Huqiu Tower is the second largest leaning tower in the world, with a history of more than 1,000 years. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Huqiu Scenic Area, or Tiger Hill, is located 3.5 kilometers to the northwest of the downtown area and has the reputation of being the most beautiful scenic spot in Jiangsu province. Su Dongpo, a renowned Song Dynasty poet, spoke fondly of Huqiu, saying, “It’s a pity if you don’t visit Huqiu when you travel to Suzhou.”
Huqiu is an attractive, meaningful tourist destination and dates back as far as the late Spring and Autumn period (475-221 BC). Fu Chai, the King of Wu Kindom, buried his father on the hill. Three days after the funeral was held, a white tiger was spotted atop the hill, hence the name.
Huqiu gives an impression of serenity with its pagoda and temple. The 1,000-year-old Huqiu Tower is the second largest leaning tower in the world. Built in 959 AD, the tower is the most ancient building in Suzhou, with a height of 47.7 meters. The tower began to lean in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), with a present inclination of three degrees and 59 minutes.
There are many other scenic spots with legendary fame, such as “Broken-Beam Hall” “Sword Pond” and “Thousand-person Stone”.
Tourists can visit the older part of Suzhou and enjoy the scenes of the surrounding countryside by visiting Xiaowu Pavilion, Wangsu, or the Zhishuang Pavilion on top of the hill.
