[2025 Suzhou Attraction] Travel Guide for Chang Men (Updated May)

#chinatrip Came across this great huge wall and quickly notice a standing board by the road, this gate named after Chang Meng. This was built close to 300years back as a entrance gate for the loyalties. This gate is just located about 5mins to the famous Suzhou night market. If you like to enjoy night view, suggest to come to this place at late evening, not just the gate but also river view could actually give you the feel of blending into China culture 😍

【Introduction】: Wu Zixu, the creator of Suzhou City 2,500 years ago, built Helu Great City. Since then, Pan Gate has become one of the eight gates of the ancient city of Suzhou, and has become a permanent witness to the rise of Suzhou City and the hegemony of the State of Wu. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the Pan Gate area was the most prosperous commercial district in Suzhou, with tens of thousands of shops of various types. The Pan Gate and gate tower you see now were rebuilt in 2006 based on the design of the Ming and Qing dynasties. It is a cloudy day today, and Pan Gate under the lights at night is even more beautiful. ⛺【Things to know】: There are many cultural and historical sites, garden elegance, and urban fireworks near Pan Gate where you can experience the diverse charm of the ancient city of Gusu. Such as the Su-style meals in Xizhongshi, and the nearby Yipu Garden, Taibo Temple, North Wharf (Figure 11), Shantang Street, etc. 🛬【Itinerary】: Pan Gate City Wall (Figures 1-7), you can see the Big Pants and North Temple Pagoda from a high-altitude view (Figures 8-10). The tour time is within half an hour. 🧡【Tips】: It is recommended that backpackers departing from Pingjiang New City ride a small green bike (public bicycle) from Shanhuaqiao South Bus Station to the Panmen East Public Bicycle Parking Point, which takes about 20 minutes and is free. You can scan the code on the "Yonganxing" WeChat app to ride.

| Suzhou's hidden gem of daily life, embracing the essence of Jiangnan day and night. At six in the morning, while Pingjiang Road is still asleep, the aroma of fried dumplings from Shantang Street is already wafting through the air. This "Seven Mile Shantang," only 3,600 meters long, is like a film reel deliberately forgotten by time, featuring both a memorial archway inscribed by Emperor Qianlong and the preserved daily life of the waterside residents. Avoiding the crowded archway section, I embarked on a city walk beneath the Changmen city wall, traversing a thousand years of history. Water and Land City Gates in the Morning Light Stepping onto the flagstones and turning into Xinmin Bridge Market, I discovered the locals' breakfast secrets. Lao Zhang, the shengjian (pan-fried bun) master, has been manning his stall at six o'clock every morning for thirty years. The crispy bottoms of the buns encase piping hot, juicy meat, perfectly complemented by a bowl of salty soy milk to cut through the richness. Upstairs, water shield, hung out to dry, resembles an emerald curtain. The soft Wu dialect of the grannies bargaining is more melodious than pingtan (Suzhou ballad singing). Walking along the Shangtang River to Tonggui Bridge, the reflection of the Ming Dynasty stone arch bridge in the morning mist resembles a full moon. Turning into the carved gate of Yuhan Hall, this old residence from the Qianlong era is staging a rarely seen intangible cultural heritage performance—a kesi (silk tapestry) master's silver shuttle glides through the silk threads, weaving flowers and birds with a three-dimensional texture richer than Su embroidery. Parallel Time and Space at Noon There's always a queue at Zhu Xinnian's snack shop at Xingqiao. Freshly wrapped shepherd's purse wontons bob in boiling water, releasing the fragrance of spring mountains and fields with every bite. Turning into Shantang Street's narrowest alley, the 87-centimeter-long Ye Family Alley, I brushed past a trumpet creeper flower, feeling as if I had just passed by a Ming or Qing Dynasty scholar. At Wu Tuo Zhai next to the ancient opera stage, a 78-year-old artist is painting with wheat straw. Golden wheat stalks are split into 0.1-millimeter-thin slices, meticulously pieced together to create a tabby cat with distinct fur. Walking along Danshi Road to the Shaanxi Guild Hall, two 260-year-old boxwood trees bear witness to the prosperity of Shanxi merchants. The dappled shadows seem to echo the clicking of abacus beads from bygone days. A Flowing Feast in the Twilight As the setting sun paints the stone slabs of Puji Bridge red, lanterns on both sides of the river light up one after another. Old tea drinkers gather at Apo Teahouse, fanning themselves, sipping Biluochun tea with pine nut candy, and watching the painted boats glide through the shimmering water. I recommend boarding the water bus at Bai Juyi Wharf. As the boat passes Yefang Stream, the sound of pingtan drifts from the old houses on the shore, the Wu dialect lyrics becoming even more enchanting amidst the lapping of oars and the flickering of lights. Under Tonggui Bridge, the old storytelling house is staging "Three Smiles." With a crack of the starter's clapper, the legend of Tang Bohu and Qiuxiang comes alive to the applause of the audience. If you visit during the Mid-Autumn Festival, you can also witness the unique Suzhou spectacle of "Shihu Chuan Yue" (Moon Stringing over Shihu Lake)—the nine arches of Xingchun Bridge reflect the moon, forming a string of silver, as if opening a moonlight treasure box in a parallel time and space. TIPS 1. Free Kunqu Opera performances at the ancient opera stage every Wednesday and Saturday at 2:00 PM. 2. Water bus night tours from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM, every half hour. 3. Kesi experience at Yuhan Hall requires a three-day advance reservation. 4. Wide-angle lens recommended for taking photos in Ye Family Alley. When the trendy shops on Shiquan Street close, the pingtan music on Shantang Street continues. This living canal museum, with its seven-mile-long street, preserves the daily life of Gusu City through the changing seasons. Away from the bustling main street, in the crisscrossing side alleys, you are sure to find your own unique Jiangnan experience.

