The antique fans on display here demonstrate the skillful painting and embroidery of the art form. Many of the silk fans feature a cat motif; rat-catching cats, known as 'silkworm cats', were an essential part of Suzhou's silk industry.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
3.56 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 (ÔÆÑÒËþ,¡
Garden of the Master of the Nets
1.17 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¡
0.74 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
0.67 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,¡
0.31 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¡
2.27 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¡
3.96 MILES
Literally meaning 'Cold Mountain Temple' and founded around AD 500, Hanshan is famous in China thanks to a Tang-dynasty (618¨C907) poem that is taught at¡
2.1 MILES
This picturesque canalside street has been in use for more than a thousand years, having been built in the Tang dynasty (around 825¨C826) to transport¡
Nearby Suzhou attractions
0.13 MILES
Down a narrow lane, this small museum is dedicated to k¨±nq¨³, the opera style of the region. The beautiful old theatre houses a stage, musical instruments,¡
0.19 MILES
The tranquil Couple¡¯s Garden is off the main tourist route and sees slightly fewer visitors than the other gardens, and its pond, courtyards and garden¡
0.31 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¡
0.52 MILES
Beautifully enhanced by flowering magnolias in spring, this delightful courtyard and former temple contains a pair of sublime pagodas, which don't often¡
0.58 MILES
Constructed in 1342 by the Buddhist monk Tianru to commemorate his master, who lived on Lion Cliff on Zhejiang¡¯s Tianmu Mountain, this garden's curiously¡
0.59 MILES
Lashed by electronic music from the shops alongside, the Taoist Temple of Mystery stands in what was once Suzhou¡¯s old bazaar, a rowdy entertainment¡
7. Humble Administrator¡¯s Garden
0.67 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,¡
0.7 MILES
This informative little museum, west of the ticket office for the Humble Administrator's Garden, gives an overview of the history, evolution and aesthetic¡