Suzhou is not just a city in China. It is the embodiment of ancient Chinese philosophy, aesthetics, and economic power. Its history spans over 2,500 years, making it one of the oldest cities in the Yangtze River basin. Founded in 514 BC as the capital of the Wu kingdom, Suzhou was planned from the outset as a great city.
Its famous rectangular layout with a network of canals and streets ("The Grand Canal to the east, streets to the west") was established at that time and has been preserved in spirit to this day.
What is Suzhou famous for?
• "The Venice of China": Historically, Suzhou was built on water. The network of canals served as transport arteries, a source of life, and inspiration. It was the trade and craft capital of the region.
• The Silk Capital of China: For centuries, Suzhou was world-renowned for producing luxurious silk. The imperial workshops of the Ming and Qing dynasties were located precisely here.
• The Cradle of Garden Art: Wealthy officials, merchants, and scholars built private gardens here, embodying the entire universe in miniature, following the principle of "a new landscape with every step."
• A Cultural and Intellectual Center: The city was famous for its scholars, calligraphers, artists, and poets who sang of its beauty.
Canals: The True Arteries of Old Suzhou
Although the Gardens of Suzhou are better known, it is the canals that are the true soul of the city. They are the reason for its emergence and prosperity. Without the canals, there would have been neither the commercial wealth nor the gardens, which often incorporated water features. The famous Grand Canal of China, connecting Beijing and Hangzhou, passed through Suzhou, making it a key transport hub.
Among the many waterways, two stand out for preserving an authentic atmosphere and being most interesting for tourists:
Shantang Canal (Shantang Street): This is the "old town" in its most picturesque and tourist-friendly form. The seven-kilometer-long Shantang Canal, according to legend, was built by the great poet Bai Juyi when he was the governor of Suzhou. Today, the restored section near the Tonggui Bridge is a bustling pedestrian zone. Here you can see snow-white walls and gray tiled roofs of traditional houses, arches of stone bridges reflected in the water, countless souvenir shops, teahouses, and eateries. In the evening, when the red lanterns are lit, their reflection in the canal creates an absolutely magical atmosphere of old China.
Pingjiang Canal (Pingjiang Road): If Shantang is more lively and ceremonial, then Pingjiang is quiet and picturesque. It is one of the oldest and best-preserved street-canals in Suzhou, whose appearance has hardly changed since the Song Dynasty (10th-13th centuries). It is 1600 meters of a stone-paved road running parallel to a narrow canal. Pingjiang Lu is a living museum where people still live, and it is here that the spirit of old, aristocratic Suzhou is best felt.
Classical Gardens of Suzhou: Masterpieces of Miniaturization
Although the canals are the soul, the gardens are the heart of Suzhou`s aesthetics. They are not just beautiful; they are philosophical. 9 gardens of Suzhou are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. In total, more than a hundred were created, but about 50 have survived to this day, and about 20 are open to the public.
Briefly about the five most famous:
• The Humble Administrator`s Garden (Zhuozheng Yuan): The largest and most famous. A classic example of using water as the central element of the composition. Creates a sense of spaciousness and lightness.
• The Master of Nets Garden (Wangshi Yuan): The smallest but considered a masterpiece of miniaturization and space utilization. Famous for its evening performance with traditional music and opera.
• The Blue Wave Pavilion (Canglang Ting): The oldest of the surviving gardens. Its uniqueness lies in the absence of a high wall. It uses the principle of "borrowing the scenery," merging with the external canal.
• The Lion Grove Garden (Shizi Lin): Famous for its labyrinths of whimsical limestone rocks resembling lions. It is a garden for exploration and play.
• The Lingering Garden (Liu Yuan): Famous for its exquisite architectural transitions between different zones, landscapes that replace each other, and a collection of whimsical stones.
Tiger Hill (Huqiu Shan): The Legendary Hill
This is not just a hill, but a huge historical and cultural park saturated with legends. Its main legend says that King He Lü, the founder of Suzhou, was buried here in 496 BC. According to legend, he was buried with 3000 swords, one of which was the legendary Junzi (Sword of the Lord). A mound was built over the grave, and three days later, a white tiger appeared on its summit, guarding the king`s peace. Hence the name.
Main attractions of the hill:
• The Leaning Cloud Rock Temple Pagoda (Yunyan Si Ta): Built in 961 AD, it is a symbol of Suzhou and leans more than the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
• Sword Pond (Jianchi): A deep, narrow pond between cliffs. Legend claims that the entrance to the tomb of King He Lü lies at its bottom.
• Thousand People Stone (Qianren Shi): A huge flat rock of brown color. According to one legend, all the builders of the tomb were executed on it so that they would not reveal its secret, and their blood forever stained the stone.
The Most Important Museums of Suzhou
To understand the scale of the city`s heritage, these are must-visit:
• Suzhou Museum: An absolute must-see. The current building is a masterpiece of modern Chinese architecture designed by Ieoh Ming Pei (I.M. Pei). The museum perfectly combines traditional motifs (white walls, gray tiles, water gardens in the courtyards) with modern forms. The collection includes ancient artifacts, calligraphy, paintings, and craftsmen`s products telling the 2500-year history of the city.
• Suzhou Silk Museum: An immersion into the history of what made Suzhou rich and famous. Here you can trace the entire path of the silk thread: from the cultivation of the mulberry silkworm to weaving on ancient and modern looms. A stunning collection of historical fabrics and embroidery.
• Suzhou Garden Museum: Located next to the Humble Administrator`s Garden. It helps to deeper understand the philosophy, symbolism, and techniques behind the art of garden creation. Ideal for preparation before visiting them.
Suzhou is a city where every era has left its mark. Its true charm lies not in individual attractions, but in their totality: in a boat ride along an ancient canal, offering views of old houses and bridges; in the contemplative silence of a garden; and in the realization that you are walking along streets whose plan was conceived two and a half thousand years ago.
