The Baimajian (White Horse Gully) and Longchi (Dragon Pool) resort is located in the western part of Suzhou’s high-tech development zone and is an important part of the city’s western tourist area and a natural green area for the development zone.

It is a natural ecological leisure site for the downtown area and was developed to high ecological and cultural standards from the beginning, with six zones, four of them as nature zones and two for public recreation,.

Classical scenes: The cultural heritage of the resort date back 2,500 years. During the Warring-State Period (475~221 BC), the site was used by King of Wu for keeping horses and the King of Yue endured hardships and disgrace before finally accomplishing his mission. It was also a temporary site of the imperial palace during the Qing Dynasty, when the Kangxi and Qianlong emperors were touring southern China.

The site is now a modern recreational area with the horse pond and Xieyue Mountain. Tourists can enjoy the cultural heritage of Longchi along an ancient path, along both sides of which stands the temporary palace of the Qianlong emperor. There are many stone inscriptions from the Ming and Qing, including one saying “thousand-feet of snow” and “longevity stone”, by Zhao Yiguang of the Ming; and “bright mirror-like river ripples under white clouds”, from the Qianlong emperor. The area also contains the “humble cottage” of Xu Fang, a calligrapher of the late Ming and early Qing, along with other scenic spots, such as a waterfall in Cloud Valley, the “horse-searching pavilion”, a riverside footpath, natural stones, a 10-li wooden shed, and “Washing Heart Spring”.

These spots are a combination of the historical and modern. In 2002, at Dragon Pool, biologists found a peach blossom jellyfish, considered a living fossil, whose history goes back 550 million years. The jellyfish can be frequently spotted in the pool.

The beauty of water: The pool is a source of water for the scenic resort and tourists can stroll around it, amidst the willow trees and larks singing. In fact, water is what the scenic area is all about and there are bamboo rafts to ride, water cycles upstream, or water-balls and fishing downstream.

Mountain retreat: White Horse Gully has mountains on three sides, and the spirit of heaven and earth meet in Dragon Pool. The mountains are not so high, but bring a great deal of tranquility. They were formed by a violent shift of the earth’s crust about 100 million years ago.

In the mountains, tourists can see some lovely stones from the distant past, in various shapes, such as a golden toad, a horse head, or Buddha’s palm. Standing at the peak and looking far away, you can imagine how the ancient poets and writers were moved by the scenery.

Secluded forest: The clear water nurtures the green trees, the “green lung” of the city which helps to calm the restless hearts of urbanites. The resort has many different species of trees and is an ideal place for students and tourists to learn more about the nature of plants.

The area has various recreational programs for children, including a large swinging bridge, a castle, and a swing set. It also has recreational activities, such as rafting, a spacewalk, and meadow sliding. Other services include the Cloud Valley Villa and Dragon Pool restaurants, Knight Islet coffee shop, Suzhou snacks, and a large barbecue area.

In 2005, the scenic area was recognized as an advanced tourism unit by the Suzhou government, and the best investment destination and an advanced tourist services unit by the Suzhou tourism administration. On December 4, 2006, it got its AAAA scenic spot certification, making it Suzhou’s 20th AAAA scenic spot. Other awards include Suzhou advanced healthy city unit, Suzhou tourism sector advanced unit for 2007 and 2008, Jiangsu environmental education base, Suzhou tourism unit with credibility, and best rural tourism site of Suzhou. It is also a member of the Suzhou tourism association.

The Longchi scenic resort has been called as a land of idyllic beauty in a modern city and one of the best destinations for recreation and cultural activities.

Ticket prices: 50 yuan/person; 40 yuan/person for tour groups of 20 or more; 25 yuan/person for senior citizens above the age of 60, with an ID; free of charge for those above the age of 70, with an ID, ex-serviceman, and retired cadres.

Tel: 0512-66658111, 66625816

Website: www.szlongchi.com

Getting there: Take bus No 333 on the Suzhou Shilu Aiheqiao (Shilu-Longchi scenic area) line to the destination. Take busses No 44, 325, 442, or 301, and then transfer at the Huashan Rd stop to No 333 directly to the destination.