Guangfu Town/光福镇 is one of top 4 most famous sites to enjoy the sight of plum blossoms in China, but not many people know it is also one of the most important parts of Taihu National Scenic Area combining fantastic natural beauties and awesome cultural sites.

光福是一座嵌入太湖的半岛，湖岸线漫长，太湖渔船多集于此，形成了中国内湖第一渔港太湖渔港，整个岛体现出太湖农家风情。每年二月，梅花吐蕊，势若雪海，是江南最著名的探梅胜地。

Si'tu Temple/司徒庙 is opposite the Plum Blossoms Park and well-known for four old peculiar pines called 'delicate, strange, old, queer' pine respectively, which were planted almost 2000 years ago.

司徒庙与香雪海景区仅一路之隔，内有4株古柏，相传为东汉邓禹大司徒手植，形态特异，被冠名为 "清，奇、古、怪"。"清"柏挺拔，叶枝四垂，苍郁清秀，茂如翠盖；"奇"柏一千上矗，顶千折裂，分叉两旁。薄皮连接，新枝簇护；"古"柏纹理纤绕，斑驳若鳞，如绞龙踏；"怪"柏曾遭雷击，剖劈两片，着地再生，卧地三曲，如乱似蹈，欲昂首腾空而去。

It is nice to drink tea such as Bi Luochun/碧螺春 in spring or Osmanthus/桂花 in fall in Si'tu Temple.

铜观音寺，原名光福讲寺，始建于梁朝天监二年（503年），距今已有1500多年历史，曾作为高僧讲经授道之所，在唐朝时期达到鼎盛。因寺内原供奉有铜观音像，又名铜观音寺。坐落于苏州吴中区光福镇龟山南麓下街，距香雪海景点约2公里。

Sheng'en Temple/圣恩寺 was first built in Tang Dynasty, almost 800 years old. Kangxi and Qianlong emperors often stayed at the temple when they came to visit the plum blossoms.

天寿圣恩寺为佛教南宗发祥地，清康熙、乾隆到光福探梅多次驻足于此。1364年万峰和尚接待从高丽航海到大陆僧千熙，悉心传授。千熙得法返国后，盛传、临济禅法，日僧荣西，辨圆等将此宗、传引日本，至今流行。

清康熙、乾隆年间，是圣恩寺的鼎盛时期。成为全国五大名刹之一。曹雪芹曾在《红楼梦》中，两次提到光福玄墓山，第四十一回，写贾宝玉，林黛玉，薛宝钗等到玄墓蟠香寺出家的妙玉处品茶。

It's surprising to find one fake mountain in the real mountain behind the temple.

Guangfu Town is just located at lakeside of Taihu, where it is the best place for tourists to taste delicious fresh water fish and shrimp. 光福是天然海港，别忘了尝尝太湖湖鲜。

Recomended Day Tour/推荐一日行程：

Visit the Plum Blossoms Park and Si'tu Temple in the morning, Taste local food at the lunch, Have a look at Bronze Guanyin Temple and Sheng'en Temple in the afternoon/上午游览香雪海和司徒庙，中午品农家餐，下午游览铜观音寺和圣恩寺，建议邓禹茶轩品茶。