Xuzhou – the “Athens of the Orient “

In 1984 when workers of a brick factory were digging earth on the western slope of Shizi Mountain, they uncovered the terracotta army of the Han Dynasty. Archaeologists believe that compared to the terracotta army of the Qin Dynasty (in Xi’an), the Han terracotta army better reveals the warriors’ inner world. At the museum of the Han terracotta army, visitors can see figurines with various facial expressions: Some of them appear charmingly naive, some grave, some with hollow eyes and some look to be deep in thought.

Another wonder of the Han culture in Xuzhou is the Han stone carvings. In fact, this refers to stone engravings in the underground tombs and ancestral halls, as well as those erected in front of temples and mausoleums of the Han Dynasty. The Han Dynasty stone carving tradition is one of China’s greatest creations. The Han Dynasty ruled at the same time as the Romans in the West. Just as the ancient Romans did, the Chinese people in the Han Dynasty liked recording social and economic life in carved images, which depicted various aspects of the politics, economy, culture and religion of the Han Dynasty and are a valuable primary source in the study of Chinese history. The craftsmanship of the carvings represents the highest level of Chinese carving art at that time.

At the Han Stone Engravings Gallery, it is hard not to feel awe of the grandeur of historical scenarios. Here is a window into the real life of the Han Dynasty – traveling carriages, competitions in military skills, dances and music, acrobatics, hospitality, architecture and rural work scenes, as well as figures from fairy tales and a large number of auspicious images. Jian Bozan, a prominent Chinese historian, said, “If we can systematically collect and sort out all those stone carvings, we can make them into a picture book of the Han Dynasty history.”

Xuzhou’s Outdoor Life

Because of its position in northwestern Jiangsu Province, it serves as the “north gate” of the province. The city boasts remarkable scenic beauty. In the urban area alone, there are 72 hills, with Yunlong (Cloud Dragon) Mountain dominating with the most unique natural scenery; there are also seven large lakes, the most graceful being Yunlong Lake. Nestling in the Yunlong Mountain range, the lake region features many historical and cultural spots, as well as facilities for leisure activities.

Panoramic views over Yunlong Lake.

Pan’an Lake in Jiawang District in northeastern Xuzhou is named after a handsome literary hero of ancient China. Jiawang District was inhabited by humans even before the Shang and Zhou dynasties (1600-771 BC). The area was vastly mined for coal over a period of around 130 years and was once an energy base of eastern China. However, Jiawang District is suffering from serious subsidence because of the exhausted coal resources.

With support from the central government and Jiangsu Province, Jiawang District is being transformed. The planned Jiawang Tourist Area covers 300 square kilometers, including Pan’an Lake. It will include a number of centers catering to different activities such as religious worship, outdoor pursuits, rest and recreation, and scientific exploration.