao Bridge, and the Xima Bridge. All of them have their own tales about the ancient town to tell.
“Of the four hundred and eighty temples built in the Southern Dynasties, many used to be thriving yet now are silent in mist and rain.” The Zunsheng Zen Temple, set up in the Southern and Northern Dynasties, not only records the ups and downs in the thousand-year-old Qing’an town of Yangshe township but also witnessed the Buddhist master Jianzhen’s sixth voyage to Japan in the Tang Dynasty. Henan Temple and Zhangqin Temple used to enjoy great popularity among pilgrims, and now still have many visitors who come to pray for peace and well-being.
The charm of ancient Jiyang still lingers, while honorable titles in modern days have added new glory to Yangshe. The town has pocketed honors such as “China’s Demonstration Town of Rural Revitalization”, “China’s Star Township”, “China’s Ten Most Attractive Townships”, “UN Livable City,” “National Demonstration Township of Building New Socialist Countryside,” “China’s Top Ten Innovative Development Zones,” and “China’s Top Ten Industrial Parks with Greatest Development Potential, etc. Both the material civilization and the spiritual civilization in Yangshe have developed at a quick pace and featured high quality. The ecological civilization here has grown into an advanced stage. The town is a typical case of applying the new development strategy focusing on prosperous, beautiful and culturally advanced modernization.
Yangshe keeps releasing vitality while its reform deepens. That’s why it has maintained within the top three among China’s Top 1,000 Towns with Strong Comprehensive Strengths. Yangshe’s Economic and Technological Development Zone ranks second in the national-level development zones set in counties. Its Remanufacturing Industry Demonstration Zone was in the first batch of such bases nationwide and the first of its kind in East China. Other such industrial achievements include the National Circular Transformation of Industries Pilot Park, the provincial Automobile and Auto Parts Industrial Park, the provincial “Internet + Advanced Manufacturing” Base which is a provincial industrial Internet demonstration project, and one of Suzhou’s Top Ten Digital Economy Industrial Parks.
Shazhouhu Technology Innovation Park
Spotlight Automotive Ltd., a cooperative project of the Great Wall Motor and Bavarian-Motor-Work, has a total investment of 20.2 billion yuan and is currently under construction in Shazhouhu Technology Innovation Park. The project of LCD polarizer manufacturing with a total investment of 1.1 billion US dollars has settled in the Economic Development Zone within the Park. The top 100 local enterprises, including Aoyang, Junma, Dongdu, Hailu, Yihua Rundong, and Longjie, have grown steadily and formed the pillars of the town’s industrial development. Yangshe is growing energetically and will surely achieve development of higher quality.
The town area of Yangshe features delicate beauty because of the elegant Jiyang Lake, the serene Shazhou Lake, the bustling pedestrian street, the gorgeous gourmet street, and the latest fashions offered by Wanda Plaza, Shopping Park, Mambat Plaza, and Wuyue Plaza. The liveliness of those old streets, the fantastic IMAX Theatre and the grand music fountain joyfully showcase Yangshe’s affluence and prosperity.
The countryside of Yangshe impresses people with its new and pleasant changes.Shangang Village of Yangshe is the place which serves not only as the venue for the “One Village ? One Show” project but also as a provincial pilot village of circular agriculture. Its vegetable gardens abound in a large variety of agricultural products. Wandering in its provincial theme vineyard, one may recall the images of fine wine and wine vessels in classic poems. In Fuqian Village designed to highlight pastoral life, the country breeze makes you feel intoxicated. The picturesque Baijiaqiao Village is a must-see to visitors. Zhoujiaqiao Village will entertain its guests with such delicacies as Yu Yang Xian (a dish made by fish meat, mutton and other ingredients) and dishes made of free-range geese. In midsummer, no gourmet can resist the temptation of caltrops. Villages in Yangshe all have their unique features, among which many have won titles such as “Civilized Village in Jiangsu,” “Village of Leisure and Agritourism in Jiangsu,” “Village of Beautiful Rivers and Lakes in Jiangsu,” “Beautiful Hometown in Jiangsu,” and “Most Beautiful Village Fitness Park in Jiangsu,” etc. By following the guideline of rural revitalization, Yangshe is getting increasingly confident and prosperous.
Yangshe has been a place talented people gather since ancient times. Today, advanced scientific research, good education, and the renowned spirt of Zhangjiagang support Yangshe to develop further, better and stronger. Now all party members and cadres in Yangshe, with a down-to-earth spirit, jointly lead townspeople to achieve goals set for social and economic development during the 14th “Five Year Plan” period. The town is striving to be a model and turn itself into a town which can function as “a leading zone of high-quality development, a zone of innovative development, a livable place of shared development, and a demonstration zone of sustainable development.”
Yangshe is working harder to make local people live a happier and more contented life.
