Tian Mu Lake is a part of Taihu lake system which covers part of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui provinces and Shanghai.[1] [2]As a matter of that it is one of the Tianmu Moutains, it was called Tian Mu Lake. Originally, it is well known for having two large reservoirs in China.
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Tian Mu Lake is a comprehensive tourist attractions with two branches. One is Shanshui Park, and the other is South Hill Bamboo Sea. In reality, they are not built together and have completely different spots. Specifically, the distance between two branches is 18 kilometres.
The area began redevelopment in 1994. The lake now boost agricultural sightseeing, beautiful lake scenery, entertainments on lake.
[3]Tian Mu Lake has a number of scenic areas such as Corsair, the Attic of Champions, the Temple of Jiangtaigong and the Suspension Bridge.
Corsair, a small 4D-cinema for watching The Legend Of Tian Mu Lake.
The Attic of Champions is an imitated ancient building with 736 champion information from Sui Dynasty and Qing Dynasty carved in tablets. It is located in the highest place in Tian Mu Lake.
The Temple of Jiangtaigong lies in the eastern dam of Tian Mu Lake. Jiangtaigong is a legendary figure from traditional tales of marvels Fengshenbang with amazing wisdom aspired by people from generation to generation. When you climb to it, you will see a bronze statue of Jiangtaigong with fishing platforms near it. It was said that he has come here long long years ago. In memory of him, people worship on bended knees to pray for good luckdays.[4][4]
The Suspension Bridge is the passageway to Tea Garden. When you cross it, you'd better grasp the chains tightly as it shakes badly and walk over it bravely and quickly. The alternative name for bridge is Xiaoyao Bridge in China which means Free and unfettered bridge.[5].
Liyang government has held the tea festival for 8 times successfully since 1991. It always takes place in Tian Mu Lake as a traditon. At the beginning, it was held with lion and dragon dances and many local people joined in this great festival. However, it now turns into a more cultural way involved with opening ceremony, news conference, foreign trade communication and Asian water skiing championships.
South Hill Bamboo Sea(chinese:南山竹海) locates on the bounded place of Jiangsu Province, Zhejiang Province and Anhui Province. In spot, a great amount of bamboos create quiet and secluded atmosphere.
Wandering in the bamboo sea at an area of 35 thousand acres, seeing millions of bamboos shaking like the green waves and enjoying the feeling about the entering with fresh air all do good in health and mood and carry out the chaos from blatant urban.[6]
According to 'Shang Book', the good fortune has five kinds and the longevity is at the top of it. In South Hill Bamboo Sea, an area named longevity culture has been a special place where people can pray fortune, cultivate body and heart, catch the rules of world and remove the mess in heart. The 12.8 meters high old life wong is made by pure copper near the hillside and considers the mountain as his body. For this reason, the stature is regarded as the first old life wong in China. Behind it, 68 kinds of different fonts of word '寿' carved on it, which improves effection of the longevity culture. Totally, one hundred same word '寿' appears in spot. In addition to the 68 words on the stature and the 31 words in internal spot, the rest one is in heart.
From ancient times, people consider bamboo as friend. In South Hill Bamboo Sea, an art gallery called Bamboo Culture Park shows the deep historical knowledge and culure meaning of bamboo. The Bamboo Culture Park is divided into three parts, goods in bamboo, usage of bamboo and state of bamboo. Panda is national treasure in China. As its favourite food, bamboo also wins great reputation among the country. In order to make full use of this relation, the spot develops a multi-functional Panda Museum centering on the pandas.
Surrounded by millions of bamboos, many streams take on the charming beauty. Besides, a long river goes through the bamboo sea where exists a water playing on bamboo raftings.[7]
Climbing festival has been held for 3 times up to 2008. The festival is not limited in Changzhou and extends to some nearby cities.[8]
In 1957, some irrigationists investigated in Liyang and did a careful research on local terrain. Getting the sight of continuous moutains along the two sides of the river of sand, irrigationists had an idea to make use of this magnificent picture. More detail, if the water could be stopped, then we could use the water to make eletricity, irrigate field and prevent the flood and drought, which would be beneficial to the folk and have continuous effect on the future generations. Therefore, the government decided to build the Shahe reservoir. In 1992, to meet the need of the reform and development, the Shahe reservoir was coverted into the Tian Mu Lake tourist area, which called popularly nowadays.
The Shahe reservoir project started immigrating in two towns in 1958, covering nearly 20 thousand people. What's worse, arranged house and fee did not be prepared at that time. People had to build their own thatched house with a little things they owed to begin the hard life. In addition, the project involved 50 thousand people who came from the every town of the Liyang every day. On account of the limitation of the techonlogy, the only tool was the wooden cart, used by one person pulled forward and the other pushed. Compared with that, the most common way to carry the stone and the soil was by shoulder. During this project, people who were lazy would be transferred into the White Flag Team as a small punishment. In conrast, there was a Red Flag Team where people tried their best to get into it as it was the symbol of honor. At the great expense of many people's lives, the project was almost finished in the third year. However, people at that time had no complaint about the pension and any other things. Fortunately, our country didn't forget those who contributed a lot during that project. With a new policy laughed out, people got their pension 50 years later and had a peaceful life at their old age.
Tian Mu Lake is also famous for its local specialties, such as the soup of fish head cooked by sand pot, tea,[9] chestnut in southern moutain, natural bamboo shoots, white celery and beer duck etc.
The soup is the key point of the fish culture in Tian Mu Lake. From the name of it, we know it was made of the fish head. But the difference from the other is that it is simmered with the water from Tian Mu Lake, which stays a 2 level standard in the country, and the almost 4-kilo grey carp. Because the lake's bottom is accumulated with sand and stones, the simmered soup will have no smell of earthy taste, known as the natural green food. In 1985, Chairman Deng came to Jiangsu province. The founder of the soup, master Zhu Shuncai went to Nanjing to cook for the chief. After tasting, Chairman Deng phraised it very much and said it was the best food he had ate that night.
On the 8th of April in lunar calendar every year, people in Liyang will all eat the special black rice. It is made by a kind of plant, Wufancao(乌饭草)，which has 17 Amino acids and several trace elements like calcium, phosphorus, selenium, zinc etc. With the benefit of nourishing, aging resistance and resistance to germs, it can improve appetite and eyesight for a temporary effect. If you insist it for a long time, it can also bring you with more obvious changes.
The bamboo shoots stripped by hand in Tian Mu Lake are chosen from some small wild bamboo shoots in bamboo forest of Tianmu Mountain. With the development of modern technology, the bamboo shoots will be baked, boiled for a long time through the high-temperature sterilization. As it uses vacuum packing, it is very convenient for consumers to eat it without cooking. Based on its natural taste, it becomes the common family food and is often used by restaurants. After travelling the Tian Mu Lake, tourists can also buy some bamboo shoots to give friends and families as gifts. In addition, it is a kind of natural healthy food with high protein, low adipose and rich fiber. Eating it more often will be good at the bowel peristalsis and improve digestion. Meanwhile, it has a medical effect on the extension of people's lives.