Qili Shantang Scenic Area

Qili Shantang Millennium Ancient Street. I have been to Suzhou many times, but this is my first visit to Shantang Ancient Street. The geographical location is very convenient. It is only a few minutes' walk from the Shantang Street Station of Suzhou Metro Line 2. When you arrive at Shantang Street, you will see a water village style similar to the ancient towns in the south of the Yangtze River. There are all kinds of shops on both sides of the small bridges and flowing water, mostly selling food and various local Suzhou specialty products. Since we came on a weekday, there were quite a lot of tourists. Shantang Old Street can be walked to another famous attraction in Suzhou - Tiger Hill. However, this section of the road is 4 kilometers long, so we gave up this section and focused on the core area of ​​Shantang Old Street. The core area is not big. Many photography fans are holding their cameras and waiting for the night view of the ancient town after sunset. The night view is indeed very beautiful. If we have a chance, we will still choose not to check in during holidays. I believe that this will allow us to feel the beauty of the ancient town and old streets.

After passing the plaque of Shantang Scenic Spot, Qili Shantang is on the left. As soon as I entered Shantang, I was attracted by the delicious food. I can say that I ate all the way. I also ate stinky tofu, chicken feet and so on. The taste was very good.

As soon as I entered Shantang, I was attracted by the red lanterns. It felt very different from any ancient street I had visited before. Although many ancient streets are similar now, Shantang still has its own charm. As night fell and the lights came on, it made me feel like I was walking on an ancient street compared to the lights in the city.

Compared to Wuzhen, I think Shantang has more unadorned beauty.

As night falls, tourists flock in. There are some old and new shops on Shantang Street. It is similar to Qianmen in Beijing. Compared with the tall archways of the old shops in Qianmen, the small shops on Shantang Street have a different style.

Even the hanging lanterns look more elegant against the backdrop of bamboo.

Of course, there are many modern shops on Shantang Street, but looking up and seeing the hanging red lanterns really gives you a sense of time travel.

The residential area of ​​Laoshantang, the most primitive residents of Shantang Street. For a humanistic person like Baobao, it is really a favorite. Here you can see the most primitive living conditions of the residents of Laoshantang. The old man sat on an old wooden chair and watched the most old-fashioned TV. There were people washing clothes, brushing screens, fishing, and drying clothes and quilts outside the house by the river. The old people were all sitting in the pavilion happily drinking tea and chatting about family matters. A warm reminder for humanistic fans like Baobao to take pictures of the residential area, you must ask the owner and the person being photographed if they are willing. Many residents in such places will care about these. There is a long section of the residential area. Along the residential area, there are some people selling snacks, souvenirs and clothing. I bought two beautiful fans here, which can be used as props when taking pictures. After passing through this area, it is already the end of Shantang Street. I actually walked all the way to Tiger Hill. No one else. But if you come to Shantang Street and don’t feel the living conditions of the old Shantang residents, then you may feel that you have come in vain.

I went there on a weekday during the break. There were still a lot of people. The aisles were full as soon as I entered. Who can blame the reputation? It feels similar to the surrounding ancient towns. It is obviously more commercialized, and the things sold are similar, but more expensive than the average. But it is still good to learn about the history of Suzhou. There is a Chamber of Commerce Museum to visit, and you can also listen to Kunqu Opera Pingtan when you have nothing to do.

After a short rest in the hotel, we went out to the ancient commercial street in the center of Suzhou - Qili Shantang. It is called Qili Shantang because it is said to be seven miles long. Qili Shantang Street has a thousand-year history. It is said that it was built by the great poet Bai Juyi when he was in Suzhou. Bai Juyi was really busy. He also built the Bai Causeway in West Lake, Hangzhou.

