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Shantang Jie

Suzhou

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This picturesque canalside street has been in use for more than a thousand years, having been built in the Tang dynasty (around 825每826) to transport Suzhou＊s upper classes to Tiger Hill for leisurely outings. Nowadays it is pedestrianised and makes for a wonderful way to stroll or boat to Tiger Hill. Shantang Jie is very similar in feeling to Pingjiang Lu, with whitewashed buildings backing directly onto the canal and quaint lantern-decorated bridges.

Past the tourist shops and restaurants at the end nearest the metro station, the northern end of the street becomes very quiet and offers a lovely look at how people traditionally live by the side of Suzhou＊s canals. Keep a look out for the seven stone cats guarding the street's bridges and representing different auspicious aspects of life, from wealth to happiness.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • Tiger Hill

    Tiger Hill

    1.65 MILES

    In the far northwest of town, Tiger Hill is a major drawcard for Chinese tourists, and the beacon that draws them is the leaning Cloud Rock Pagoda (堁旂坢,＃

  • Garden of the Master of the Nets

    Garden of the Master of the Nets

    2.46 MILES

    Off Shiquan Jie, this pocket-sized garden is considered one of Suzhou's best preserved. Laid out in the 12th century, it went to seed and was later＃

  • Suzhou Museum

    Suzhou Museum

    1.62 MILES

    This stunning museum, one of only two in mainland China designed by IM Pei, is a modern interpretation of Suzhou architecture, with its confluence of＃

  • Humble Administrator＊s Garden

    Humble Administrator＊s Garden

    1.83 MILES

    The largest of Suzhou's gardens, the Humble Administrator＊s Garden is often considered to be the most impressive, but its fame draws in constant crowds,＃

  • Pingjiang Lu

    Pingjiang Lu

    2.1 MILES

    On the eastern side of the city, this canalside road has whitewashed local houses sitting comfortably side by side with teahouses and trendy cafes selling＃

  • Pan Gate Scenic Area

    Pan Gate Scenic Area

    2.37 MILES

    This quiet part of Suzhou is lovely, with a section of the city wall straddling the outer moat in the southwest corner of the city. Dating from 1355, the＃

  • Hanshan Temple

    Hanshan Temple

    1.97 MILES

    Literally meaning 'Cold Mountain Temple' and founded around AD 500, Hanshan is famous in China thanks to a Tang-dynasty (618每907) poem that is taught at＃

  • X迂 Gate

    X迂 Gate

    1.72 MILES

    One of the eight city gates that were first built to protect S迂zh身u during the Spring and Autumn Period (approximately 771每476 BC), the brick wall that we＃

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Nearby Suzhou attractions

1. Garden to Linger In

0.54 MILES

One of the largest gardens in Suzhou, this 3-hectare plot was originally built in the Ming dynasty by a doctor as a relaxing place for his recovering＃

2. Garden of Cultivation

0.66 MILES

This small but perfectly formed garden is often overlooked by visitors who are drawn to Suzhou's larger and more famous gardens. Its simple layout makes＃

3. Suzhou Art Museum

1.06 MILES

A dazzling use of daylight and design merges in this new museum, hung with contemporary landscapes, calligraphy and modern art that stands out boldly from＃

4. Suzhou Silk Museum

1.09 MILES

The Suzhou Silk Museum houses fascinating exhibitions detailing the history of Suzhou＊s 4000-year-old silk industry. Exhibits include a section on silk＃

5. Bao'en Temple

1.14 MILES

The oldest Buddhist temple in Suzhou, Bao'en Temple dates back 1700 years and its current reincarnation goes back to the 17th century. The temple's star＃

6. Former Residence of Yu Yue

1.26 MILES

In an interesting old residential area of S迂zh身u, this quiet, unpretentious historic house has a lovely classical Chinese garden. It belonged to Yu Yue ＃

7. Suzhou Arts and Crafts Museum

1.45 MILES

Housed in a historic building, this small museum boasts an impressive range of modern handicrafts created by skilled Suzhou artists. Its nearly 1000-piece＃

8. Garden of Harmony

1.47 MILES

One of the lesser-visited gardens around Suzhou is the charmingly small Qing-dynasty Garden of Harmony, which has assimilated many features of older＃