HeritagePhoto Wikimedia CommonsSuzhou Ancient Grand Canal
Jiangsu · China
Afterwards, enjoy a relaxing boat trip on the old Grand Canal. See the ancient households and the old city gate along the riverside and immerse yourself in the beauty of the little “Oriental Venice”.
Contents
8 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Suzhou Ancient Grand Canal
Welcome to the Suzhou section of the Grand Canal, a site of immense historical and cultural significance. The Grand Canal itself is the longest man-made waterway in the world, and Suzhou has been one of its most vital hubs for…
Listen in the app2Shantang Street — The 'Number One Street' of Suzhou
Our first major stop along the canal is Shantang Street, often called the 'Number One Ancient Street in Suzhou.' Built in 825 AD during the Tang Dynasty by the famous poet and official Bai Juyi, this street runs exactly seven li…
Listen in the app3A Journey on a Hand Boat — The Traditional Perspective
To truly experience the Grand Canal, you must get on the water. We recommend taking a 'hand boat'—a traditional wooden vessel that is manually rowed rather than motorized. …
Listen in the app4Tiger Hill and the Leaning Pagoda — The Canal's Sentinel
At the northwestern end of the Shantang canal route lies Tiger Hill, a large park-like area that has been a major tourist destination for over a thousand years. The defining feature here is the Yunyan Temple Pagoda, also known as…
Listen in the app5Pingjiang Road — The Best Preserved Canal Block
While Shantang Street is famous for its Tang Dynasty history, Pingjiang Road is renowned as the largest and best-preserved historical block in Suzhou, dating back 800 years to the Song Dynasty. It runs along the ancient Pingjiang…
Listen in the app6The Gate of the East — A Modern Gateway
To see how the canal's legacy continues into the modern era, one must look toward the Gate of the East, located near Jinji Lake. This 300-meter-tall skyscraper is the second tallest building in Suzhou and was designed as a…
Listen in the app7The Panmen Gate and the Ancient Canal Loop
Finally, we must visit the Panmen Gate, located at the southwestern corner of the ancient city. This is the only surviving ancient city gate in China that features both a land gate and a water gate. …
Listen in the app8Closing
As we conclude our journey along the Suzhou section of the Grand Canal, I hope you carry with you a sense of the 'flowing history' that defines this city. We have walked the ancient stones of Shantang Street, rowed through the…
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What is Suzhou Ancient Grand Canal?
Suzhou Ancient Grand Canal is a place in Jiangsu · China with 8 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | Jiangsu · China |
|---|---|
| Type | Heritage |
| Story sections | 8 |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 31.3198, 120.5975 |
| Last updated |