Suzhou is a water town with many rivers and bridges, and Shantang Street is the most typical Suzhou street. Shantang River is in the middle of Shantang Street, and Shantang Street is close to the north side of the river, connected to the street on the other side by stone bridges. Shops and houses are lined up one after another. Most of the houses here have front doors along the street and back doors facing the river. Some have even built special overpasses, which are really red railings and layers of buildings, willow catkins and singing. The night view is very beautiful and the night view is relatively high. Shantang Street is connected to Changmen, the prosperous commercial district of Suzhou, on one end, and Huqiu Town and the famous Huqiu Mountain where flower farmers gather on the other end. It is said that since the Tang Dynasty, Shantang Street has always been a place for the distribution of goods and a gathering place for merchants from the north and the south.

In the second year of Tang Baoli (825), the great poet Bai Juyi was transferred from Hangzhou to Suzhou as governor. In order to facilitate Suzhou's land and water transportation, he dug a Shantang River from Tiger Hill in the west to Changmen in the east. A road was built north of the Shantang River, called "Shantang Street". The Shantang River and Shantang Street are about seven miles long, so it is called "Qili Shantang". Shantang Street is located in the northwest of the ancient city of Suzhou, connecting Changmen, "a place of wealth and elegance in the world", in the east, and Tiger Hill, "the first scenic spot in Wuzhong" in the west. It is 3,600 meters long.

I want to say that my love for Shantang Street far exceeds that of most of the ancient towns in the south of the Yangtze River. It is really a moment of fascination, as if this is where my soul has been for thousands of years. It is recommended to go directly from the exit of Tiger Hill to Qili Shantang. It is narrow and difficult to walk in the early stage, but in the later stage it is an ancient street full of the atmosphere of an ancient town. The ancient streets of Suzhou are all built along the water and are the epitome of the ancient towns in the south of the Yangtze River, so it is also called Shantang Ancient Town. Shantang Street is also called Qili. There is a beautiful story about its origin. According to legend, Liu Bowen, a master of the Ming Dynasty, placed seven stone cats along Shantang Street to break the feng shui. They are: Meiren cat (Shantang Bridge), Tonggui cat (Tonggui Bridge), Wenxing cat (Xing Bridge), Caiyun cat (Caiyun Bridge), Baigong cat (Puji Bridge), Haiyong cat (Wangshan Bridge), Fenshui cat (Xishan Temple Bridge).

I went there at the end of the year. It snowed the day before, so I wanted to see the snow scene of the ancient street. The high-speed rail from Shanghai to Suzhou is very convenient. I got off the subway and took 2 stops to get there. Compared with many ancient towns in Shanghai, Shantang Street is not as crowded as I imagined. Although it is a night view, the scenery during the day is also good. The white snow on the eaves and the red lanterns are quite matched.

Many old Suzhou people gather here, enjoying the quiet and leisurely life unique to the Shantang people, telling the prosperity of this small ancient city over the past hundred years.

Turning into a small alley, I looked up and saw the sleeves of clothes fluttering in the wind, with a faint smell of laundry detergent. Elderly uncles and aunts were sitting on small stools, holding bowls in their hands, eating and chatting, as if the times were peaceful and the world was stable.

The entire street is lined with shops and merchants. The preserved street scenes and buildings have both the original classical charm and are inevitably infiltrated with many modern elements.

As night falls and the lights come on, Qilishantang has a unique charm. Cruise ships and painted boats pass by slowly, creating ripples on the river surface reflecting the colorful lights. The ancient theater starts to have Kunqu opera performances at around 7 o'clock. The small stage interprets the legends and stories of ancient Jiangnan, and the traditional tunes make people daydream.

The ancient street has unique cobblestone roads and narrow streets like alleys. Standing on the stone bridge in the middle of the street where tourists are bustling, the water of Shantang River is still flowing under your feet, but your eyes can't help but brighten up again. The other side is a different scene, connecting to the colorful dreamlike scenery on the other side. Your body and mind fall into this rich and gentle land.

Looking at the black tiles and white walls on both sides of the river, the houses along the river, and the boats coming and going, a strong picture of water town style comes to your face.

Especially when viewing Shantang Street during the day and at night, you will have two completely different feelings.

