[2024 Suzhou Attraction] Travel Guide for FengMen HengJie (Updated Oct)
Featured Neighborhoods
Address:
Moxie Road, Canglang District, Suzhou, China
Opening times:
Opens at 00:00-23:00(Admission ends at 23:00)Open
Recommended sightseeing time:
2-3 hours
Suzhou Fengmen Hengjie | The scent of life.
Historically, Suzhou had 5 Hengjie (horizontal streets), located at Loumen, Panmen, Changmen, Tangjiaxiang and Fengmen. Today, Fengmen Hengjie is the only remaining one of these 5 streets. It embodies a rich local culture, even secular culture. To the point that some people say, "If you haven't been to Fengmen Hengjie, you haven't truly experienced Suzhou's local life."
In the past, the Hengjie had rice shops, pawn shops, copper shops, coffin shops, tea houses, restaurants, and cloth shops. One street encompassed all the necessities of daily life, making it very convenient. Today, the Hengjie is more focused on agricultural products, attracting visitors with its wide variety, freshness, and affordability. The residents of the Hengjie also differ from the past, with almost every household renting their street-facing rooms to outsiders for business. Suzhou locals themselves have withdrawn from business operations. These hardworking outsiders, who intend to settle in Suzhou, have propped up the prosperity of today's Hengjie. The businesses previously run by locals have declined and eventually disappeared, leaving only memories for the older generation.
Today's Hengjie is still bustling, with small shops constantly calling out. In the narrow alley, people are shoulder to shoulder. During my leisure time, I like to join the crowd and experience the joy that cannot be found in the city. Suzhou dialect mixed with non-standard Mandarin, bargaining in front of small shops. The feeling is like listening to a melody, immersing me in a strong local atmosphere.
Walking along the street, you will see various shops. There are shops selling Qingtuan (green rice balls), Shengjianbao (pan-fried buns), silk, and various small accessories. Each shop has its own characteristics and style, making it hard to resist stopping and taking a look 👀.
In Fengmen Hengjie, you can also taste various authentic Suzhou delicacies. For example, Haitanggao (sea buckthorn cake), Meihua Gao (plum blossom cake), Tangzhou (sweet rice porridge), etc. These delicacies are not only delicious but also affordable, leaving you with a lingering aftertaste 😋.
In addition to food and shops, Fengmen Hengjie also has many ancient buildings and cultural heritage sites. For example, ancient bridges, ancient wells, and ancient buildings on the Hengjie. These ancient buildings and cultural heritage sites witness the history and culture of Suzhou, and also allow people to experience the unique charm of Jiangnan water towns 😍.
Walking along this narrow, linear street, each time, I am surprised by the vitality and life of old Suzhou🌿 and fireworks🔥, which still exist so vividly.
Food recommendations:
✔Zhao Tianlu
A time-honored brand in China, the egg yolk and pork chop🥓 are crispy and tender, with a fragrant aroma in every bite.
✔Lao Tantou Burst Fish
As always, there are many people. Through the window🪟, you can see the master butchering, slicing, and washing the fish before frying it. Their secret sauce is also amazing.
✔Zhang Ji Big Cake Shop
The big cake🫓 is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, both sweet and savory are delicious, making it hard to choose. Just get a piece of each, add freshly fried dough sticks, and pair it with freshly brewed hot soy milk🥤, satisfying!
✔Hao Lai Lai Cake
Still highly recommend the cost-effective glutinous rice cake🍰. This time, I tried two other cakes in the shop, but I still think the glutinous rice cake is the best.
✔Qianwei Luobofang
Completely attracted by the aroma, I happened to catch a promotion, so I bought 6 duck feet to try. The bones are fragrant, the meat is springy, and the braised flavor is rich.
✔Kunyi Cigu Pian
This should be the seasonal "potato chips"🍟 without a doubt, and completely additive-free, very healthy. Although there are many shops selling Cigu (water chestnut) slices on this street, this is the only one that makes them fresh. The freshly made ones are very crispy, and the flavor is much better.
