Wuxi Nianhua Bay is a brand-new tourist town planned and launched by the Lingshan Group in 2009, with “Zen” as its main selling point. Planning began in 2009, encompassing a unified design for the 3.5-square-kilometer area surrounding the original Gengwan Village, along with comprehensive landscaping and ecological restoration of the natural environment. It did not open until November 2015, and the overall architectural style is distinctly Japanese. In addition to Nianhua Bay, the Lingshan Group also operates the Lingshan Grand Buddha Scenic Area and the Nishan Sacredland in Qufu.
Nianhua Bay Town was indeed built at great expense, so both admission tickets and on-site spending are relatively high. Besides dining and handicraft shops, the town features numerous inns and hotels, as well as a wide variety of performances. Generally speaking, the evening shows are particularly worth watching, which I will cover in my next post.
The town is divided into several major attractions: Stream Water Zen Sound, Mid-Mountain Sun-Holding Square, Brahma Flower Sea, Five Lanterns Lake, Nianhua Pagoda, Smile Square, and Deer Calling Valley. Xiangyue Flower Street serves as the town’s main thoroughfare, lined with shops on both sides.
In fact, the entire town isn’t very large, but it has been thoughtfully designed. Real and artificial flowers abound throughout the area, creating seas of blossoms everywhere. Rather than heavily emphasizing Buddhist elements, the focus is more on meticulously maintained, exquisite shops and landscapes.
Stream Water Zen Sound: A small landscape with a distinctly Japanese aesthetic.
Mid-Mountain Sun-Holding Square: A small riverside attraction where you can watch a fountain show.
Brahma Flower Sea: A vast expanse of flowers, perfect for photography.
Five Lanterns Lake: The heart of the town, featuring various performances and a musical fountain.
Nianhua Pagoda: One of the main attractions, hosting a lantern-lighting ceremony in the evening.
Xiangyue Flower Street: A beautiful main street in the town, where every shop has been meticulously renovated.
Deer Calling Valley: Despite its name, there are no deer here. It’s a rather secluded spot within the town, with an overall Japanese aesthetic and tall trees. There’s a teahouse inside, and further in lies a waterfall—making it an ideal place for a morning stroll after breakfast.
Overall, Nianhua Bay is a truly beautiful destination, well worth staying overnight.
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