Travel in Xuzhou |
Xuzhou (xú zhōu 徐州) is well known for its heritage and the Han (hàn 汉) culture. There are total more than 200 Han tombs discovered, with thousands of unearthed priceless funerary objects and terracotta warriors. With a history of 2,600 years, it is also a historical city with the critical strategic importance from military views, and known as a notable battlefield in China's history. There were more than two hundred famous battles once taken place on this land. History In the Xia (xià 夏) and Shang (shāng 商)Dynasties, Xuzhou was in the land inhabited by the Dongyi (dōng yí 东夷)peoples who constantly warred with the Shang and Zhou (zhōu 周) Dynasties. During the Spring and Autumn Period (chūn qiū shí qī 春秋时期), Xuzhou was a collection of small farming/fishing villages and towns, part of the border region between the Chu (chǔ 楚), Wu (wú 吴) and Qi (qí 齐). It was originally a capital of the Dongyi State of Xu but was exterminated by the State of Wu in 512 BC. In turn, Wu was conquered by the State of Yue (yuè guó 越国) a few decades later. Chu gradually expanded its influence around Xuzhou after absorbing the nearby State of Cai (cài guó 蔡国) in 447 BC and the conquest of the State of Yue in 334 BC. By the Warring States Period (zhàn guó shí qī 战国时期), it was firmly in cultural and administrative sphere of Chu. Liu Bang (liú bāng 刘邦), who was the first Emperor of Han Dynasty, was born in one of Xuzhou's counties, Peixian County (pèi xiàn 沛县). The Xuzhou region was called Huaiyang (huái yáng 淮扬) during the Zhou Dynasty since the Huai River (huái hé 淮河) crosses the area. The state of Chu moved to this area after the Qin army captured the old capital, Ying (yǐng 郢), in modern Jingzhou (jīng zhōu 荆州), Hubei (hú běi 湖北).
At the beginning of the Han Dynasty, Xuzhou became part of the Kingdom of Chu, a principality ruled by relatives of the royal Liu family. Initially, Liu Bang allowed his relatives to rule parts of the country since they were assumed to be the most trustworthy. However, the Kingdom of Chu under third generation ruler Liu Wu (liú wǔ 刘武) rebelled against the central authority during the Rebellion of the Seven Princes (qī xióng hún zhàn 七雄混战) and was defeated. His tomb was recently excavated near Xuzhou.
After the Yellow River started to change course in the Song (sòng 宋) Dynasty , when heavy silting at the Yellow River mouth forced the river to channel its flow to the lower Huai River tributary, the region has since become barren due to persistent flooding, nutrient depletion and salinization of the once fertile soil.
The area was the site of the final critical battle in the Chinese Civil War, the Huaihai Campaign (huái hǎi zhàn yì 淮海战役) in 1948 - 1949. The disastrous capitulation of Chiang Kai-shek (jiǎng jiè shí 蒋介石) at Xuzhou led eventually to the fall of Nanking (nán jīng 南京).
Attractions in Xuzhou
Guishan Han Tomb (guī shān hàn mù 龟山汉墓) It is the tomb for Liu Zhu (liú zhù 刘注) and his wife, the sixth prince and princess of Chu State. It is 83 meters long and 33 meters wide, covering an area of more than 700 square meters, and consists of 15 tomb chambers. Everything needed in daily life is found in the bedroom, dinning room, stable and kitchen which can still be seen in what is essentially a splendid under ground palace. Location: Guishan Hill, Jiuli (jiǔ lǐ 九里) District
Lion Hill Tomb (shī zǐ shān mù 狮子山墓) Lion Hill Tomb is for Liu Wu (liú wù 刘戊), the third prince of Chu who lived in the early Western Han (xī hàn 西汉) Dynasty. The construction of the tomb was such a great project that 5100 cubic meters of stone were dug out to create this queerly structured gigantic tomb. It is grand and stately with big chambers which contained 2000 pieces of the precious cultural relics made of gold, silver, jade, bronze, iron, stone and lacquer. Address: No.1 Bingmayong (bīng mǎ yǒng 兵马俑 ) Street
The Xuzhou Museum of the Terracotta Warriors and Horses of Han Dynasty The Xuzhou Terracotta Warriors and Horses of Han Dynasty, is another significant discovery after Xi’an Terracotta Warriors and Horses of Qin Dynasty. As the funerary objects of Prince of Chu, more than 4000 pieces of the Terracotta Warriors and Horses have been unearthed and with vivid expression and bold outline, they are of high artistic value. The Xuzhou Museum of the Terracotta Warriors and Horses of Han Dynasty is built on the original site of the discovery, occupying an area of 20,400 square meters. Clay figures of warriors of various forms are laid in an orderly manner inside six pits, representing an underground army full of power. Address: in the same scenic spot as Lion Hill Tomb
Xuzhou Gallery of Stone Sculptures of Han Dynasty (hàn huà xiàng shí guǎn 汉画像石馆) It is a complex of buildings in the Han-Tang-style which covers an area of 10,000 square meters. It is a special museum established to collect, display and study the stone sculptures of Han, with more than 500 stone sculptures preserved. From the sculptures, we can see not only the rich people's rejoicing in fairyland and luxury in mortal life, but also the common people's work and life. Address: Yunlonghu (yún long hú 云龙湖) East Street Tips:. Stamp albums and postcards with paintings of Han Dynasty and stone sculptures are good choices for you to buy as souvenirs.
