Exploring the Artistic and Cultural Journey of Suzhou

Suzhou is not only a city of gardens but also a city of culture. Silk (including Suzhou embroidery), Pingtan, and Kunqu Opera are the most representative of Suzhou culture. During the Tang and Song dynasties, Suzhou was the national silk center. Suzhou Pingtan is known as "the most beautiful voice in China." Kunqu Opera originated in Kunshan, Suzhou, in the 14th century and dominated the Chinese theater scene for nearly 300 years since the mid-Ming Dynasty. 🌺Route: Suzhou Silk Museum - Beisi Pagoda Bao'en Temple - Guangyu Book Hall - Pingtan Museum - Kunqu Opera Museum 1️⃣ First Stop: Suzhou Silk Museum 📍Location: Renmin Road, Gusu District, Suzhou 🚇Transportation: Exit 5 of Beisi Pagoda Station on Metro Line 4, walk left ⏰Opening Hours: Tuesday-Sunday; 9:00-17:00 (July 1-August 31, closes at 20:00, last entry at 19:00, Future Hall closes at 20:00) 💰Tickets: Free, no reservation needed ⌚️Visit Duration: 2.5-3 hours 🌺🌺National First-Class Museum, the first silk-themed museum in China. It has three independent exhibition halls: History Hall, Modern Hall, and Future Hall. ✅History Hall: Features the history of Suzhou weaving, exquisite silk relics, Sangzi Garden, and a silk weaving machinery exhibition room. Currently, there is a special exhibition on "Suzhou Intangible Cultural Heritage," showcasing works by inheritors of Suzhou embroidery, nut carving, jade carving, and kesi (silk tapestry). (Until August 31, 2024) ✅Modern Hall: Currently exhibiting "Zhang Satin - Relief on Silk" (Zhang Satin is characterized by jacquard velvet, which appears three-dimensional on the silk surface) until August 25, 2024 ✅Future Hall: The first floor has a café and cultural and creative products, the second floor offers interactive weaving and graphic printing activities, and the third floor has a starry sky terrace, a great spot for photographing Beisi Pagoda and viewing Suzhou Center (Picture 7) 2️⃣ Second Stop: Beisi Pagoda Bao'en Temple 📍Location: Renmin Road, Gusu District, Suzhou 🚶‍♂️Transportation: Across the street from the Silk Museum, walk about 300 meters ⏰Opening Hours: 7:45-17:30 💰Tickets: Free ⌚️Visit Duration: 1 hour 🌺🌺Beisi Pagoda was built during the Liang Dynasty of the Southern Dynasties (502-557 AD) and is said to have been built by Sun Quan of Eastern Wu for his mother. The pagoda is surrounded by some halls of Bao'en Temple rebuilt during the Ming and Qing Dynasties: the Guanyin Hall to the east of the pagoda; a long corridor to the south of the Guanyin Hall, displaying the largest giant lacquer carving in China, "Prosperity Picture," also known as "Prosperous Suzhou Picture"; behind the pagoda is the stone carving "Zhang Shicheng's Merit Monument"; to the north of the monument pavilion is a classical landscape temple garden with shade; to the north of the pagoda is the Sutra Pavilion. You can also walk around the pagoda three times clockwise to accumulate merit🙏🙏 3️⃣ Third Stop: Guangyu Book Hall 📍Location: First Tianmen, Gongxiang, Gusu District, Suzhou (inside Guanqian Street) 🚶‍♂️Transportation: Walk 2 kilometers (I walked to Guanqian Street for lunch before going to the book hall) ⏰Performance Time: 13:30-15:30 (Evening 19:00-20:00; 20:15-21:15) 💰Tickets: Free with a leisure card, reservation needed/30 yuan (130 yuan in the evening) 🌺🌺Guangyu Book Hall was built in the 41st year of Qianlong (1776) and has a history of over 240 years as a Pingtan book hall. It is the former site of the first industry association of Suzhou Pingtan, "Guangyu Guild." It can be said to be the birthplace of Suzhou Pingtan, offering the most authentic Suzhou Pingtan. Here, you can experience the slow life of Suzhou and enjoy a leisurely time. 4️⃣ Fourth Stop: China Suzhou Pingtan Museum Wuyuan Deep Book Hall Daxu Branch 📍Location: Zhangjia Lane, Pingjiang Road Historical District, Gusu District, Suzhou 🚶‍♂️Transportation: Walk about 1 kilometer from Guangyu Book Hall ⏰Opening Hours: 9:00-17:00 💰Tickets: Free, no reservation needed ⌚️Visit Duration: 0.5-1 hour 🌺🌺Located in the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China Shen Residence, the museum is divided into the entrance hall, Guangyu Society Exhibition Area, Shanghai Book Hall Street, and School Display Hall. It showcases the historical development of Pingtan and the performance characteristics of famous schools. 5️⃣ Fifth Stop: China Kunqu Opera Museum 📍Location: Zhangjia Lane, Pingjiang Road Historical District, Gusu District, Suzhou 🚶‍♂️Transportation: Walk about 100 meters from the Pingtan Museum ⏰Opening Hours: 9:00-16:30 💰Tickets: Free, no reservation needed ⌚️Visit Duration: 0.5-1 hour 🌺🌺Located in the Quanjin Guild Hall, established in 1879, it is one of the 58 heritage sites along the Suzhou section of the Grand Canal. The museum displays the historical origins of Kunqu Opera, ancient books, Kunqu Opera costumes, and the relationship between Kunqu Opera and the Grand Canal. You can especially listen to famous Kunqu Opera excerpts. ‼️Special Tips: ✅ Yang Zhaodi Pastry on Pishi Street is closed and will reopen in September. ✅ You can have lunch on Guanqian Street, but be sure to protect yourself from the sun (there is almost no shade here) ✅ To learn more about Kunqu Opera, you can also visit the Kunshan Opera and Drama Museum ✅ The route also passes by Xuanmiao Temple, 💰10 yuan ticket