The small bridges, flowing water and people's houses are my most profound impression of Suzhou. Shantang Street, not far from the Lingering Garden, is the best interpretation of the Jiangnan water town.

Standing on the small bridge and gazing at Shantang Street, "waterways run parallel, rivers and streets are adjacent", this is the form that the ancient city of Suzhou has maintained for thousands of years. The green water of Shantang River flows slowly, and the pleasure boats stand quietly on the river. On both sides of the river are neatly arranged Suzhou-style ancient houses. White walls, gray tiles and red lanterns, in the misty rain, restore the most classic water town painting.

It is said that Shantang Street is a holy place for Suzhou people to take wedding photos. As expected, I can still meet couples taking wedding photos even when it rains. I have to say that Chinese wedding dresses really go well with this place. I want to take a set when I see them.

At night, after a day of bustle, the night here seems particularly peaceful. Walking on the stone road with an umbrella, if it weren't for the words on the plaque as a reminder, it would really be like an old dream of Shantang, making people always feel that time flies and the Jiangnan in dreams. Those quiet and good years have never changed.

If you are a foodie, Shantang Street is definitely a must-visit. The steaming Suzhou snacks are particularly tempting in the cold season.

At 6:30 in the evening, let's go directly to Qili Shantang to see the night view. The transportation in this area is not very convenient. There are no buses or subways. Also, due to the flow limit of the scenic area during holidays, there is no car to Qili Shantang Street. After walking for nearly two kilometers, I finally waited for a motorcycle taxi. It was a timely relief!

It was seven o'clock when we arrived at the Shantang Street scenic area. It was crowded with people and we started shopping and eating.

In history, the great poet Bai Juyi was transferred from Hangzhou to Suzhou as the governor. In order to facilitate Suzhou's land and water transportation, he dug a Shantang River from Tiger Hill in the west to Changmen in the east. A road was built north of the Shantang River, called "Shantang Street". The Shantang River and Shantang Street are about seven miles long, so it is called "Qili Shantang". As the saying goes, "Seven miles from Shantang to Tiger Hill", this is the street that Suzhou locals love to visit the most. Outsiders usually don't visit this street. It was under the reception of Suzhou friends that we visited this street and felt the Suzhou culture and folk customs.

There are big red lanterns hanging high everywhere. Shantang has many more modern elements than before. Bars are the result of commercialization. I think more tourists want to appreciate the culture of Suzhou rather than get drunk by the river! Standing on the stone bridge and looking at the boats turning around in the Shantang River, I thought that the planners were too greedy and big, but there was no chic for boating. Caizhizhai is a time-honored brand in Suzhou. It is mainly a century-old shop that sells candies and refreshments. There are also old peep shows here! If you see the quaint stage, congratulations, you are very close to the place where you can listen to Pingtan. Think about how many human tragedies and comedies were performed on the stage in the past. Today, the ancient stage is no longer a place for everyone to look up and watch, but just a decoration to become a scenic spot in Shantang. Because of the commercialization, Shantang Street is no longer as amazing as the first time for people like me who have been there several times, but for friends who are going to Suzhou for the first time, you should still go and have a look.

Shantang Street is located in the northwest of the ancient city of Suzhou, Jiangsu Province. It extends from Changmen, "a place of first-class wealth and elegance" in the world of mortals, to Tiger Hill, "the first scenic spot in Wuzhong" in the west. It is about 3,600 meters long, or about 7 li, so it is called "Seven Li Shantang to Tiger Hill".

Shantang Street runs from southeast to northwest, with a total length of about seven miles, so it is called "Seven Miles of Shantang". Shantang Street has a thousand-year history. It was built by the Tang Dynasty poet Bai Juyi when he was an official in Suzhou. Today, at the south end of the street, you can see the Baigong Temple built by the people in memory of Bai Juyi. The street runs parallel to the Shantang River, with ancient bridges crossing the river. On both sides of the stone street are old houses with white walls and black tiles and many shops. The weather was good and the temperature was suitable on the day of the trip. I chose a weekday to go there. There were not many tourists, but not too few either. It felt good to walk around and take pictures.

