WoSign CA 2017 South East China Tour

As is described by many poets, mist and blossoms are the main theme of South East China in March. In March, WoSigners traveled to South East China.

For the hard work accomplished by WoSigners last year, WoSign CA organized a 4-day tour around South East China “Watertown”. Places of interest included Hangzhou West Lake, Xixi National Wetland Park, Tongxiang Wuzhen, Suzhou Lion Grove Garden, Hanshan Temple and Shanghai Film and Television Park, the Bund, the memorial hall of 1st National Congress of the Communist Party of China. The WoSigners were separated into two groups to ensure the 7*24 continuous services.

There is a Chinese saying, “Above, there is heaven; below, there is Su Hang”. On the first day, WoSigners arrived in Hangzhou, the earthly paradise. Following the tour guide, WoSigners went sightseeing around Leifeng Pagoda, Sudi and Hefang Street. The original pagoda was built at the order of King Qian Chu (born Qian Hongchu) of Wuyue. It was built to celebrate the birth of Qian Chu's son, born to Queen Yu, because it was built on the Leifeng Peak, it was then called Leifeng Pagoda. From the top of the Pagoda, the West Lake is visible through eight different angles, which forms a panoramic picture. Sudi, an avenue that connects the south and the north bank of the West Lake, is also a popular tourist attraction. Willow branches swaying over both sides, peach trees blossoming one after another, Sudi is a spring messenger. Along with the moonset, willow branches waving in a breeze, it feels as if one is walking in a dream.

On the second day, WoSigners traveled around Xixi National Wetland Park and Wuzhen, the permanent site of The World Internet Conference. Xixi is a National Wetland Park that consists of urban wetland, farming wetland and cultural wetland. Men of letters see it as pure land, or paradise. Xixi Wetland has both abundant natural and cultural heritage. Wuzhen is an ancient town of South East China, which has a history of more than 6000 years. It is also known as “the land of fish and rice”, “the home of silk” and “the last place where men ‘sleep’ by the river”. In 2014, Wuzhen was selected to be the permanent site of The World Internet Conference. Wharfs, boats, foot bridges, alleys, blue flagstones, all mixed with a drizzle, form excellent tranquility and purity which can only be discovered in a poem or a painting.

Lion Grove Garden and Hanshan Temple were the destinations on the third day. Lion Grove Garden is one of the most famous gardens in Suzhou. With a history of over 650 years, it is also a representative of gardens of Yuan Dynasty. The garden is in a highly-connected structure, with countless corridors surrounding and connecting each part. Here survives the biggest rockeries in China. Most of the rockeries were lion-shaped, which is how the garden was named. Hanshan Temple, located in the suburban district of Suzhou, is a temple that was constructed in Six Dynasties period. In Tang Dynasty, Zhenguan period, it was renamed as Hanshan Temple.

On the fourth day, WoSigners arrived in Shanghai, where they went sightseeing for Shanghai Film and Television Park, the Bund, the memorial hall of 1st National Congress of the Communist Party of China. Shanghai Film and Television Park is one of the ten biggest film and television bases, where countless famous films and drama series were born. On a streetcar, jingling as it was running, it feels as if that was a time machine which drove the passengers into the 30s of old Shanghai. Suddenly, a shot was heard, and all the passengers looked back, to find out that a movie was being shot.

Back from the old Shanghai, WoSigners were driven to the new Shanghai, the Bund. The Shanghai Bund is as long as 1.2 km, along the east site of which is the Whangpoo river, and the west side of the the Bund located 52 buildings under various styles, which covers Gothic, romantic, style combining Chinese and western and etc.. They are so called World Architecture Expo, and also “Eastern Wall Street”. The site of the 1st National Congress of the Communist Party of China is the birthplace of Communist Party of China. On July 23rd, 1921, the 1st National Congress of the Communist Party of China was held at this place. Representatives from different places came here to attend the Congress, which included Mao Zedong, He Shuheng, Dong Biwu, Chen Tanqiu, Wang Jinmei, Deng Enming, Li Da, Li Hanjun, Zhang Guotao, Liu Renjing, Chen Gongfu, Zhou Fohai and Chen Duxiu’s representative, Bao Huisen, totally 13 persons who represented 53 members of Communist Party of China. In the party, Chen Duxiu, Li Da and Zhang Guotao were elected as members to form the central office and the Communist Party of China was since founded.

Like every tour, the South East China Tour ended with everybody being relaxed and the sense of unity being strengthened. Like every tour, new places always mean new horizons, as a WoSigner, we will endeavor to overcome difficulties and open up a new journey.