I suddenly understand the romance of Shantang Street! ✨ This slow-paced lifestyle of Suzhou locals is so comfortable! Sitting by the window and savoring Suzhou cuisine is so elegant! ▪️Braised Pork in Brown Sauce (Su-style) Braised pork in brown sauce simmered for hours 🔥 It is one of the signature dishes of Suzhou cuisine! 🉑 A dish that requires a lot of effort 👌 The color is bright red, with alternating layers of fat and lean meat~ The lean meat is tender, and the skin is very chewy and full of collagen! 🤭 ▪️Signature Squirrel-shaped Mandarin Fish A super classic Suzhou dish that you must try! 😍 I've been eating it since I was a kid! It's hard not to love it ❤️ The sweet and sour taste is just right, and it's crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. I'm completely in love! 🤤 ▪️Stir-fried Kalimeris indica Suzhou really has a lot of seasonal vegetables! 👍 You must try the seasonal vegetables of this season when you come to Suzhou! The Kalimeris indica is very tender now! 🫶 They also make it super delicious! 🏠Zhi Chun Shan Fang (Shantang Slow Living) 📍50m south of Changmen City Gate, 221 Nanxin Road 🚃Shilu Station, Subway Line 2

2025 Suzhou's New Landmark: The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Preview|||The Ritz-Carlton, Suzhou is set to open in March 2025. Get a sneak peek now! ———— 🏨 The Ritz-Carlton, Suzhou 📌 Located in Suzhou China World Trade Center, outside Changmen, Gusu District ———— ⭐【Hotel Highlights】 ■ Designed by internationally renowned interior designer Peter Remedios, the hotel perfectly blends traditional Suzhou culture with modern luxury. ■ 190 rooms and suites feature unique designs inspired by Suzhou gardens, Su embroidery, and small bridges and flowing water, creating a Jiangnan-style travel experience. ■ The hotel has 4 distinctive restaurants and lounges, offering a variety of local and Western delicacies. ■ The hotel is close to Lingering Garden and Shantang Historical and Cultural Street, with a strong cultural atmosphere. ———— 【Hotel Introduction】 The Ritz-Carlton, Suzhou is the second collaboration between China World Trade Center and The Ritz-Carlton brand, following the Beijing China World Trade Center. The hotel's facade design is inspired by the blue-tiled sloping roofs, folding fan screens, and blank spaces in traditional Chinese paintings of traditional Suzhou architecture. Here, guests can experience the unique historical and cultural atmosphere of Suzhou, enjoy the legendary service of The Ritz-Carlton brand, and experience ultimate luxury and comfort. The Suzhou China World Trade Center project, where the hotel is located, has a total investment of over RMB 10 billion and is surrounded by rich supporting facilities, including the reconstructed Zizhiyuan and H+ Art Museum.