Qili Shantang is connected to Changmen in the east and Tiger Hill in the west, and is about seven miles long. It was built by the great Tang Dynasty poet Bai Juyi when he was the governor of Suzhou, recruiting workers to dig the river and pile up the embankment. It has a history of more than a thousand years. Nowadays, Shantang Street is mostly referring to the 500-meter street market from Guangji Road to Shangtang Street.



Walking on the stone road of Shantang, heading east, you will see rows of shops under the blue bricks and black tiles, and a constant stream of tourists coming and going. I wonder whether this long street with ancient charm was as lively as it is today a thousand years ago, and what kind of life the people living by the river lived.

Shantang Old Street is actually quite long, divided into a tourist area and a special living area. To enter the tourist area, you need to show your health code and measure your body temperature. The shops are more tourist-oriented, and you can buy Suzhou souvenirs here.

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Outside the tourist area, the city side is actually more interesting. People walking around are local people, and the shops also appear to be more local.

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Personally, I feel that there is not much worth visiting in the tourist area, and Pingjiang Road can already meet the needs of all guests.

It was already 6pm when we arrived at the station. We took the subway back to the aforementioned rip-off hotel to store our luggage and then went to Qili Shantang tonight. Qili Shantang was naturally crowded with tourists during the short holiday. To enter the most essential Shantang Street, we had to queue up and there was a time limit for diversion.

Shantang Street is just like the antique food street we can see in any tourist city, but what we found incredible is that this street is only about 300 meters long. Even though it was so crowded and traffic was not smooth, we could finish such a short distance in a short time. The terrible queues before directly fueled our expectations for it. After the actual experience, we felt that this place was unremarkable and extremely dull.

But I later learned that this short Shantang Street and Qili Shantang are not the same concept. To be precise, Shantang Street is just a small section of Qili Shantang. In fact, the entire Qili Shantang is connected to Changmen in the east and Tiger Hill in the west, with a total length of seven miles. It was originally built by the great Tang Dynasty poet Bai Juyi when he was the governor of Suzhou. It is a typical Jiangnan waterway with blue bricks, black tiles, small bridges and flowing water.

We only regretted that it was already late when we went there, and we didn’t make any plans in advance, so our positioning was not very accurate, so we didn’t walk to the shore and the water’s edge to experience the real Qili Shantang.

There is a river flowing outside Tiger Hill. It was dredged by Bai Juyi when he was the governor of Suzhou. It runs from Changmen to Tiger Hill to facilitate pilgrims to burn incense and worship in the temple. It is seven li long, so it is called Qili Shantang. This great poet not only left us countless popular poems, but also left us many visible material cultural heritages, which are really admirable.

Shan Tang Street as a scenic spot generally refers to the section east of Xinmin Bridge, namely Shan Tang Old Street, which is 360 meters long. Although it is only one-tenth of the total length of Qili Shan Tang, it is the essence of Shan Tang and is known as "a miniature of old Suzhou and a window of Wu culture."

Shantang Street still maintains its bluestone pavement and is also a typical water lane, with most houses facing the street in front and the river in the back, and cruise ships and pleasure boats passing slowly by.

The buildings on Shantang Street are quaint and typical of the Jiangnan style. There are many shops, hotels, snack stands, etc. It is a bustling commercial street with dense flow of people.

Qili Shantang is a very distinctive ancient town in Suzhou, but unfortunately it is too commercialized. I went there during the National Day holiday and there were too many people. I was almost squeezed into the river (evil smile bee) (big smile bee). I will go there next time to appreciate its beauty.

I come to Suzhou once a year, but this is my first time visiting Shantang Street.



It is a model unit for the protection of Chinese historical and cultural blocks and Chinese cultural heritage.



Metro Line 2 and multiple bus lines provide direct access to convenient transportation



The ancient buildings of the Shiban Street Bridge Gate are full of water village style.



There are a lot of people in the shops on both sides.



