[2025 Suzhou Attraction] Travel Guide for Xiangmu Gate (Updated Apr)

"A Pingjiang Road, half of Gusu city." The alley is not long, but it is the precipitation of history. Living by the river and prospering by the water. - In addition to the must-visit Pingjiang Road in Suzhou, the surroundings are also classic. The Lion Grove is one of the four major gardens in Suzhou, don't miss the blooming wintersweet and the beautiful glazed flower windows; The collision of modern and classical in Cang Street, there are both top-stream waist-down girls and the beautiful water rhyme of Gusu with few people; The Couple's Retreat Garden is one of the eight major gardens in Suzhou, small and exquisite, the meaning of "a perfect match" attracts many couples to take pictures; Dongyuan is free to feed black swans and is more popular with locals. You can stroll around Pingjiang Road all day! - 🔆「Recommended Route」 Lion Grove-Pingjiang Road-Ren Heng Cang Street-Xiangmen-Couple's Retreat Garden-Dongyuan-Cang Street - 📍「Attraction Features」 1️⃣ Lion Grove One of the four famous gardens in Suzhou, known as the "Kingdom of Rockeries", the wintersweet is blooming right now, and the flower window is too beautiful to check in! Various glazed flower windows are even more unique～ 2️⃣ Pingjiang Road Suzhou's historic old street, with water and land running parallel, river streets adjacent, very antique, a must-visit in Suzhou! There are many snacks and specialty shops, and you can take a boat. 3️⃣ Ren Heng Cang Street Suzhou Taikoo Li, with many brands, in the form of a block, the super popular waist-down girl👧🏻 is there, taking pictures of the former residence garden through the glazed glass, the sense of "Blossoms"～ 4️⃣ Xiangmen Suzhou's ancient city gate, you can climb the city wall to overlook the ancient city and the scenery of the moat. 5️⃣ Couple's Retreat Garden One of the eight major gardens in Suzhou, because of the homophonic "couple"👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻, there is a saying of "a perfect match", there are many wedding photos taken. Small and exquisite! 6️⃣ Dongyuan Free garden, you can go to feed black swans 7️⃣ Cang Street Small popular street, near the Couple's Retreat Garden, leading to Xiangmen subway station, the journey is very good to shoot, especially the boats at the back door of the Couple's Retreat Garden.

The "Xiangmen" in Suzhou is one of the eight city gates built on the outer wall of the old Suzhou city during the "Wu" period. The current city gate and tower are restored. Inside the city gate is the "City Wall Museum," which explains the history of Suzhou's city gates. The surrounding area is also a free-to-enter park, which has become a place of relaxation for locals. We also took a boat tour of the canal right in front of the Xiangmen. From the boat, we could see the grandeur of the city gate and the city walls. Some people enjoy SAP on the canal, so the canal is a familiar presence for the people of Suzhou. 📍Xiangmen Access: About 5 minutes on foot from the subway "Xiangmen" station #ChinaTourism #China #Suzhou

Xiangmen is one of the eight historic gates surrounding Suzhou’s old district which guarded the city in the past. While certain parts of the wall has been restored, the rest of it is believed to date back to around the 1660’s. Walk to the top of the wall and you’ll see the contrast between the old part and the new one. There’s also a museum on the ground floor showcasing the evolution of the city wall. If you go there in the late afternoon/ evening, the city lights and the dancing grandmas at front square bring so much life to this place! It’s a nice place to soak up some culture in a relaxed environment. Entrance ➡️ FREE How to go ➡️ Xiangmen, 相门 🚇 station，line 1. Exit 3 is the closest. #historicculture #historicallandmarks #historicplaces #historicsites #citywall #citywalk #scenicspotguide #suzhoutravel #suzhou

