The Kunshan Way
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Entertainment
Kunshan is close to Shanghai's F1 Circuit, has its own 30,000-seat stadium, a 6,000-seat multi-purpose gymnasium, four international-grade golf courses, numerous agricultural parks, lakes, spas, and marinas. Many of its lakes, like Yangcheng and Dianshan, are a favorite vacation spot for those escaping the heat, humidity, traffic and pollution of Shanghai summers. You can buy or rent a modest cottage or a waterfront mansion depending on your tastes and budget. Kunshan's major attraction is its relaxed atmosphere, breathtaking ancient scenery, water activities and food.
Kunshan has a number of notable museums which present the past as well as the future. One of the museums, the Hou Beiren Art Museum, has an interesting history which also illustrates the Kunshan Way. To get the story I talked to Mr. Zhao Zongkai, president and chief curator, Hou Beiren Art Museum. Mr. Zhao Zongkai, a painter, born in Shanghai, has worked in Kunshan for over 20 years, but while living in California, he became friends with Mr Hou Beiren, a famous Chinese artist whose works blend traditional and contemporary techniques and subjects. When he found out that his friend was looking for a museum to donate his works to, Mr. Zhao acted quickly. Although Liaoning, Beijing and Shanghai were interested, based on a report submitted by Mr. Zhao at 10 am the Kunshan government made a complete offer by 2 pm the same day. Mr. Hou Beiren was so impressed he immediately agreed. The deal resulted in a new museum whose permanent collection attracts hundreds of thousands of people each year. Built on a beautiful park (Langhuan Park) on the site of a former Party school, it is both a place of aesthetic interest and daily community activity.
The Kunshan Exhibition Center, located opposite Kunshan's municipal square on Qianjin Road, is also worth visiting. On the second floor you can see the timeline and products which have defined Kunshan's economic march. On the third floor there is a history and art museum which traces Kunshan's ancient and artistic accomplishments. Donated by Mr. Zhu Fuyuan, a noted businessman and art collector, who was born in Kunshan, but lives and works in Japan, it is an excellent venue to see the breadth of what Kunshan has accomplished economically and culturally.
The city has three major and countless neighborhood parks which serve as community social and exercise centers. While the days when thousands of bicycles made their twice daily pilgrimage, have been replaced by cars and electric bicycles, the daily routines and activities in the parks have remained. Old, young and everyone in between use the parks to chat and exercise in a daily symphony which is a show in itself. In addition to Tinglin Park, Forest and Bolu Parks are the main ones. If you are interested in what Kunshan people do and the rhythms of their lives, go to the parks and you will not be disappointed.
Not content with its current offerings, Kunshan is vigorously pursuing other entertainment attractions, including tourism festivals, sporting events, concerts and festivals. Its annual beer festival is already a huge attraction. Thousands of people descend each August and September to sample Oktoberfest in China.
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