Looking down from the outside, it has a kind of painting-like beauty. It is more leisurely. I like this place more than Guanqian Street.

Qili Shantang is a long lane with a strong atmosphere of life on one side. Residents get up early to buy vegetables and line up to buy sesame cakes. Walking on the road, you can see the loquats in the yard, which are densely packed and lush. However, the locals say that they don’t look delicious, haha. On the other side is a developed commercial street scenic area, about 500 to 600 meters long. It looks very leisurely and the scenery is also good. I also came across an antique KFC. Fast-moving consumer goods brands have become slower in Suzhou. The classical atmosphere is strong. Qili Shantang was originally built to commemorate Bai Juyi. There is also a statue of Le Tian Jushi. If you feel unhappy in life, I advise you to read more Bai Juyi!

Qili Shantang, although it is called Qili, is actually just Shantang Street. If you really walk to Qili, you can walk directly to Tiger Hill.

Some scenic spots can only show their unique charm at night.

Qilishantang is such a place.

At this time, the lights on Shantang Street are dim and shining, creating a fairy-tale world that is extremely beautiful.

On both sides of the long river, light and shadow appear magnificently, setting off the streets and alleys, performing its own Jiangnan story in the night.



Walking on Shantang Street, the small shops on both sides of the river bank have their own characteristics, showing their own unique style. Here, you don’t have to stick to others, just be individual and do what you like.

Passers-by are bustling and pedestrians are coming and going, but even if there are more people, they will not be the protagonist of tonight, only Qili Shantang is it.



Suzhou is a magical place. In Qilishantang, whether it is Starbucks or KFC, they have to adapt to the local customs, hiding their original appearance and putting on the makeup of Jiangnan.

Shantang Street is located in the northwest of Suzhou, Jiangsu Province. It stretches from Changmen, a "first-class place of wealth and elegance" in the world, to Tiger Hill, the "first scenic spot in Wuzhong" in the west. It is about 3,600 meters long, about 7 li, so it is called "Seven Li Shantang to Tiger Hill". In the Tang Dynasty, Bai Juyi served as the governor of Suzhou. He dredged the northwest river outside Suzhou City and dug it into Shantang River. The ancient street built beside the river is called Shantang Street, and all the buildings along the street are ancient buildings.

The river and cruise ships of Qili Shantang are just right at night, with thousands of lanterns and bustling crowds, it is so prosperous! On the bridge of Qili Shantang, you can feel the beauty of the thousand-year-old city.

The night of Shantang is more beautiful than the day! Red lanterns are hung on the windowsills of every household. There are more people in Shantang at night. There are also delicious food in Shantang, and there is also a Pingtan Hall. If you feel like it, you can listen to it. If you are tired of shopping, you can also enjoy the music restaurant. There are many shops on the pedestrian street of Shantang, and people are constantly coming and going. The clouds cover the mountains of Hu Temple, and the moon shines on the water of Wa Palace.

Standing on the small bridge of Shantang Street, looking into the distance, the breeze blowing gently, I suddenly remembered the song Rain Alley... Holding an oil-paper umbrella, I wandered alone in the long, long and lonely rain alley, hoping to meet a girl who was as sad as lilac. As the sky got darker, more and more people gathered. I strolled leisurely with the crowd. I took pictures of the scenes. I casually went into a small shop to have a look. Such a life is really beautiful...

It is a famous landmark and a must-visit attraction. It is similar to the ancient commercial streets in other cities. Generally, you can come and have a look. I personally feel that it is better than Pingjiang Road. There are more things to visit. There are many high-end silk product stores. Although the price is expensive, the quality and appearance are really good. There are round fans, Su embroidery shops with ornaments, and the famous Bai Juyi's ancestral hall, which can also be regarded as a display of cultural heritage. You can choose to take the subway and get off at Shantang Street Station, or you can choose to take the bus. The transportation is very convenient.

One of the most popular check-in spots, with silk and satin, special food, ancient buildings, small bridges and flowing water, and a night cruise on the ancient canal.