Xuzhou Han City (xú zhōu hàn chéng 徐州汉城)-- CCTV Television Base This is a group of Han-style buildings located in the ancient battle field of Jiuli Hill (jiǔ lǐ shān 九里山), where more than ten performances such as “Grand Ceremony at Han Palace”, and “King Mustering Troops”, are shown every day at regular hours, demonstrating the impressive and dignified manner of the grand battle field scenes of strong cavalry and marching troops. Address: Jiuli District
Han Palace in Peixian County As the birthplace of Liu Bang, Peixian County boasts a long history and splendid cultural heritage. With an area of 66 hectares in the center of the Peixian County, Han Palace is composed of large-scale Han-style architectures and includes Han Royal Park, Han Street, the Temple of Liu Bang, and “Ode to the Wind” Terrace. Address: No.1 Peixian Hancheng (hàn chéng 汉城) South Street
Covering an area of 12000 square meters, the Xuzhou Museum is situated on the north slope of Yunlong Mountain. The museum sits in the original site of the temporary imperial palace of Emperor Qianlong (qián lóng 乾隆) of the Qing Dynasty. Lots of exquisite cultural relics of the Han Dynasty are exhibited in the Xuzhou Museum, among which most valuable are the jade clothes interwoven with silver threads, the gild beast inkstone and copper bull lamp. Address: No.1 Heping (hé píng 和平) Street
Yunlong Mountain (yún lóng shān 云龙山) Location: Heping (hé píng 和平) Street
Yunlong Lake (yún long hú 云龙湖) Location: at the foot of Yunlong Mountain Ticket: free
Quanshan (quán shān 泉山) Forest Park Location: in the southern suburb of Xuzhou City
Monument to Martyrs of Huaihai Campaign (huái hǎi zhàn yì 淮海战役) Facing to the south, the Monument is situated on the slope of the hill, standing in the axes of the park with a height of 38.15 meters. The gold-plating inscriptions by Chairman Mao are set in the front of the monument, which is enclosed by cloisters and pavilions. In the marble wall of the south and north cloisters, the inscriptions by the leaders and the names of the martyrs are engraved. The relief sculptures on the base of the monument depict the grand scenes of the battlefields of the Huaihai Campaign. Address: No.2 Jiefang ( jiě fàng 解放) South Street Telephone: 0516 - 83840397 Food in Xuzhou Xuzhou is also called "Pengcheng (péng chéng 彭城)", because over 4,000 years ago, Pengzu (péng zǔ 彭祖), the father of Chinese cuisine, once lived here. At the same time, as the second political center of the Han Dynasty, the city was greatly influenced by the Han culture. The profound cultures epitomize the city's particular dinning customs. Nearly every dish has a legend or a historic story linked to it. Dongpo Hui Zeng Rou (dōng pō huí zèng ròu 东坡回赠肉) Recommended Restaurants:
Bawang Bie Ji (bà wáng bié jī 霸王别姬)
Fish in Lamb Chunks (yáng fāng cáng yú 羊方藏鱼) It is a famous stewed dish, in which fish is put inside lamb chunks. It tells that one day when Xiding (xī dīng 夕丁), the youngest son of Pengzu, came back from fishing, afraid that his father would scold him, he begged his mother to chop the dewing lamb into chunks to hide the fish inside. When Pengzu came back for dinner, he was surprised to find the lamb very delicious. It happens that “鲜”(xiān)-- the Chinese character for "delicious" is a combination of fish (鱼) and lamb (羊).
Di guo (dì guō 地锅) Another one of Xuzhou's famous dishes is Di guo style cooking, which places ingredients with a spicy sauce in a deep black skillet and cooks little pieces of flatbread on the side or top. Common staples of Di guo style cooking include: chicken, fish, and eggplant.
Transportation in Xuzhou
Airport Inquiry Number:0516 - 83068113
Railways Inquiry Number:0516-95105175
Public Buses
Taxis Taxis in Xuzhou are much cheaper than most other cities in China and also it is easier to catch one than in other cities. Generally speaking, the flat rate for the first three kilometers (about two miles) is RMB 7 and the distance surcharge is RMB 1.4 for every extra kilometer between three and six kilometers. If the distance is more than six kilometers, RMB 2.1 will be charged for every additional kilometer. Xuzhou Taxi Company: 0516-83733497 Contact
Emergency numbers
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