★ Tourist location: Pearl Tower in Tongli Ancient Town, Wujiang, Suzhou

I know about Pearl Pagoda because a Xi opera was called "Pearl Pagoda". My mother likes drama. Although she is not a fan, she can sing a paragraph or two to many famous memorials. I am located in Wuxi, and the local local opera is Xi opera. As the more famous "Pearl Tower" in Xi opera, I have heard it more than once or twice.

There was no such thing as traveling through or being empty in the past, so even if it was just a legend, it would still pretend to be a certain era. The story of the Pearl Pagoda takes place in the 18th year of Wanli of Shenzong in the Ming Dynasty. Chen Lian, the censor of Xitai, who had retired from his old age and returned to his hometown, was celebrating his 50th birthday. Fang Qing, a native of Kaifeng Prefecture in Henan Province, was ordered by his mother to come to his uncle Censor Chen to borrow money to take the exam. At that time, my aunt Fang Duohua was boasting about her dowry Pearl Pagoda to several official wives. When she learned that Fang Qing had come to borrow money, she deliberately made things difficult and spoke very harshly. Fang Qing also had backbone. She vowed not to wear Chen's clothes when she froze to death, not to eat Chen's food when she starved to death, not to use Chen's silver when she died of poverty, and not to enter the Chen family gate without an official position. When she left angrily, she met Chen's Miss Cui 'e in the back garden. Although she has a snobbish mother, Chen Cui-e has no intention of looking down on her cousin. She comforted Fang Qing and hid the priceless Pearl Pagoda in a box and presented it to Fang Qing. Three years later, Fang Qing was awarded the top prize in high school and was granted the title of censor of seven provinces by the emperor. Fang Qing became a high-ranking official and went to Xiangyang to pretend to be an entertainer. Her aunt still disliked the poor and loved the rich, so she ridiculed him again. When the truth came out, my aunt was very regretful and knelt down to pick Fang Qing up with a fragrant plate on her head. After Fang Qing and Chen Cui'e finished, they took out the Pearl Pagoda and had a full moon. Not to mention that the marriage of a cousin and a cousin is not in line with the scientific policy of eugenics and postnatal care, it is not necessarily a broad-minded person to say that Fang Qing has to become a senior official once, but also to be a down-and-down scholar to tease her aunt. However, the main theme of the drama still wants to say,"Don't bully young people who are poor". The kind young lady of a rich family has a good reward for her kindness and eventually becomes married with a lover. The prop throughout the play is the Pearl Tower.

Therefore, this scenic spot is not a tower, but a place where Censor Chen lives and leisure. It has a typical pattern of small bridges and flowing water in Jiangnan gardens. The building was built in the Ming Dynasty and flourished during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty. It is rumored that Emperor Qianlong had Han blood, and this garden may also have a connection with Qianlong's life experience. The scene of "Eliminating the Overlord in Jiangnan" in "Playing about Qianlong" was filmed here.

Passing through an alley and following the signs to the end, I finally saw the Pearl Pagoda Scenic Garden. The "Ancient Servants and Imperial Workshop" engraved on the gate was because this was the former residence of Nanjing's supervisory imperial envoy Chen Wangdao. The story of the Pearl Tower is actually based on the artistic processing of Chen Wangdao's marriage of his daughter. The entire scenic spot consists of four major architectural complexes: Yushindi, Chenjia Back Garden, Chenjia Ailou and Ancestral Hall. It can be regarded as another core attraction in Tongli Chituisi Garden.

Walking into the not-too-imposing door is the Imperial Censor Hall, and this is the ceremonial door, which is much more imposing than the entrance of the scenic spot. The roof looked very high, vermilion and cheerful.

The tea hall, also known as the sedan hall, is the place where the owner or visitors park and get off the sedan chair. It is also a place where the sedan chair bearers and entourage rest and drink tea. In ancient times, the tea hall was not small.

Honglue Hall is the hall of the Chen Mansion and the place where the Chen Mansion holds grand ceremonies and receives distinguished guests. There are vases and bonsai of rocks and rocks in the middle hall, and behind it is a picture of pine and crane, which is also a favorite theme for ancient painters. The couplets on both sides are "Inheriting the family well, leaving the family well, but leaving the family well, and being ordinary in life but honest", which explains Chen's family motto, being kind in heart and being frank and honest in character.

The layout behind it is also very ingenious. There are stones and vases on the three small tables. One of them has nothing above it, but judging from its symmetry, it should also be a vase. On both sides are the "Qingming Festival Shanghe Painting" of blue and white porcelain, which probably depicts the scenery and human feelings of Tongli.

Lanyun Hall, also known as Fangting, is the front hall of the inner house of the Chen Mansion. This is the place where the owner lives and receives relatives and relatives. I don't know how Fang Duo 'er let his nephew meet his daughter in the back garden. It was also a far-fetched plot for the story of a talented scholar and beautiful woman. Logically speaking, it was impossible for the male guests to go to the back garden, and they still met alone.

The two-story building further behind is the residence of the Chen Mansion. The downstairs is decorated very grandly. Dragon and phoenix robes are available here, so that tourists can spend their time as an emperor and queen. Of course, we were not interested, so we went up the stairs and found that the Pearl Tower was displayed on the second floor.