It's a food street with many people and average food.

A place that is more in line with my imagination of small bridges, flowing water and people. If you want fewer people, then stay in the scenic area and visit before 7:30

The main tourist spot is Shantang Street, which is 3,600 meters long and about seven miles long, so it is called Qili Shantang.

There are so many people taking wedding photos here during the day! The night view is average, but it looks good! There is water and spirituality!

There is no ticket, which is very suitable for independent travelers like me.

Bad review! Bad review! Bad review! Suzhou's tourism management is really terrible. Shantang Street is just a commercial street similar to Chengdu's Kuanzhai Alley or Beijing's Nanluoguxiang. It's very short and there are few attractions. You don't need to come in if you don't take a boat. I lined up at the street entrance for an hour, endured endless queue-jumping and constant scolding from the urban management, and after entering, all my strength disappeared instantly - what the hell is this! Why do you need to stop me? Who the hell would stay on this street for a long time?

After visiting the Liuyuan Garden, we arrived at Qilishantang

I just want to walk through the ancient streets and alleys of Suzhou.

Feel the tranquility

But no matter what, I can't find the feeling of Zengcuo'an

Maybe there is no sea.

Just water

There is only a bridge

There is only Jiangnan Xiaodiao

Departure during the day

Come back again at night

If you don't see the night view, you will feel something is missing.

If you don't sit in the bar, you will feel that it is an incomplete beauty.

Oh my god, here it comes again. Didn’t I upload it once today?

Food Street,,,,,,,,,,,

As usual, it was crowded. Since Suzhou was also cleaning up the catering market, many restaurants had posted "Internal Rectification, Temporary Suspension of Business" signs.

There were many people, even though it was a weekday. The scenery was nice, and it should be a place with more history, but the business of ancient towns across the country is relatively similar. It took more than an hour to visit and eat, and it was very busy.

It's really scary how crowded it is during holidays. There are even restrictions on the number of people. But the night view is beautiful

It’s similar to Pingjiang Road, with one kind of scenery during the day and another kind of flavor at night.

An old street, take a walk and see the scenery along the way

Shantang Ancient Street runs parallel to Shantang River. Many stone bridges cross the river. Surrounding it are old houses and shops, which is very suitable for taking photos. Shantang Street was built under the supervision of Bai Juyi, and there is still Baigong Temple. There are many guild halls on Shantang Street, all of which were built during the Qing Dynasty. The small section near Changmen has the most shops and is the most popular.

After dinner and listening to Pingtan, we went on a boat trip on the river.

We booked a night cruise, but there wasn't much to see at night. Maybe it would be better to take a day cruise. I didn't see anything on the street, which was a pity.

Shantang Street was once part of the commercial area outside Changmen, and has now been restored as a historical district. Due to time constraints, I did not stay there for a while, but the overall feeling I had was no different from Pingjiang Road. Two stars.

There is a Bai Juyi Memorial Hall that you can visit for free. This street is very lively, with all kinds of popular snack shops and cafes. I feel a little tired of walking around. There is nothing much further ahead. Cross the bridge and walk towards the ruins of Changmen. Go over to Shantang Street. I also found that the Suzhou Huajiantang Hotel is located on Shantang Street. The decoration from the outside is also very delicate, and I suddenly became interested.

I think it is the most beautiful ancient commercial district, suitable for strolling here for a long time

I just went there today. Overall it was good. I was in a hurry today, so I still need to take my time. The scenic area is not big and can be visited in about an hour. There is a subway station nearby, so transportation is convenient. If you are tired of visiting, you can go and listen to Pingtan Kunqu Opera, which is quite interesting.

Shantang Street and Pingjiang Road are my favorite streets to visit in my spare time. Qili Shantang is divided into two sections by Xinmin Bridge. One section is full of fireworks and is the daily life area of ​​locals; the other section is crowded with tourists and is the main place for tourists to visit. Shantang Street is like an elegant and dignified lady standing quietly in the ancient city during the day and night. Tourists from all over the world come here just to see its beauty.

