City charms tourists with historic attractions and refined atmosphere

Zhangjiagang in Jiangsu province has recently claimed another title－one of 100 Chinese counties or county-level cities with the biggest potential to develop tourism－adding to its list of honors, which includes being named a City of Civility and a City of Ecology.

The top 100 list was released on Nov 12 by organizations including the China Economic Herald newspaper and the China Information Industry Association.

Candidates were evaluated against 24 criteria in four categories: potential for resource exploitation, potential for market expansion, potential for essential support, and potential for governmental support, according to the newspaper.

Located near Shanghai to the southeast and the Yangtze River to the north, Zhangjiagang has made a substantial effort to develop its tourism industry. This has been fueled by a high-speed railway that connects it to Shanghai and Jiangsu's Nantong.

The goal is for the eastern Chinese port city to become a top destination for tourists from across the Yangtze River Delta and a leader in developing what is called "all-for-one tourism".

In 2019, the city's varied attractions drew more than 8.8 million visits. This generated over 20 billion yuan ($3.04 billion) in tourism revenue, a 6.42 percent increase year-on-year, according to the local government.

Visitors can indulge in imaginary time travel by touring Zhangjiagang, where both ancient and modern attractions abound.

Yongqing Temple in the city is one of the "480 temples of the Southern Dynasty (420-589)" depicted in a noted Tang Dynasty (618-907) poem composed by Du Mu, according to the Zhangjiagang city government website.

The Buddhist temple has a history of more than 1,500 years, having undergone numerous repairs.

Legend has it that Shi Naian penned part of his famous Water Margin in the temple. The work is one of China's Four Great Classical Novels.

Fast-forward to the Tang Dynasty, where a Chinese Buddhist monk, Jianzhen, embarked on a historic journey from Zhangjiagang in 753. It was his last and only successful voyage to Japan, after five attempts. A Buddhist temple called Dongduyuan was built at his point of departure to commemorate the man who brought Buddhist classics to Japan.

The stately Tang Dynasty-style architecture houses a statue of Jianzhen and calligraphic works by reputed author Guo Moruo. It has become one of the most important platforms for China-Japan communication, receiving more than 150,000 Japanese visitors annually, according to the government website.

Another historic spot in Zhangjiagang is Leyu Old Street, which stands as a monument to the city's ups and downs over the past century. Built in 1934 by local business tycoon Zhang Jianlu, Leyu Old Street features architecture typical of the Republic of China (1912-49), with cobbled streets, wooden pillars and black bricks. In 1986, a flea market gradually took shape, selling crafts from handmade ladders to old-fashioned timepieces.

Nowadays, one can go for a stroll down the pedestrian shopping street in downtown Zhangjiagang, which "people used to describe as Singapore in the daytime and Hong Kong at night", according to the government website.

In addition to manmade attractions, there are also works of nature to see in Zhangjiagang, such as Phoenix Mountain and Shuangshan Island.

Besides physical attractions, the city boasts another invaluable asset that boosts tourism－the civility, refinement, hospitality and goodwill of its residents.

Civility is shaping up to be the biggest brand of local tourism, Xinhua Daily reported.

Zhangjiagang was recently named a State-level City of Civility, a coveted title. This makes it the only county-level city in China that has claimed the accolade six times in a row.

"I often come to Zhangjiagang over the weekend," a tourist from Shanghai told Xinhua Daily. "People here have a pleasant air of civility about them."

One can see a representation of this intangible asset upon arriving in Zhangjiagang by high-speed train: a 30-square-meter space themed around civility and charity at the station.

Inside the space is a workshop for making handicrafts, two capsule offices and a bookstore where passengers can borrow books and download e-books for free. All proceeds from selling the handicrafts go to charity, according to Suzhou Daily.

The city sends volunteers to different tourist spots to help promote good manners, protect the environment and provide tourist services. So far, nearly 3,000 residents have registered as volunteers to serve tourists, according to Xinhua Daily.