🌈 Pingjiang Road is the most well-preserved area of Suzhou's old town, largely retaining the urban layout from the Tang and Song dynasties. It's a microcosm of the ancient city. 🌈 In 2005, Pingjiang Road was awarded the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Award for Cultural Heritage Conservation, the only street to receive this honor that year. 🎈 Pingjiang Road is about 1,600 meters long. Take Exit 3 of Xiangmen Station on Metro Line 1 and walk about 400 meters to the south gate. The north gate is near the Humble Administrator's Garden and the Lion Grove Garden, which you can visit together. 💫 Highlights: · Sipo Bridge: A relic from the Song Dynasty, the bridge still retains Wukang stone and bluestone, which were used for bridge construction even before granite. The bridge abutment columns are made of Wukang stone, and the long tie stones at both ends, carved with Ganoderma lucidum and sacred lotus, are also Wukang stone. · Niu Family Alley: Suzhou has produced over 50 top scholars (Zhuangyuan) in history. The Zhuangyuan Museum is located in this alley, on the former site of the residence of Pan Shien, a Zhuangyuan during the Qianlong reign. · Xuegao (Snow Cake) Bridge: This bridge already existed in the Song Dynasty's *Pingjiang Map*. Legend has it that a filial son surnamed Zhang, being poor and out of food, made snow cakes for his parents. After his death, the neighbors named the bridge Xuegao Bridge in his memory. · Middle Zhang Family Alley: Those interested in opera can find the Kunqu Museum and Pingtan Museum here. · Daru Alley: The filming location for the TV series *All Is Well*, this alley leads to Guanqian Street. · Qingshi (Bluestone) Bridge: An excellent location for photographing the scenery of Pingjiang Road. The ancient bridge, flowing water, and houses create a beautiful Jiangnan ink painting. · Suzhou Urban Planning Museum: A museum converted from the former residence of Pan Lin Zhao, a wealthy businessman and son-in-law of Yuan Shikai. It is free to the public, with free guided tours at 10:30 am and 2:30 pm daily. · Former Residence of Hong Jun: A famous diplomat and historical geographer of the late Qing Dynasty, Zhuangyuan during the Tongzhi reign, and whose concubine was Sai Jinhua, known as the "Mother of the Nation." · Former Residence of Gu Jiegang: A famous modern Chinese historian, folklorist, and founder of the Gushi Bian (Doubting Antiquity) School, who was a student of Hu Shi. · The Couple's Garden: Known as the "Garden of Love," it was built by Shen Bingcheng and Yan Yonghua, a couple whose love story has been celebrated for centuries. The name "Ou" (couple) symbolizes the harmonious relationship of a married couple in retirement. Interestingly, the marriage registration office of Gusu District is also located here. Take your loved one for a visit!☺️ · Former Residence of Tang Na: A talented scholar and famous film critic in early 20th-century Suzhou. At the age of 19, he married Li Yunhe, who later became known as Jiang Qing. The residence is located in Huxiangshi Alley. 🎈 Find a time outside of holidays and weekends to explore every corner of Pingjiang Road, discover the details forgotten by time, and feel the traces left by the years! You won't be disappointed!

When I came to Suzhou for tourism, Yanlord Warehouse Street really amazed me 😍 It is a dream combination of Jiangnan water town and modern trends! - As soon as you step in here, you can feel the ancient charm. The bluestone pavement, wooden doors and windows, pink walls and black tiles, and the flying eaves seem to reach the sky☁️ In a trance, I seemed to have traveled back to the Gusu City a thousand years ago. The small river beside the street is gurgling, and small boats pass by on the river from time to time. Isn’t this the Jiangnan water town that I have been longing for? - Each shop here is more unique than the other. Following Ctrip’s recommendation, I checked in at a super popular coffee shop, as well as various cultural and creative stores. I wanted to get every one of the exquisite bookmarks and postcards with Suzhou elements. - Of course, the food must not be missed! After eating the bread with crispy crust 🍞, the moment I took a bite, I felt extremely happy. There is also the sweet and refreshing osmanthus candied taro. The soft and glutinous taro is coated with osmanthus syrup, full of the flavor of autumn. - As night falls, Cang Street is dressed in gorgeous lights. The lights are reflected in the river, sparkling and magnificent. The bars and cafes along the river are also bustling. It is very pleasant to order a drink, sit by the window, look at the night view outside, and chat with friends. - Yanlord Warehouse Street [Awesome] has both the gentleness of the Jiangnan water village and the vitality of a modern city. Whether you want to experience history and culture or enjoy leisure time, you can be satisfied here.

