Puli 甫里 was the ancient name of water town 甪直镇 Luzhi township. Luzhi is 18 km east of Suzhou, in the Wuzhong district.

This water town was named after a Tang Dynasty recluse poet陆龟蒙 Lu Guimong who retired in this town. Lu Guimong had a pseudonym 甫里先生, Mr. Pu-li.

At that time, Puli consisted of two districts: Puli and Liuzhi.

At the end of Qing dynasty, Puli was changed to Luzhi township of Yuanhe County.

Luzhi reputated to be the Venice of the East, famous for its beautiful waterways and ancient bridges, some of the bridges dated back to Song dynasty. A walk in ancient town Luzhi is a walk into history frozen in time, tranquil and serene.

Ming dynasty poet 高启 Gao Qi poem : "Scene of Puli" is still accurate description of the scenery in ancient town Luzhi today:

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.

Attractions

• Baoshen Temple.

Baoshen Temple boasts a history of thousand years, built in the second year of Tianjiang of Liang Dynasty (503 AD). By Song dynasty it was called the Baoshen Zen Temple, with 5000 halls and one thousand monks.

The Arhat statues in the Baoshen Temple are national treasure, they were the work of Tang dynasty sculpturer Yang Huizhi

• Tang dynasty poet Lu Guimong tomb, with Fare Breeze Pavilion and two of his hand planted gingko trees.
• 沈柏寒 Shen Bohan the educator's former home
• First refomer 王韬 Wang Tao Memorial Hall
• Educator and writer 叶圣陶 Ye Shengtao Memorial Hall, at former site

• Hong Kong movie star, best actress winner of 1995 Berlin Film Festival萧芳芳 Josephine Siao Fong Fong Performing Art Hall.

Delicacy

• Puli Pig Leg and Puli duck: Two dishes in Luzhi township are 甫里蹄 甫里 鸭 Puli pig leg and Puli duck are prepared according to the recipe of poet Mr. Pu-li; he often treated guests with these two dishes.

• Luzhi Radish 甪直萝卜-- a pickled radish prepared according to a Qing dynasty recipe

Famous people of Puli

• 陆龟蒙 Lu Guimong Tang dynasty poet, pseudonym Mr. Puli.
• 皮日休 Pi Rixiu, Tang dynasty poet, contemporary of Lu Guimong
• 高启 Gao Qi Ming dynasty poet
• 王　韬Wang Tao, Qing Dynasty reformer, writer, newspaper publisher
• 叶圣陶 Ye Shengtao,prominent novelist and educator.

Transportation

• buses between
  • Luzhi and Suzhou, route 18.
  • Luzhi and Kuenshan
  • Luzhi and Shanghai.
• Steam boats between
  • Luzhi and Suzhou
  • Luzhi and Kuenshan

External links

[Luzh town]

note

甫 has two pronounciation, 'fu' and 'pu'. 甫里 must be pronounced as Pu-li, not Fu-li.