✔Qingke Roasted Cake
It is said to be the best roasted cake in Suzhou. It looks like both white flour steamed bread and toast🍞. Before it is baked, many people gather at the door. Driven by curiosity, I bought one to try. It looks ordinary, but tear off the crispy surface layer, and you can see the soft texture inside. It tastes really fragrant, with a sweet milky aroma.
✔Huangfuxing Cake and Dumpling
One of the four must-try cakes and dumplings in Suzhou. Recommended red bean🫘 pine nut cake and rose pine nut cake. Red bean pine nut cake has a powdery texture, rose pine nut cake is glutinous, with a super bright red color. Inside are melon seeds, pine nuts, walnuts... Moderate sweetness, glutinous rice lovers will love it!
✔Zhang's Sweet Rice Wine
Strong aroma of rice and wine. In winter, buying a few boxes to make drinks🍸 and sweet soup is really delicious.
Location: Fengmen Hengjie, Gusu District, Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province
Opening hours: All day
carefullybottomry
Suzhou | Fengmen Cross Street
⛰【Attraction Guide】
📍Address: Fengmen Street, Gusu District, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province
🚗Transportation: Exit 3 of Zhuhuiqiao Station on Subway Line 5
🕙Opening Hours: All day
💰Ticket: Free
🌟Highlights: Authentic local market street
📌Tips:
1️⃣There are many century-old shops where you can taste a variety of Suzhou snacks
2️⃣The most rustic street with a strong local flavor
EnchantedForest5566
Fengmen Heng Street
Walk along Shiquan Street, turn right after crossing the road to Moye Road, and not far ahead, you will arrive at the famous Fengmen Heng Street. As the only remaining open-air vegetable market in the Gusu city area, its strong local atmosphere attracts many citizens and visitors.
Finally, I arrived at the long-anticipated Fengmen Heng Street. At three o'clock in the afternoon on a weekday, I missed the peak hours, bought the famous burst fish, sticky rice cakes, and seasonal marinated goose, feeling happy. Other delicacies will have to wait until next time.
Lyra # Brooks
Don't just say Suzhou tourism is all about gardens anymore
🌟 Suzhou, a paradise on earth, is not in vain! ✨
🏞️ Pink walls and green stone slabs, the leisurely old streets tell the stories of the past and present. Those ancient streets, beginning in prosperity and ending in tranquility, have a unique charm.
🗺️ Below is a comprehensive Suzhou travel guide I have carefully prepared for you, don't miss it or you'll regret it!
1️⃣ Pingjiang Road: A literary walk in the ancient street
🍃 Pingjiang Road, half of the city of Gusu. It is quieter and more literary than Shantang. Walking in the ancient street, it seems that time has slowed down.
📍 Address: Pingjiang Historical and Cultural Street
🚇 Transportation: Line 1 Xiamen Station
⏰ Opening hours: all day
💼 Recommended check-in: Couple Garden, Pingtan Museum
2️⃣ Guanqian Street: A century-old commercial street with a national trend
🏮 Guanqian Street, the perfect combination of ancient architecture and modern lighting design. The food and jewelry shops here are unforgettable.
📍 Address: Guanqian Street, Gusu District
🚇 Transportation: Line 4 Chayuanchang Station
⏰ Opening hours: all day
💡 Recommended time: all day (the lights are more beautiful at night!)
3️⃣ Shiquan Street: The intersection of folk songs and art
🎸 The houses on Shiquan Street are diverse and unassuming. Here, you can feel the perfect combination of Jiangnan style and modern art. Century-old brands and internet-famous check-in shops are all here!
📍 Address: Shiquan Street, Gusu District
🚇 Transportation: Line 4 Sanyuanfang Station
⏰ Opening hours: all day
🌅 Recommended time: daytime (fewer people and less lighting at night)
4️⃣ Fengmen Cross Street: The representative of the market's fireworks
🥢 This is the most lively old market in Suzhou. Grandmas and grandpas shop for the freshest vegetables here, and you can feel the most real life.
📍 Address: Fengmen Cross Street, Gusu District
🚇 Transportation: Line 5 Zhuhui Bridge Station
⏰ Opening hours: all day
🌅 Recommended time: morning
5️⃣ Xietang Old Street: The experience of crossing between ancient and modern times
🏺 Rebuilt on the basis of 760 years of history, it combines the ancient charm of old Suzhou and the diverse creativity of the West. Galleries, bars, art studios, etc. are gathered here, allowing you to experience the wonderful experience of crossing between ancient and modern times.