Compared with Pingjiang Road, Shantang Street is very similar to commercial streets in other places, with a strong commercial atmosphere.

Shantang Street and Shantang River have the typical Jiangnan water town style, with the street in front of every household and the river behind, small boats coming and going on the river, and shops lining the streets.

In addition to the night view, delicious food, and beautiful Western scenery.

Shantang Street, which has a history of a thousand years, is located between Tiger Hill and Liuyuan, two famous scenic spots in Suzhou. In ancient times, it was a prosperous downtown area in Gusu City and has been known as "the first famous street in Gusu" since ancient times.

Suzhou - Qilishantang

When you go to Gusu, you will see that all the houses are along the river. There is little idle space in the ancient palace, but many water ports and small bridges.

Shantang Street is a famous street for snacks, tourist souvenirs and a must-visit place when visiting Suzhou.

We walked to Qili Shantang with umbrellas. We had heard of Shantang Street before. Among the many streets and alleys in Suzhou, the famous Shantang Street is known as "the first famous street in Gusu". A folk song goes: "There is heaven above and Suzhou and Hangzhou below. Hangzhou has West Lake and Suzhou has Shantang. Two good places with infinite beautiful scenery."

The Internet celebrity street is very ordinary, or even extremely ordinary, without any special features. The street is full of small food vendors, and the prices are ridiculously expensive. I don't recommend going there.

It's not a particularly famous ancient town, so I went there for a walk while visiting the graves.

09.1.28. First time to the water town. It is absolutely beautiful. Very unique and charming. It was just a little cold in winter when I went there.

There were too many people in the afternoon and there were no special shops. However, the houses, roads, stone steps, etc. were better preserved. I wanted to see the Shantang in the evening, but there was nothing to see. After seeing the Changmen Gate, I left.

Shantang Street can be divided into two sections, the eastern section from Changmen Duseng Bridge to Bantang Bridge, which is mostly shops and homes, with various shops next to each other. The eastern section is the most lively and prosperous around Xingqiao. The western section of Shantang Street is closer to the suburbs, with a wider river than the eastern section. The riverside is either shaded by green trees and fragrant grass, or lush reeds, villages and wild boats.

We mainly visited the east section, visited some shops, and bought a fan, which was great. We had dinner at Qili Shantang Restaurant. The simple food was cost-effective and not expensive, but I suggest you go to Sun Shengxing Aozao noodles and Shengjian. These two restaurants are delicious. We only discovered them on the third day. As for specialty products, I suggest buying them from a specialty store here. Compared to Pingjiang Road, this area is more suitable. There is a fresh meat mooncake store for ￥5, osmanthus cake for ￥10, mung bean cake, soft candy, nougat, etc.

Qilishantang is worth a visit at night.

In the world of foodies, the snack street is definitely not to be missed

Osmanthus fresh taro, recommended index 2 stars, nothing special, just small taro

Dragon Beard Pastry, 5-star recommendation, this is really delicious, the chef made it, the process is simple, but you must not miss it, it is super delicious, it is really sweet, even if I have eaten sweets for several days in a row, I am insensitive to sweets, but I am still sweet, not greasy, a box is finished in a short time

Qingtuan Recommended index 3 stars, a typical southern snack, you can try it

Osmanthus cake, recommended index 1 star, it's just rice dumplings?! Not delicious

Black plum, recommended index 4 stars, looks very much like grapes, this one is too sweet, sweet enough to make your teeth ache, just buy a little to try

Plum juice, recommended index 1 star, commercial beverages from various places, although the taste is different in different places, but still not recommended

It's very beautiful. I still prefer Suzhou among Chinese cities.

There are so many people at night, so it is not recommended to go there at night.

I heard that this attraction didn't exist a few years ago, and it was newly developed. As the name suggests, it is a long street along the Shantang River. It should have been just an ordinary residential area before, but it was discovered to have commercial value and was developed. If you have been there, you can see that the commercial atmosphere is mainly to the east of Xinmin Bridge, while the west of Xinmin Bridge is an ordinary market. If you want to experience the folk customs, it is recommended to go to the west of Xinmin Bridge.

