Luzhi

• Name — Luzhi Town • Native Name — 甪直镇 • Settlement Type — Town • Subdivision Type — Country • Subdivision Name — People's Republic of China • Subdivision Type1 — Province • Subdivision Name1 — Jiangsu • Subdivision Type2 — Prefecture-level city • Subdivision Name2 — Suzhou • Subdivision Type3 — District • Subdivision Name3 — Wuzhong • Area Total Km2 — 75 • Population Total — 200,000 • Population As Of — 2014 • Population Density Km2 — auto • Timezone — China Standard • Utc Offset — +8 • Postal Code Type — Postal code • Postal Code — 215127 • Area Code — 0512 • Illustration — A street in Luzhi • Illustration — Baoshen Temple • Illustration — Ye Shengtao Memorial Park

Luzhi was also known as Puli, after the pseudonym of the Tang dynasty recluse poet Lu Guimeng who retired in this town. Puli consisted of two districts: Puli and Liuzhi, which was pronounced Luzhi in the Suzhou dialect. The name Liuzhi referred to the six straight rivers in the town. At the end of the Qing dynasty, Puli was renamed to Luzhi township of Yuanhe County. Luzhi is known for its waterways and ancient bridges, with some bridges dating back to the Song dynasty. The Ming dynasty poet Gao Qi described Luzhi in a poem: • Scene of Puli • Long bridge short bridge with willows • Front stream rear stream with lotus • People watching banner over wine store risen • Seagulls escort boat to home of fishman. Luzhi is a well-preserved old town. In 2003, it was listed as one of the "Ten Famous Chinese Historical Townships" by the Chinese government. In 2004, Luzhi was awarded a Township Preservation Award by UNESCO.

• Baosheng Temple, a Buddhist temple built in the second year of Tianjiang of the Liang dynasty (503 AD). By the Song dynasty, it had 5000 halls and one thousand monks. Its arhat statues, sculpted by Yang Huizhi in the Tang dynasty, are national treasures. • Tomb of Tang dynasty poet Lu Guimong, includes Fare Breeze Pavilion and two of his hand planted ginkgo trees. • Former residence of Shen Bohan • Wang Tao Memorial Hall • Ye Shengtao Memorial Hall, at the former site of 5th High School, where educator and writer Ye Shengtao taught from 1917 to 1922.

• Puli trotters and Puli duck, said to be prepared according to the recipe of poet Mr. Pu-li; he often treated guests with these two dishes. • Luzhi radish, a radish pickle with a Qing dynasty recipe

• Lu Guimeng: Tang dynasty poet with the pseudonym Mr. Puli. • Pi Rixiu: Tang dynasty poet, contemporary of Lu Guimeng • Gao Qi: Ming dynasty poet • Wang Tao: Qing dynasty reformer, writer, newspaper publisher • Ye Shengtao: prominent novelist and educator.

• Buses between • Luzhi and Suzhou, route 18. • Luzhi and Kunshan • Luzhi and Shanghai. • Steam boats between • Luzhi and Suzhou • Luzhi and Kunshan