📍 Address: No. 1088, Songtao Street, Wuzhong District
🚇 Transportation: Route 115
⏰ Opening hours: all day
🌅 Recommended time: daytime (some shops will close at night)
Fengmen Cross Street, an old street full of the flavor of life
Strolling here, you will feel the strong breath of life. The street stalls are filled with various fresh fruits and vegetables🍇, and the shops on both sides are filled with delicious food emitting a tempting aroma🍲, which makes people drool.
There are no bustling skyscrapers, no hustle and bustle of traffic, but there is the most real flavor of life🎆. Here, you can feel the true meaning of life and experience the purest joy.
There are also many treasure shops
Jiangji Dapai: The handmade spring roll skins made on the spot are very ornamental, and there are many people on weekends, so you need to queue up. Their large rows are full of egg liquid, and they are fragrant and crispy after being fried, and they are tender and juicy, very delicious.
Old Stall Head Fried Fish: The crispy and tender fried fish, every bite makes you can't stop! The fresh fish meat becomes golden and crispy under high-temperature frying. The moment you bite down, the tender fish meat and the crispy skin blend together, giving you a unique taste enjoyment.
Wyatt.Moore^25
Travelogue of Suzhou, Jiangsu
Sharing Suzhou travel guide! Two-day and one-night itinerary
Day 1:
Fengmen Heng Street→Humble Administrator's Garden→Suzhou Museum→Shantang Street
Day 2:
Hanshan Temple→Yangcheng Lake→Huayi Movie Park→Gate of the Orient
✨Day 1 Highlights: Fengmen Heng Street is a local morning market, suitable for visiting before noon. It is recommended to try sweet snacks such as oil boiled meatballs and egg juice big row, the breakfast variety is diverse, it is recommended to try more, not easy to be disappointed.
✨The ticket for Humble Administrator's Garden is 70r, need to book in advance. Free explanation is worth it, suitable for taking pictures, highly recommended!
✨Suzhou Museum also needs to be booked in advance, also super awesome!
✨The night view of Shantang Street is beautiful, especially suitable for boat sightseeing, but avoid illegal ticket sales.
✨Day 2 Highlights: Get up early to visit Hanshan Temple, the scenic area is quiet with few people, very worth a visit. There are interesting projects such as roller coasters in Huayi Movie Park, and the Gate of the Orient is a good place for photo check-in.
🔍Key points to note:
▶️There are many types of shared bicycles in Suzhou, be sure to pay attention to the no-parking zone and parking points.
▶️Scenic spot tickets need to be booked in advance, grab tickets early!
▶️Avoid buying scalper tickets at the entrance of the scenic spot and the train station to avoid being deceived.
▶️It is not the season for hairy crabs, most of the crab roe noodles sold on the market are frozen crab powder, the quality is uneven.
▶️The accommodation location should be chosen near the subway station, very convenient.
▶️Suzhou roadside convenience stores offer a large selection of breakfast options, including buns, corn, tea eggs, sandwiches, etc. High-quality breakfast choices should not be missed.
Traveling to Suzhou from December to February is highly recommended, plan your itinerary in advance, book hotels and tickets, prepare power banks and cameras, and you will definitely have an unforgettable trip to Suzhou!
AvaKensington12
Street food you must-try at Fengmen Hengjie
Dating back to the Spring and Autumn Period, and boasts the rebuilt 'Xiliu Qingying 溪流清映' Gate from the early Qing Dynasty, Fengmen Heng Street is a year-round favourite. Even though it is a short street, many of the well-established brands can be found here.
So if you want to experience the authentic Suzhou culture and local street food, check out this place instead.
Here are the stores:
Cheung Kee Biscuit Shop 张记大饼店
Roasted Highland Barley Buns 青稞烤馍
Crispy Honey Buns 脆皮蜂蜜小面包
Huang Fuxing Cake Shop 黄富兴糕团店
Old stall fried fish 老摊头爆鱼
Kunyi Arrowhead Chip Store昆艺茨店片
#thingstodo #chinatravel