Suzhou Couple Garden is located at No. 7, Xiaoxin Lane, Neicang Street, Suzhou City. It was built in the early Qing Dynasty and was originally named "She Garden". During the Yongzheng period of the Qing Dynasty, Lu Jin, the prefect of Baoning, built this garden after he retired and returned to his hometown. It was destroyed by war during the Xianfeng period. In the 13th year of the Tongzhi reign, the provincial governor of Huzhou, Shen Bingcheng, purchased the abandoned site and hired the painter Gu Ying to design it. He rebuilt and expanded it into a structure of one house and two gardens. It was completed in the 2nd year of the Guangxu reign and renamed "Couple Garden". [?] Reasons for being called the Love Garden ● Meaning of the name: The "Couple" in "Couple Garden" is similar to the "Ou", implying that the couple will return to the countryside to live in seclusion. It not only refers to a perfect couple, but also expresses the characteristics of the east and west gardens facing each other, conveying the good wish of the couple to retire and stay together until old age. ●Story of the garden owner: The garden owner Shen Bingcheng and his wife Yan Yonghua were deeply in love and they spent eight years of loving time in the garden. Shen Bingcheng had a rough career, and later he retired here with his wife. They left many portraits of their life in the garden. For example, the couplet on the East Flower Garden, "Couple Garden houses a loving couple, and the city bend is built into a poetic city", was written by Yan Yonghua, indicating the love background of this garden. [RedHeart] Nowadays, there is a marriage registration office in Suzhou in Couyuan Garden, where newlyweds can go to Couyuan Garden to register their marriage and become legal husband and wife. In the quaint garden, the sense of ceremony is really full [Sakura] Recently, the plum blossoms are in full bloom. Plum blossoms are also blooming in many places in Couple Garden. As of today, all the wintersweets are in full bloom, and about 50% of the red plums are in full bloom. The best time to enjoy the red plum blossoms is around the middle of next week. [RoundNails] Couple Garden is near Pingjiang Road. After visiting Couple Garden, you can go to the nearby Suzhou Old City Gate: Xiangmen. There are also large shopping and commercial warehouse streets around it. You can find a suitable place to eat, shop and rest. Other recommended gardens in Suzhou for viewing plum blossoms include Keyuan Garden and Canglang Pavilion.

The Xiangmen Ancient City Wall is located in the east of Suzhou's ancient city and is one of the important relics of the ancient city wall. Legend has it that King Helu of Wu ordered the swordsmith Gan Jiang to set up a furnace to forge swords here, hence the name Ganjiang Gate or Jiangmen. Over time, "Jiangmen" gradually evolved into "Jiangmen" and eventually became "Xiangmen." The city wall has several attractions, including the city wall, city tower, water and land gates, and the ruins of the city wall. A plaque with the words "Gou Yi Xiang Hui" hangs on the city tower. The word "Gou" here represents the Wu Gou and Yue Sword, symbolizing the story of Gan Jiang and Mo Ye forging swords here; the word "Yi" refers to the city, reflecting the historical and cultural characteristics of Suzhou; the word "Xiang" here refers to Xiangmen, and the word "Hui" has a beautiful meaning. Near Xiangmen is Cang Street, a famous internet-famous spot in Suzhou. The scenic area is free to visit, and the nearby transportation is convenient.

