Meili Ancient Town

Meili Ancient Town is located on the banks of the Bodu River in the southeast of Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province. According to relevant records, Meili Ancient Town has a long history. Meili was the site of the ancient southern state of Gou Wu during the late Shang and early Zhou dynasties. This treasured land of Meili, since Taibo established Gou Wu, has been passed down through 25 generations of royal families, inheriting for more than 600 years. Therefore, Meili is known as the 'Capital of Gou Wu.' It is the birthplace of Wu culture and is praised as the 'First Ancient Town of Jiangnan.' Meili Ancient Town has a long history. It is said that more than 3,200 years ago, Taibo, the eldest son of King Tai of the late Shang dynasty, in order to fulfill King Wen's wish to establish his third son Jili, together with his second brother Zhongyong, pretended to collect herbs and rushed from the Central Plains to Jiangnan, settled in Meili, developed water conservancy, and promoted agriculture and sericulture. This led to the gradual development of production in the Jiangnan area, turning it into a prosperous land of fish and rice in the Central Plains, and established the first civilized ancient state in Jiangnan - Gou Wu, with its capital in Meili. When Taibo arrived in Meili (Mei Village), it was still a wild land. Taibo taught the local people the advanced culture and farming techniques of the Central Plains and led them to dig China's first artificial river - Taibo River, which was later widened through generations. By the 1960s and 1970s, this canal was still the main transportation channel in the area. Mei Village was originally called 'Man Village.' Because Taibo loved plum blossoms, he led the people to plant a large number of plum trees to enjoy and relax. To commemorate Taibo's achievements in developing 'Man Village,' it was renamed Mei Village. A branch of the Bodu River to the south of the town was named 'Plum Blossom Port,' the bridge over the port was called 'Plum Blossom Bridge,' and a street along the Plum Blossom Port was also named 'Plum Blossom Street.'