What is it like to listen to music and eat noodles in a garden in Suzhou? When it comes to the elegance of Jiangnan, Suzhou is the best🥹 I didn't expect Suzhou's noodle shops to be on the next level! A 1,200-square-meter private garden🎋 Classical flower windows, Suzhou-style screens, and a courtyard with pine trees Koi fish swim in the pond, and mist floats on the water Listen to music, drink tea, watch fish, and eat noodles🍜 The Suzhou-style aesthetic is taken to the extreme... it's so elegant - 🏡Pingchang Garden 📍Building 6, No. 6, Changmen West Street, Jinchang Subdistrict Tips: There are Pingtan and Kunqu Opera performances from 11:00–13:00 and 18:00–20:00 every day

| A Homestay Worth Staying In! Today, I want to recommend a homestay worth staying in for friends visiting Suzhou. 📍Great Location: Located at No. 5 Chong'anli, No. 30 Xiatang Street, inside Changmen, Gusu Ancient City. It is situated among a group of Republic of China buildings, close to Shantang Street and Guanqian Street, offering tranquility amidst the hustle and bustle. 🏡Architectural Features: This is a century-old Republic of China mansion that perfectly retains its original architectural appearance while adding modern living elements, bringing new vitality to the old house. 🛏️Various Room Types: There are various styles to choose from, including Chinese and Western styles, and many Jiangnan elements are incorporated. Open the window, and you can enjoy the beautiful scenery. The bathroom is spacious, with separate wet and dry areas, and fully equipped facilities. 🎀Value-added Services: You can experience Hanfu and feel the ancient charm of Jiangnan. There is also one-on-one butler service, making your trip worry-free. 💰Affordable Price: About 300 per person, with high cost performance. When traveling to Suzhou, choose Pushe·Shiguang Mansion, allowing you to experience the perfect blend of modern and traditional in a century-old house and enjoy an unforgettable journey.😜

📚 The book of time, gently flipping through the pages～🍃 Summer, it is long and splendid, as if endless...🌞 But look! The beginning of autumn has quietly peeked, and the autumn atmosphere is gradually thickening✨ The enthusiasm of midsummer, the sky bears witness, it's unbelievably beautiful💖 🏯 "First see the shadow of Tiger Hill Pagoda, then enter the dream of Suzhou" —— The soul of Suzhou, the Tiger Hill Pagoda leans but does not fall, with ancient charm for a thousand years, the No.1 cultural landmark! 🗼 The Beisi Pagoda towers into the clouds, with eight sides and nine levels, surrounded by red railings, imposing and magnificent, truly deserving the title of "The First Ancient Pagoda in Jiangnan"! 🏯 The Ruiguang Pagoda, with its ancient charm, octagonal and seven levels, a relic of the Song Dynasty, a treasure among Suzhou's Song Dynasty pagodas🌟 🏛 Masterpiece of I.M. Pei, Suzhou Museum, a perfect collision of modern and classical, a must-visit check-in spot! 🛤️ Shantang Street, with seven miles of ancient charm, bustling in the east and tranquil in the west, intertwining ancient relics and modernity, every step is a scene, intoxicating🏮 🏞️ By Tiger Hill, the shadow of the pagoda hides tranquility in the garden, with green phoenix trees and bamboo, clear springs winding around stones, the beauty of gardens is beyond words🌿 🚪 The ancient charm of Changmen, the bustling old dreams, a witness to water transport and commerce, the whispers of history echoing among the city bricks🚢 📜 The Stele Inscription Museum, the Wenmiao Temple of Fan Zhongyan, a brilliant pearl of Jiangnan academies, the ink fragrance of history, refreshing the heart📖 🏫 On Tiyuchang Road, the former site of the independent branch of the Communist Party of China in Suzhou, the spark of revolution spread from here🔥 🌉 By Shangjin Bridge, a picturesque water town, a bridge spanning ancient and modern times, the stone arch bridge tells the story of the years🏞️ 🌊 The Suzhou section of the Grand Canal, a flowing historical corridor, connecting the poetic and distant Jiangnan water towns🛳️ 🎭 Lion Mountain Grand Theater, an art palace by Tianchi Lake, dancing with nature, grand opening on August 31st!🎉 🏙️ Suzhou International Financial Center, at the peak of 450 meters, the ambition of "fish leaping over the dragon gate", defining a new height🏙️ 🌈 Under the blue sky and white clouds, every corner of Suzhou is a poem and a distant place. Landmarks and streets, fireworks and culture, intertwine to form the most touching urban symphony🎵