A loose yet tense journey, from strangers to friends who make plans to meet again. 8:30 Meet at Beibanyuan, where the staff of Pingjiangfu Hotel opened the mysterious door of Beibanyuan for us. Three little ones were playing in the pool, so carefree. 9:15 Passed by the Suzhou Urban Construction Museum, which was not on the itinerary. The building's "dialogue between ancient and modern" allowed us to rediscover Suzhou, a city we often visit. For the first time, we realized that there are so many ancient buildings beyond our knowledge. 10:00 Quanjin Guild Hall, China Kunqu Opera Museum, and the 2025 "Just in Time to Dream" Peony Pavilion-themed exhibition depicted a dream-seeking route for us to explore Kunqu Opera. We sat down for a short break and enjoyed a famous song, which was quite enjoyable. 11:00 Boarded a boat at Xiangmen Wharf to Xumen. The ancient city gates along the way were particularly majestic, giving us a sense of traveling through time and space. We passed by Shemen, quickly pressed the shutter, and welcomed the dancing golden snake. 13:00 After a simple lunch, we headed to the former site of the Jiangsu Provincial Surveillance Office, where a joint exhibition of aquatic art was held. The boundless imagination of the artists and the ancient building engaged in a dialogue across time and space, and the words "dialogue between ancient and modern" appeared in our minds again. On the way, we passed by the "Suzhou People's Hall" and looked forward to the scene of entering it in the future. 14:30 Arrived at Changyuan as scheduled, which is limited to 20 visitors per day, so remember to make a reservation in advance. Now, Changyuan is operated by Vanke's Youxiong Hotel, and behind every ancient door in the garden may be a place to rest. 16:00 Arrived at the Suzhou Silk Museum before it closed. The embroidery added a touch of beauty to the silk, and the exquisite exhibits were breathtaking. Young curator Luo Yier and a group of young artists once again presented a "dialogue between ancient and modern" here, bringing this trip to a perfect end. 20,000 steps in one day to check in at many lesser-known gardens, and we still had the energy to add a classic after dinner, Tang Yin's Former Residence, and rushed to the high-speed rail platform at the last minute. Looking back on the dialogue between ancient and modern throughout the day, every step was a scene, more exciting than a time-travel drama.

The exhibition area includes two levels, divided into six exhibition halls: 'Preface Hall,' 'Millennium Chronicle of the City,' 'Stories of the City Gates,' 'Inside and Outside the City,' 'Memories of the City Wall,' and 'Reappearance of the City Wall.' These halls showcase the historical changes and archaeological achievements of the Suzhou City Wall. The 'Millennium Chronicle of the City' hall describes the development of the Suzhou City Wall from the Spring and Autumn period to the Republic of China period. The platform-style city wall model intuitively displays the layout and structure of the Suzhou City Wall. The 'water and land adjacent, parallel waterways' double-grid city layout is the most important feature of Suzhou City. Suzhou's unique double moat setup enhances the defensive function of the city wall and also provides a hydraulic function to regulate the water levels inside and outside the city. The Suzhou City Wall is a historical context. As an important link in the memory chain of Suzhou's urban civilization, the ancient city wall has accompanied Suzhou for over 2,500 years, witnessing the Suzhou-style life of ordinary people through the long years and becoming part of the organic life of Suzhou culture. Interested friends are welcome to visit in person!

🌟Highlights: The Suzhou Xiangmen City Wall starts from Xiangmen Bridge in the south, extends to the Couple's Retreat Garden in the north, faces the moat in the east, and connects to the Pingjiang Historic District in the west, covering an area of 32,200 square meters. The wall is 725.8 meters long and the city tower is 23.6 meters high. It was rebuilt in 2012. The plaque on the city tower reads 'Gou Yi Xiang Hui' in four characters. 📍Detailed Address: Ganjiang East Road, Suzhou City 🚉Transportation Strategy: Suzhou Rail Transit Line 1 Xiangmen Station 🕙Business Hours: Open all year from 6:00 to 22:00 📝Ticket Price: Free admission

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.

Suzhou Cang Street is named after the locations of official warehouses in Changzhou and Yuanhe counties during the Qing Dynasty. Now it has been built into the first open high-end shopping mall in Suzhou, bringing a new look to the ancient Cang Street and becoming a new internet celebrity check-in block. There are commercial streets both above ground and underground. The ones above ground are mainly boutiques and luxury goods stores (mainly clothing), and there are entertainment and restaurants underground. To the east of Cang Street are Suzhou Ancient City Wall and Suzhou City Wall Museum (free, closed on Mondays), to the south is the headquarters of Soochow University, to the west is Pingjiang Road, and to the north is the World Cultural Heritage Lotus Root Garden. In the evening, go to the city wall to watch the sunset and Cangjie Street next door. The collision of ancient and modern times is beautiful. (The subway is directly connected to the south entrance)