Chen's old house, also known as Fujitang, was built during the Chenghua period of the Ming Dynasty. It was expanded by Chen Wangdao, a scholar in the 14th year of Jiajing, and rebuilt by Chen Rui, a scholar in the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty. The scale at that time should have been larger, but now only the hall and library remain, facing north to south. The hall has a width of five rooms of 20.25 meters, a depth of 9.84 meters, a height of 6.73 meters, and a building area of 199.26 square meters.

Wenxiang Reading Building is called Chen Cui'e Reading Building by locals, which shows that Miss Chen is really a well-known and courteous lady. If it were in the open Tang Dynasty, she might be able to become a female official or something!

The Yulan Hall is not too big, but it is tastefully decorated. A picture of plum blossoms, a mountain rock, and two plum vases are naturally the atmosphere of a scholarly family.

Ruguzhai is a small building in the garden. Lu Hui, a famous Jiangnan painter in the late Qing Dynasty, studied painting here in his early years. I wonder what kind of close relationship Lu Hui and the Chen family are. It is estimated that the host family also likes it here, so it is also called the "sound of Ru Ancient Books".

Climbing the small building, you can see the beautiful scenery of the back garden. A large number of trees are planted along the lake. They have been growing very luxuriantly for some years. The building with Daiwa and white walls is hidden in the green, making it look dignified and beautiful.

The small building I got down is Shuiflowing Cloud in the Pavilion. Although it is not big, it was built next to the water and is very elegant. The name of the Xuan is given to the artistic conception of a short poem by Du Fu,"A small flow does not compete, but a cloud cares too late".

The scenery looks even more pleasant when you are in the garden. The pavilions and pavilions are scattered in an orderly manner, and the rockery and river stones also reveal the elegance of Jiangnan. The diagonal branches reveal a corner of the white wall, reflected in the water, the green and white contrast, set off against the blue sky, and can be painted.

Guo Qingyuan Hall is a green autumn pavilion. Except for the black tiles and pillars, the entire body is vermilion, making it small and exquisite. "How can the joy of fish know the happiness of people? The clear spring is not as good as the happiness of people.

Heart Qing "is a very philosophical couplet. In the story of the Pearl Tower, a scene given by Chen Cui'e to Ta Fangqing took place in this pavilion. However, I can't find the source of the word "green autumn". Does it mean that even in autumn, this place is full of green?

There is a small pavilion built against the wall on the rockery, hidden among the green trees, making it very quiet. Sitting here, you can admire the promenade and pavilions across the lake. There is also a nice name here,"Ziwei Qin Rhythm". I think Miss Chen Cui'e should like playing the piano here very much! Perhaps Fang Qing is her bosom friend, who knows the elegance of the music when she hears the music.

Walking along the lake are Jingmingxuan and Xiaolanting. The building itself has no special characteristics, but there are two scenic spots hidden here: "Taoyuan Waterfall View" and "Beishan Deep Pine". Judging by the names, you can tell that one place is planted with peaches and the other is planted with pine.

There is also a stage in the garden, which is very beautifully built. Needless to say, carved beams and painted buildings, even the roofs are beautifully made. There is a sculpture of animals on the ridge, with two small people on both sides.

The layout of Wenshao Pavilion is very simple. The Zhiyin Zhai next to it is on the side of the stage. It is named after the ancient story of Zhong Ziqi and Yu Boya looking for a friend in the mountains and flowing water. Singing opera also requires a friend to enjoy it, otherwise these soft singing will inevitably become a lullaby, which will be too spoiling.

The boat is parked quietly by the lake without tying up. Although it is still during the epidemic, tourists do not seem to shy away from gathering together, mainly because the scenery here is so beautiful and lingering. This small attraction has a beautiful name "Cui Fang Listening to the Rain". It's really leisurely and leisurely to touch the piano, drink tea or pick up a few chess pieces here on rainy days, do elegant things while listening to the rain.

Outside the door is a small river with a boat moored. In the old days, you could drive here directly from the river outside, and climb the steps directly to the back garden. Chen also enjoyed it a little more.

Walking along the river, you will find the Chenjia archway. It was built in the eighth year of Wanli of the Ming Dynasty. In order to commend Chen Wangdao's honest official and outstanding political achievements during his supervisory history, the emperor issued an order to build a memorial archway to show his honor.

Across the river you can reach the ancestral temple, which is a preserved building in the late Qing Dynasty. After liberation, this place was once transformed into a national grain depot. Later, when the Chen Yushu Mansion was restored, the ancestral hall was also comprehensively restored.

Ginkgo trees are planted in the yard, and orange rectangular flags are placed on the ground. The first building has a three-room width and a plaque with black words on a yellow background: "Honorary Delong".

The second inscription reads "Respect the Sect and Respect the Ancestor" on a black background. These four characters are the core of the ancestral temple culture. This is the main building of the ancestral hall, but the portrait hanging in the middle is of Confucius. Perhaps the Chen family also passed down the family with the principles of "benevolence, righteousness, courtesy, wisdom, trustworthiness, gentleness, humility, frugality".

As he walked, he entered the back garden again and saw the kitchen he had accidentally missed just now. Of course, this kitchen was rebuilt later. The kitchens of large families are actually no different. After all, this is not a place to showcase the taste of the owner. However, in this way, this visit to the Pearl Tower Scenic Garden was complete.