Travel Notes on Yuyang Mountain

It’s been so long since I came back from Yuyang Mountain, and I’m still immersed in the atmosphere of Wu’s ancient culture, which I can’t forget for a long time. Yuyang Mountain is located on the shore of Taihu Lake, with layers of forests and greenery. The environment is quiet and pleasant. When you climb up and look into the distance, you can have a panoramic view of the beautiful scenery of Taihu Lake. The waves are shining and the mountains are stacked. It is really beautiful and spectacular. The ancient Wu Kingdom in Yuyang Mountain is extremely rich in historical and cultural resources. Civil servants and military generals of the past dynasties have left many poems, calligraphy, paintings and war relics and legends here. The mountains are not high, but there are immortals. The shape of Yuyang Mountain is very similar to the most auspicious god Ao in China. The special geographical location and rich history and culture have endowed Yuyang Mountain with spirituality, making it a treasure mountain on the bank of Taihu Lake in Wuzhong. The name of Yuyang Mountain comes from the story of Wu Zixu "giving a mountain to repay his kindness". After Wu Zixu led his army to defeat the powerful Chu State, dug up the grave of King Chu Ping and whipped his corpse, and avenged a bloody vengeance, he found the descendants of the old fisherman who had saved his life and brought them back to the Kingdom of Wu. Then they found this Feng Shui treasure closest to the palace to place them properly, and named the place Yuyang Mountain. It means that the life-saving grace of the old fisherman is like the vast ocean, which will never be forgotten.

After seeing the origin of Yuyang Mountain at the entrance of the scenic spot, we all walked into the scenic spot with great interest. The newly built gate of Yuyangshan Scenic Area is very impressive, but there are very few tourists because it is the off-season. Accompanied by friends, we climbed to the Yuyang Pavilion on the top of Yuyang Mountain in one breath, stepping on the morning dew and breathing in the fresh air. The weather was particularly good. As far as the eye could see, ancient warships stood in Taihu Lake. It seemed as if Wu Zixu and Sun Wu were leading the Wu navy to fight against the Vietnamese navy. The soldiers' screams and the rumble of war drums were like piercing history. The sky rang in my ears. But the cargo ships going south and north and the lake scenery of cruise ships and yachts cruising around ruthlessly interrupted my reverie. I have been to Taihu Lake several times, but it was my first time to visit Taihu Lake in Wuzhong, and it was my first time to climb the top of Yuyang Mountain to see the panoramic view of Taihu Lake. In the early morning, Taihu Lake is still shrouded in morning fog, giving people the feeling that Taihu Lake is covered with a mysterious veil. Friends said that the top of Yuyang Mountain is the best place to view the scenery of Taihu Lake. Only here can you see the whole picture of Taihu Lake. Because Yuyang Mountain is located in the central area of ??Taihu Lake in Suzhou, facing the lake on three sides, facing Xukou Ancient Town in the east, Guangfu Dengwei, Xuan Tomb, and Xiaogong Mountain in the north, facing Dongting Mountain in the south, and Dongting Mountain in the west. The Taihu Lake Bridge is like Changhong. Wobo connects Xishan, Yeshan and Changsha Islands. Looking up, it turns out that the vastness of the smoke and the mountains are so beautiful! A magnificent bridge flies across the Taihu Lake. A friend said that this is the Taihu Lake No. 1 Bridge. Next to it, the expansion project of the No. 1 Bridge is basically completed but not yet open to traffic. Because there are so many vehicles on Bridge No. 1 during holidays, it is difficult to get in and out due to traffic jams. The traffic situation that makes it impossible to get in or out seriously affects the mood and leisure effects of tourists. Therefore, the government has implemented an expansion project on the No. 1 Bridge, making Wuzhong Taihu Tourist Resort truly a back garden for Shanghai and Suzhou people to relax and vacation.

Breathing in the oxygen-rich ions from the oxygen bar on the top of the mountain in the early morning makes people feel extremely relaxed. Next we came to the north of the mountain, in the Tanhuawu bamboo forest at the northern foot of Yuyang Mountain, where Princess Wu Zheng Dan was buried. According to historical records, this Zheng Dan was the concubine of King Helu of Wu. However, for thousands of years, it has been said in literary works, movies and TV dramas that Zheng Dan was the concubine of Fu Chai, King of Wu. Zheng Dan was originally a beautiful woman from the country of Yue. She lived in a neighboring village with Xi Shi. After being spotted by Fan Li, she and Xi Shi were donated to King Wu Fu Chai. This time we also visited Xi Shi’s hometown. At that time, I was still thinking that Zheng Dan’s ending would be a mystery like Xi Shi’s, right? It turns out that this is the place where flowers are buried after they have fallen into the world of mortals. Further ahead is Yuyangshan Beiwu, which was once the naval base of the ancient Wu Kingdom. It was here that Wu Zixu trained Wu's elite navy, and collaborated with Sun Wu on land and water to defeat the invasions of Chu and Yue. Because the Yuyang Mountain area is where the King's City of Wu is located, there are a large number of cultural and historical relics of the Wu Kingdom. The most famous ones are Jiangdun and Nangong, which are the mounds where King Wu worshiped Sun Wu as his general. They are also the places where Sun Wu trained his troops, such as "Three Orders and Five Applications" and "Beheading Two Concubines". Due to time constraints, we cannot visit them one by one. When you go to visit, the best time to finish enjoying the scenery is when you still have more to say.

Although we were in a hurry and only had a quick tour of Yuyang Mountain, our group still felt it was well worth it. Yuyang Mountain has witnessed the rise, strength and decline of a dynasty, the history of Wu and Yue's struggle for hegemony, the lamentation of the unparalleled hero Wu Zixu before his death, and the despair of the coward Fu Cha when he covered his face and committed suicide. There is also an epic story about how Wu Zixu's kindness should be repaid with a spring. "Giving a mountain to repay kindness" will be praised by generations of Yuyang Mountain.