I went there on New Year's Day in 2011. I chose a youth hostel very close to Qili Shantang. I regretted it when I checked in. It was so damn cold... The temperature in Suzhou on New Year's Day was really not suitable for living. But in order to be closer to Qili Shantang, I had to endure it for two nights. The scenery is so good, especially for those who like ancient architecture, they should be willing to spend time here - I want to go there again...

The appearance of Suzhou's old city when Bai Juyi served as governor.

Qilishantang, built by Bai Juyi himself, is a classic place of the Venice of the East. The flow of people reached its peak in the evening of the National Day holiday, which made us stay away.

Shantang Street is not crowded with people before 11:00 am and after 9:00 pm. It is quite comfortable to stroll around. Occasionally, you will pass by some tea houses and ancient shops where you can listen to Pingtan. The second half of Shantang Street is the Minsheng District, which is less noisy and more peaceful.

There are two boat routes at Bai Juyi Pier at the street corner. One is the Shantang Line, which runs during the day and takes about 40 minutes to go back and forth to Huqiu. The other is the Ancient Grand Canal Night Tour Route, which takes about 50 minutes to go back and forth to Xumen. I bought the #Shantang Street Oriental Venice Night Tour Adult Boat Ticket (Bai Juyi Pier)# on Dianping.com. It can be purchased on the same day. Children under 1.2 meters are free of charge. Believe me, it is much cheaper than buying tickets on site.

There was a Pingtan performance by a young lady in front of the boat, and then the cruise ship shuttled through the river of Shantang Street. Looking at the mottled walls of the houses on the water and the bright lights on the streets, you can truly feel the charm of the Venice of the East.

Small bridges and flowing water, ancient charm, listening to Pingtan, soft Wu dialect...

Finally, walk 3 kilometers along the Shantang River to the legendary Qili Shantang Street. Along the way are the old streets of Suzhou, and you can see the slow pace of life of Suzhou people everywhere. Shantang Street is located on both sides of the Shantang River. Walking along the street, there are snacks and a wide variety of small shops everywhere. Shantang Street still retains the charm of old Suzhou.

This review is mainly about the tickets for Shantang Street attractions. I bought a 120 yuan combined ticket. There is a 45 yuan combined ticket that claims to have several attractions, but only Yuhan Hall can be visited. The other attractions are either under maintenance or public attractions, but why didn't they give an explanation when I bought the ticket?

Second, when you buy a ticket, you will be given a printed ticket and a small ticket with a QR code. Normally, you would think that the printed ticket is the ticket, but in fact, this printed ticket is just for collection and not as a basis for entering the attraction. The basis is the QR code on the small ticket. If someone carelessly loses the small ticket, then congratulations, a hundred yuan has been wasted.

Third, Suzhou Pingtan is quite short, only five minutes, as the ticket seller said. You can see for yourself.

Fourth, the cruise is pretty good, and I personally think it is more interesting at night.

Generally speaking, the scenery of Shantang Street is similar to that of Pingjiang, but there are obviously fewer people in Pingjiang, so I still recommend going to Pingjiang. Shantang is over-commercialized.

There is also a small surprise. There is a shengjian restaurant called Xinzhenyuan on Shantang Street. The food is not expensive, the service attitude is good, and the dishes taste good. I highly recommend going there.

Shantang Street is full of red lanterns. From other people's travel notes, the lanterns light up at night, illuminating the entire Shantang Ancient Street, which is very artistic and suitable for taking pictures. Unfortunately, time is limited, so we can only go during the day. Open all day (some paid areas have time limits)

Qilisantang is really beautiful and crowded.

Shantang is actually an ancient street built along the river, similar to Xitang and Wuzhen. And now it is too commercialized, with all kinds of small shops everywhere, no creativity. And it is full of people, crowded with people, meaningless.