After experiencing the enchanting April in the human world, one must stroll around Gusu city... How can you miss this ancient city wall when you're at Suzhou City Walk✨ Standing on the city wall🉑, you can take in the beautiful scenery of the city😜. Hidden inside the city gate is a city wall museum, like a time tunnel✨, taking you back to the glorious sights of Suzhou's city wall and the ancient city, worth learning about. You can deeply feel the unique charm of this historical and cultural city‼️ After visiting these places, you can also wander around Pingjiang Road, where there are teahouses to rest and enjoy a pot of Jiangnan tea🍵 🎫: 🆓Free 🚇: Get off at Xiangmen Station on Subway Line 1 and walk🚶for 5 minutes

The city gates are resplendent, with the lights of thousands of homes shining together at this moment. The gates of Gusu are covered with the fireworks of the whole city, connecting space and even transcending time. They have never gone far but continue to write the story of the ancient city as the sun and moon alternate and the light and shadows shift. Xiangmen (Picture 1️⃣——2️⃣) As the sun sets and night falls, the light at Xiangmen stretches far and wide, brilliant like stars. It's the perfect time to take a casual stroll and feel the place where the legendary swordsmith Gan Jiang once cast swords, carrying the ancient city's cultural heritage and once again painting a picture of a bright future. Xiangmen (Picture 1️⃣——2️⃣) As the sun sets and night falls, the light at Xiangmen stretches far and wide, brilliant like stars. It's the perfect time to take a casual stroll and feel the place where the legendary swordsmith Gan Jiang once cast swords, carrying the ancient city's cultural heritage and once again painting a picture of a bright future. Loumen (Picture 5️⃣——6️⃣) At dusk, a touch of rosy clouds hangs far across the sky. The Loumen in the east of the city is bathed in the glow of twilight, adding a sense of tranquility and warmth. When the lights are fully lit, Loumen becomes a dazzling display. The reflected ripples on the Outer City River show a different charm and allure.

As pure as a lotus, unstained by dust, It is as white as clouds and as beautiful as a fairy. · Night falls, Under the street lights beside the moat trail, The newly opened magnolia flowers sparkle... · 🏠Address: Xinxiangyuan Bus Station, Moye Road, Gusu District, Suzhou City ⭐Tickets: 0. ⏰Time: All day ·

Early spring in Suzhou, when still immersed in the plum blossom bloom of various attractions, the magnolia flowers have quietly opened. By the moat walkway on Moye Road, this magnolia tree, with the Xiangmen city wall as its backdrop, shines under the night street lights... · 🏠 Address: Suzhou City, Gusu District, Moye Road, Xinxianyuan Bus Station ⭐ Admission: 0. ⏰ Time: All day ·

Xiangmen (xiàng mén) is located in the east of the ancient city of Suzhou, Jiangsu Province. King Helu of Wu once ordered swordsmith Gan Jiang to set up a furnace here to forge swords, so it was named Gan Jiang Gate, Jiang Gate, and Jiang Gate. Pingjiang Road Pedestrian Street is a popular check-in spot, and tourists have been coming in an endless stream. Why not also visit the Xiangmen Ancient City Wall? 🌟Highlights: Although the total length of the city wall is only 725.8 meters, it starts from Xiangmen Bridge in the south, ends at Cou Garden in the north, faces the moat in the east, and connects to Pingjiang Historical District in the west. There is also a "Suzhou City Wall Museum" under the city wall. You can also take a boat at the cruise ship pier to roam on both sides of the ancient canal. The overall playability is very high. In front of the city wall, the Cangjie Yanlord Commercial Center has been newly built. The fusion of history and modernity is vividly reflected here~ 🕙Business hours: Daily 6:00am - 10:00pm The lights are on from 6:00 to 8:30 in the evening, and there are light shows during the festival. 💰Average consumption: The entire city wall is free. If you want to visit the lotus garden next to it, the ticket costs 20 yuan. There is a discounted price of only 10 yuan during the Spring Festival holiday. Because it was the fifth day of the Chinese New Year, we encountered a lion dance team and huge Spring Festival couplets were hung in front of the city wall. During the Spring Festival, you can climb the city wall to enjoy the charm of this historical and cultural city while embracing modern fashion trends. In summer, the city wall will be covered with ivy, and it will have a completely different look!

