City Gate

Gu Jiegang once said, “Suzhou is the oldest city in the nation, dating back to the Spring and Autumn period.” That is why you should set aside dedicated time for Suzhou's city gates. Though not as splendid as the imperial capital Beijing, nor as majestic as the Six Dynasties capital Nanjing, these gates have endured 2,500 years of change, witnessing both glory and disgrace. “The wind cannot move a city”: wars and disasters could not bring the ancient city of Suzhou to ruin, yet few of its gates remain today.

Legendary Xumen Gate: According to legend, the gate got its name because “Wu Zixu's residence was beside it,” and it became famous across the land because Wu Zixu's head was once hung on it. In fact, however, Xumen Gate takes its name from the nearby Guxu Mountain.

Prosperous Changmen Gate: A saying widely passed down in Suzhou, “Gold at Changmen, silver at Xumen,” speaks volumes about the bustling scenes beneath this gate.

Lucky Pan Gate: In over 2,500 years, the eight city gates have seen countless openings and closings, yet Pan Gate has always stood open. It is the only surviving land-and-water gate in China and one of the symbols of ancient Suzhou. There is a saying: “Admire the grandeur of the Great Wall in the north, and the elegance of Pan Gate in the south.” It combines water-town charm, garden pavilions and lakeside scenery, letting you feel Suzhou's rustic antiquity and the deep heritage of Wu culture at every turn.