Who dares to say that they are the "number one" in the Yangtze River Delta?

Jiangsu is the best garden country in the world. Besides Suzhou and Yangzhou, Nanjing also has many important gardens, among which the most famous is Zhanyuan. The plaque "The First Garden of Jinling" hanging at the gate of Zhanyuan is very conspicuous. "The First Garden of Jinling" was described as "The First Garden of Southern Capital" in the Ming Dynasty. It seems that this famous garden is recognized as the "first" by both ancient and modern people.

In Jiangnan, the title of "first" for many gardens often transcends the city and extends to a wider geographical space. Taizhou Qiao Garden is known as the "first garden in Huaizuo", Huai'an Qingyan Garden is also known as the "first garden in Jianghuai", Hu Family Garden in Shuyang, Suqian is rated as the "first garden in Huaihai", and Yanshan Garden in Taicang, Suzhou has won the title of "the first garden in the southeast".

"First" is not only used in a specific space, but also can interpret the primary position in a specific period. Shuihui Garden in Rugao, Nantong is known as the "First Garden in the Late Ming Dynasty", and He Garden in Yangzhou is well-deserved to be the "First Garden in the Late Qing Dynasty". There are even "firsts" that are superimposed by time and space: Yiyuan in Songjiang, Shanghai is regarded as the "First Ming Garden in Jiangnan".

You thought the word "first" had been played out, but this is just the beginning. As an absolute term, it is not appropriate to use it in commercial advertising. However, in the field of scenic spots and historical sites in the Yangtze River Delta, which are public resources, there have been many "first" titles since ancient times. In terms of hills, there is Beigushan in Zhenjiang, which is known as the "No. 1 Mountain in the World", Huishan in Wuxi, which is known as the "No. 1 Mountain in the South of the Yangtze River", Langshan in Nantong, which is known as the "No. 1 Mountain in the Rivers and Seas", and Jianglangshan, which is known as the "No. 1 Danxia Peak in China"; in terms of rivers, there is Nanxi River, which is known as the "No. 1 Water in the World", Chuiyun Tongtian River in Tonglu, Hangzhou, which is known as the "No. 1 Underground River", and Nantong Rugao Ancient Salt River, which is known as the "No. 1 Salt Transport River in the World"; in terms of bridges, there is Chuihong Bridge in Wujiang, Suzhou, which is known as the "Longest Bridge in the South of the Yangtze River", Baodai Bridge, which is known as the "No. 1 Bridge in Suzhou", and Yejiaqiao in Ma'anshan, which is known as the "No. 1 Bridge in East of the Yangtze River"; in terms of pavilions, there is Wanghai Tower in Taizhou, which is known as the "No. 1 Tower in Jianghuai", and there is Daguan Tower in Changzhou, which is known as the "No. 1 Tower in Three Wus"; in terms of temples, there is Daming Temple in Yangzhou, which is known as the "No. 1 Temple in East of the Yangtze River", and there is Xixin Temple in Sheyang, Yancheng, which is known as the "No. 1 Buddhist Temple in Jianghuai".

"The best mountain in the world" Zhenjiang Beigushan network map

Nantong Langshan Mountain Network Map

There are many "firsts" in the field of scenic spots, such as the "No. 1 Spring in the World" Zhongling Spring in Zhenjiang, the "No. 1 Pavilion in the World" Zuiweng Pavilion in Chuzhou, the "No. 1 Scenic Spot in East Anhui" Langya Mountain in Chuzhou, the "No. 1 Pass in Huaihai" Jingshan in Xuzhou, the "No. 1 Family in Jiangnan" Zheng's Yimen Ancestral Hall in Pujiang, Jinhua, and the "No. 1 Stone in Jiangnan Gardens" Yulinglong in Yuyuan Garden, Shanghai...

"The First Pavilion in the World" Chuzhou Zuiweng Pavilion Network Map

The most stunning is the First Mountain in Xuyi, Huai'an. "First Mountain" is its real name rather than a nickname. It is named after the line "It is the first mountain in the southeast" by Mi Fu of the Song Dynasty. However, it is not called "the first" because the mountain has the best scenery, but because Mi Fu suddenly saw this mountain while walking in the plains, so he called it "the first mountain". This is the same as Xuzhou Jingshan being called "the first pass of Huaihai" and Suzhou Wumen Bridge being called "the first bridge into Wumen".

Not only scenic spots and historical sites like to use the word "first", but also many famous towns. Nantong is known as the "first city in modern times", Ma'anshan is known as the "first city in Jiangdong", Bengbu is known as the "first city in the thousand-mile Jianghuai region", Anqing Tongcheng is well-known in the Yangtze River Delta as the "first city in Jianghuai", and Ningbo Cixi Old Town is known as the "first ancient county town in Jiangnan". Luzhi Ancient Town in Suzhou was named "the first water town in China" by Mr. Fei Xiaotong, and Zhouzhuang in Kunshan, not far away, is also known as the "first water town in China". Others include "the first town in Jianghuai", "the first ancient town in Jiangnan", "the first garden ancient town in Jiangnan", etc.

There are too many "firsts", and sometimes the situation seems a bit confusing. For example, Xuyi already has the first mountain, and Wushan in Hangzhou also has the words "first mountain" inscribed on it. The title of "the first mountain in Jiangnan" for Huishan in Wuxi was designated by Emperor Qianlong, but other mountains have also been rated as "the first mountain in Jiangnan" by other celebrities. In addition, although the words "the first garden in Jianghuai" and "the first garden in Huaizuo" and "the first town in Shenzhou Water Village" and "the first water village in Shenzhou" are not exactly the same, their meanings are very close. On the surface, these titles are contradictory and highly involuted, which just reflects the outstanding people and beautiful scenery in the Yangtze River Delta: rich scenic resources, towns scattered all over the place, many celebrities lingering and praising them, and all kinds of "first" expressions have also emerged from this.