Suzhou has won Mahjong! The city wall light and shadow show is so shocking!!! Did all the people in Suzhou receive the notice? Xiangmen city wall has changed its outfit! The fantastic light and shadow show is really shocking!!! The blend of ancient and modern, the thousand-year-old city also exudes new vitality. In addition, Xiangmen city wall also has a lively national style market, really more and more New Year's atmosphere!!! National style market: 12.23-12.25 City wall light and shadow show: 12.23-12.26; 12.30-01.01

In the ancient city area of Suzhou, the height is strictly limited, which makes the entire ancient city area a unique existence and representative of Gusu culture. Due to the large-scale demolition of ancient city walls nationwide in the 1950s, there are not many well-preserved ancient city walls nationwide today. Within the range of the Suzhou ancient city moat, the remaining city wall is about one kilometer long. Although the length is relatively short, it still has a unique taste. 1. Panmen Scenic Area Panmen is located in the southwest corner of the ancient city, now as a toll scenic area, not open to the public for free. It has been built into a large area with historical and cultural heritage. The ticket price is 40 yuan, and the opening hours are from 8.30 in the morning until 21.00 in the evening. 2. Xiangmen City Wall Xiangmen was formerly known as Jiangmen, and this area is a concentration of craftsmen. The moat section of Xiangmen is almost the widest, so the view from Xiangmen Bridge is quite majestic. The city wall of Xiangmen has a few hundred meters left, adjacent to the Couple's Garden, Pingjiang Road and other scenic spots, it is a good place for leisurely walks in the evening. 3. Shemen and Osmanthus Park Shemen is located in the southeast corner of the entire ancient city, within Osmanthus Park. Nowadays, there are many people at night. Shemen is a city wall that was opened in the Spring and Autumn Period, it is simple and vicissitudinous, with a sense of history. 4. Pingmen City Wall This is the ancient city wall facing Suzhou Railway Station across the river. There are not many people on weekdays, but the location is excellent, guarding the north of the entire ancient city, majestic, suitable for daytime viewing.

| Check-in to the newly popular street district. It connects to Pingjiang Road in the west and the ancient city wall of Suzhou in the east, The south entrance is the Xiangmen subway station, and the main campus of Suzhou University is across the south There is also the World Cultural Heritage Couple's Retreat Garden to the north! 🚗Travel guide: 🏰Market There are the red and green CJCJ Super Warehouse and the ancient and elegant Craftsman's Elegant City Wall Collection, with various stalls, national style handcrafts, sugar people, and hand-held super rich~ ⛩Suzhou City Wall Museum ⏰9:00-16:30 Closed on Mondays 🎫Free Every city wall has its own story, divided into six exhibition halls, the more shocking ones are the rammed earth city wall specimens, wooden simulated city wall reproduction and flat map. 🚶🏻‍♂️Ancient city wall walk The ancient city wall of Xiangmen should be the largest one in the ancient city wall of Suzhou, climbing up and down the stairs of the city tower. You can watch the sunset and the warehouse street next door in the evening~ The collision of ancient and modern is really beautiful! 🏠Suzhou Renheng Warehouse Street 📍Suzhou Pingjiang Historical and Cultural Street District 🚇Line 1 Xiangmen Station

This New Year's Day, the top trend in the ancient city area, must be the light show on the Xiangmen city wall, right? City wall, lights, the blend of ancient and modern, I was really shocked! · 🏠Address: Xiangmen City Wall, Gusu District, Suzhou City ⭐Tickets: None. 🚗Transportation: Self-driving Cang Street Parking Lot/Subway Xiangmen Station ·

Xiangmen is located in the east of the ancient city of Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, covering an area of ​​32,200 square meters. It was called Jiangmen in ancient times. Today, Xiangmen has not only a subway station but also a food street... For young people in Suzhou: Xiangmen has become the most familiar ancient city gate.