Cao Xueqin wrote at the beginning of the Chinese classic Dream of the Red Chamber: It is written like this - "Changmen is one of the most prosperous and elegant places in the world." Changmen is a cultural and historical building in Suzhou. It is the west gate, one of the eight gates of the ancient city. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, The Changmen area was once the most prosperous commercial district in Suzhou. This was clearly marked in the "Prosperous Picture of Suzhou" during the Qianlong period. This is also an important reason why Changmen enjoys such a great reputation. The banks of the moat at Changmen are picturesque. It has Jiangnan characteristics and graceful style. The business atmosphere is also quite strong. Visitors can relive the prosperity of the past here. Changmen has convenient transportation. It is very convenient for tourists to go sightseeing. Take Suzhou Metro Line 2 to Shilu Station Exit 12. After exiting the station, walk about 600 meters to arrive.

I haven't been in Suzhou for long, but I already knew about this trail. Back then, a tea friend of mine walked the entire trail and then came to have tea with me. I greatly admired him and felt I couldn't do the whole trail myself. Therefore, walking the trail became a wish of mine. I entered the trail from Fengmen Bridge, passing through Xiangmen, Loumen, Pingmen, Qimen, Changmen, Xumen, Panmen, and finally arriving at Shemen, which is Osmanthus Park. Upon reaching Shemen, I found there was no path outside the city wall; it seemed I had to detour from the inside. I didn't feel like continuing, so I went straight back to the dormitory from Osmanthus Park. I left the dormitory at 9 am and returned around 1:30 pm. Although I didn't complete the trail 100%, I still walked the entire course. This time on the trail, I realized a problem: even though I've been in Suzhou for over 7 years, there are still many places in the city I haven't visited. I felt even more that Suzhou is indeed like a big park.

Changmen Hotel is the "modern residence in Waiwujing Lane". It is an important building complex of the Republic of China in the ancient city. There are 4 garden villas. The wintersweets under the wall are sticking out their branches. A typical Republic of China style wintersweet! · 🏠Address: Changmen Hotel, Gusu District, Suzhou ⭐Tickets: Free 🚗Transportation: Parking available if you drive/walk from subway to Shilu Station ⏰Time: All day

|||Everyone says that the beauty of Jiangnan is generally good. Always be fascinated by the new Chinese aesthetics💗|||Everyone says that the beauty of Jiangnan is good The beauty of Jiangnan Generally in Suzhou Suzhou is like a painting The breeze comes slowly The waves are not rising Raise a glass to the guests Recite the poetry of the bright moon Sing the song of the graceful chapter It's nothing more than this Zhuozheng Garden is one of the four major gardens in China The largest area The existing garden landscape is mostly caused by the late Qing Dynasty Still retained During the Ming Dynasty The characteristics of openness and clarity 🎉Location navigation: Walk 1000 meters from Beisita Station on Line 4. If you are not in a hurry, you can stroll around in the small alleys on the roadside 🎊Ticket price: 70/person Opening hours: 7:30-17:30 Liu Garden, a classical private garden known for its architectural art, has spacious and gorgeous halls, courtyards with changes, and autumn ginkgo and red maple, reflecting each other. ✨Location navigation: No. 338, Liuyuan Road, outside Changmen, Gusu District 🎈Ticket price: 45/person 🎁Opening hours: 7:30-17:30

Suzhou Changmen Hotel is one of the few garden-style hotels in Suzhou. It was listed as a cultural relic protection unit by the government in 1991. The hotel covers an area of 21,000 square meters, with shady trees and picturesque scenery inside. It has two different styles of villa gardens, high and middle-grade standard rooms and suites 194 sets, 10 conference rooms of various sizes, and a luxury banquet hall that can accommodate 350 people dining at the same time. The hotel is close to the oldest water and land city gate in Suzhou - Changmen, adjacent to another bustling commercial downtown area in Suzhou - Shilu Pedestrian Street, only a 3-minute walk from the hotel, where dining, entertainment, leisure, shopping are integrated, east to Guanqian Street, south to Panmen Scenic Area, west to Liuyuan, Xiyuan, and north to Shantang, Tiger Hill. The hotel is quiet in the midst of the hustle and bustle, with convenient transportation, and is an ideal choice for tourism, vacation and conferences.