Lingyan Mountain Scenery Area is located at the piedmont of the Lingyan Mountain which was always praise as "its beartiful scenery exceed the others in the South of Yangtze River". There are Gusu Platform of the King of the Wu State, the residence of Bi Yuan (the examinee of the first in the Qing dynasty) named Lingyan Mountain Villa and the Memorial Hall of the poet Zhang Yongfu in the Qing dynasty, etc. showplaces in the Lingyan Mountain Scenery Area.

All the buildings in the area were built acclimate the circumstances, and from of old, it was the famous scenic spot in the Wu region. Climb up the Lingyan Mountain, you can search the Guanwa Palace, Xishi Cavity, Qintai ect. relics of the Spring and the autumn period, pilgrimage the No.1 Buddhism temple -- the Lingyan Hill Temple in south East China.

Lingyan Mountain, the three-dimensional history of the Wu and Yue States of the Spring and the autumn period, the simple and unsophisticated nature landscape.

Lingyan Mountain is situated in the northwest of the ancient town of Mudu. With rugged and graceful rocks, it's claimed as the No.1 Peak in Suzhou. At the top of the hill, there is the Guanwa Palace built by Fuchai, King of Wu State, for his favorite concubine Xishi. With donation from Lu Wan of the East Jin Dynasty (317-420), it was expanded to become a temple. Today, the Buddhist shrine remains as an active religious site famous in southeastern China.

Many poets of the Tang Dynasty (907-618), such as Bai Juyi and Wei Yingwu, had written their lines with inspiration of the hill. Emperors Kangxi and Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) had both established their temporary palace here during their tours to the south.

(China.org.cn June 24, 2004)