Suzhou is located in the Tai Lake area in south side of the Yangtze River (about 62 miles) west of Shanghai and just 200 kilometers (120 miles) in the east side of Nanjing.
Suzhou was first established in 514 BC, with a history of more than 2,500 years, continuing to the present day. During the Eastern Han Dynasty Or about 100 BC, Suzhou is one of the ten largest cities in the world due to the large number of people migrated and in the 10th century of Song Dynasty. Suzhou had the city is a major commercial hub of the country later in the Ming and Qing dynasties until the rebels Ping. In 1860, Suzhou city is the center of economic, culture. R And commerce and was not the largest city capital in the world at that time as well.
Suzhou is a city of history and culture, famous for its streams, mountains and especially the ancient gardens. During the Ming and Qing dynasties Suzhou is one of the most prosperous cities of those days. The city and the outskirts of the city are filled with ancient gardens. In the 16th-18th centuries, Suzhou had more than 200 ancient gardens. Today, there are more than 10 fully preserved gardens. In addition, Suzhou has many canals and is number one in the South Yangtze River Basin that is so beautiful that it has been called “Heaven in the human world”.
Where to go, see and visit:
- Humble Administrator’s Garden
- Great Wave Pavilion
- Lion Grove Garden
- Master of Nets Garden
- The Mountain Villa with Embracing Beauty
- Couple’s Retreat Garden
- The Retreat & Reflection Garden
- Tiger Hill
- Hanshan Temple (Cold Mountain Temple)
- Xiyuan Temple (Monastery Garden)
- Xuanmiao Temple
- Shantang Street
- Baodai Bridge (Precious Belt Bridge)
- Huqiu Tower (Yunyuan Pagoda)
- Beisi Pagoda (North Temple Pagoda)
- Twin Pagodas
- Suzhou Museum of Opera and Theatre
Humble Administrator’s Garden
The garden is considered 2 in 4 of the most famous ancient gardens in China.
Tiger Hill
It is a tourist destination that is famous for its natural beauty and is a historical place. Considered as a famous scenic spot in Suzhou The name of Khao Hu Chew, or Khao Nern Suea, is derived from the characteristics of a hill similar to a tiger in a crouched position, preparing to run or leap forward. Or another legend says that a white tiger appeared on this hill a few days after the burial of King Heu of Wu. This park has been a tourist attraction for over a thousand years. With evidence of a poem engraved on the rock on this hill And also has a poem by the famous poet from the Song Dynasty, Sue Su. He said “It is a lifelong pity if having visited Suzhou you did not visit Tiger Hill.”
Hanshan Temple or Cold Mountain Temple
The temple is a famous Buddhist temple and monastery in Suzhou near the Fengqiao Bridge (the Maple Bridge) about 3 miles on west side of the old city. Han Shan Temple is famous in East Asia due to its famous poem said that “Mooring at the Maple Bridge” which written by a famous poet in the Tang Dynasty (around 618-907 BC) who named is Zhang Ji.
Xiyuan Temple or Monastery Garden
The temple builted during the Yuan Dynasty and is the largest Buddhist temple in Suzhou.
Xuanmiao Temple
This place build around 276 BC, It is a prominent Taoist temple with a long history and located in the center of Suzhou. In front of the temple there is a road named call Guanqian Street which is also a famous pedestrian street of the city.
Pingjiang Street
Pingjiang Street is a road with a history of more than 2,500 years on the northeast side of the old city on an area of 116.5 hectares with a history of more than 2,500 years and is also a place that has been completely preserved in Suzhou. In the past, this area was inhabited by many nobles, civil servants and sages. The resulting in a tourist attraction is an ancient house to study the lives of Suzhou people in those days as well. The Pingjiang Quarter is the ancient residence of Ping Jiang and has a design in the Song Dynasty. Therefore is part of the historical and cultural area of the old city of Suzhou.
Beisi Pagoda or North Temple Pagoda
The Pagoda located in the grounds of Bao’en Temple which is an ancient temple built around the 17th century. The pagoda was 11 stories high but damaged by fire. Therefore only 9 floors left after the restoration The style of the pagoda is Ming Dynasty architecture, with its structure made of wood and bricks. It is an octagonal-shaped pagoda with nine floors and a height of 76 meters (243 feet). It is the tallest pagoda in Suzhou and south of the Yangtze River.
Twin Pagodas (Dinghui Temple Lane)
This place built in the year 982 during the Song Dynasty by Wang brothers. One pagoda is called “Clarity-Dispensing Pagoda” and the other is called “Beneficence Pagoda” with a height of 33.3 and 33.7 meters in a 7-layer octagonal shape, both of which have the same shape. The outstanding feature of both pagodas is a metal pin top, almost 1/4th of the height of the pagoda is at the top of the pagoda.
