Suzhou Shantang Street

With a history of more than 1100 years, Shantang Street was built during the Tang Dynasty. The project was led by Bai Juyi, who was the governor of Suzhou as well as a well-known poet of the Tang Dynasty. A man-made river called the Shantang River was dug first. Then the street was built along the river.

Famed as the First Renowned Street in Suzhou, Shantang Street extends from Changmen in the east to Tiger Hill and has a length of 2.1 miles. Here one can listen to Kun Opera or Suzhou Pingtan (a local opera) and enjoy some Suzhou snacks such as pan-fried plain bun, wonton, duck blood and vermicelli soup, or cakes of roses and laurel blossom. It is also worthwhile to cruise on the Shantang River by boat.