Tomb of Luo Binwang & Xiuhu Lake Park
Tomb of Luo Binwang
Yiwu International Trade City is an ideal place for shopping, but it is also a nice choice to visit Tomb of Luo Binwang, which is about nine miles east of Yiwu County. As the only place of interest in Yiwu County that has been authorized by Chinese government, the Tomb of Luo Binwang is a peaceful place for visitors to learn something about Chinese history.
Luo Binwang is historically known as one of the four greatest poets (the other three were Lu Zhaolin, Wang Bo and Yang Jiong) in the early period of Tang Dynasty (618-907). Luo Binwang was born to be a poet, and at the age of seven composed his first masterpiece-Ode to the Goose, which is learnt by almost every Chinese person when they are young. Because of this, he was acclaimed as a child prodigy.
In the history of literature, Luo Binwang was a very influential figure, since he had produced countless poems and articles, among which more than 130 poems and over 30 articles had been left for posterity. However, he was not that complacent in politics. In the domination of Empress Wu Zetian, he joined the rebellion against Wu. Serving as a secretary of the rebellion leader, he even wrote the famous official document against Wu, which shocked and was even praised by Wu for his talent. After the failure of the rebellion, Luo Binwang evaded capture, and disappeared from people's eyes (some one said he had died, while some others said he had become a Buddhist monk).
The tomb we see today was restored in 1989. Facing west, the body of the tomb is hemispherical, whilst the tomb passage is orbicular. In front of the tomb, there is a gateway-form memorial stele with four posts. Flourishingly evergreen pines and cypresses grow surrounding the tomb.
Visitors will be impressed by the tranquil air of the Tomb of Luo Binwang, and ponder the events of Chinese history while wandering around the tomb.
Xiuhu Lake Park
The Park was created alongside Xiuhu Lake in 2003 and is located in the center of Yiwu City, Zhejiang Province. Covering an area of 71,643 sq.m (17.7 acres), the park has an architectural complex in the north and the east, the lake itself being a major feature. The buildings have been constructed in the architectural styles of the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties.
The layout of the park follows the physical features of the site thereby creating a natural ambiance. Standing at the highest point, you will see among the man-made hills, winding bridges, arched bridges, and streams scattered throughout the park and around the lake. It was during the Song Dynasty (960-1279), that Xiuhu Lake first became famous as it inspired poets to write many exquisite poems in praise of its scenic charm.
When strolling alongside the lake you will see an island in the center. Should you want to visit the island, the short boat trip can be quite romantic in such tranquil surroundings. As your boat draws near to the island you will see the Da'an Pagoda, built in 1110 in the Song Dynasty standing among the lush trees.
In addition to the lake, the colorful trees and flowers attract large numbers of people to the park while the pleasant environment entices many senior citizens there to do their morning exercises.