Pingjiang Road
平江路
An old street that has kept its 800-year layout, with waterways and roads running side by side, arched bridges, storytelling teahouses and visitors in Han-style costumes. It is the most atmospheric lane network in Suzhou's Old Town.
Pingjiang Road lies in the eastern part of the Gusu District, stretching about 1.6 km north and south along the Pingjiang River. It is the best-preserved historic district in Suzhou's Old Town. Its layout, with waterways and streets running side by side, is almost identical to the Song-dynasty stone map “Pingjiang Tu,” and after renovations in 2005 it became a district that blends local daily life with tourism. Highlights include the storytelling halls along the main street, such as Fuxi Hall and Pipa Yu, where a cup of tea and a story of Suzhou ballad singing costs about 50 to 100 yuan, and the Kunqu opera hall, along with long-established Suzhou shops and small creative studios. Side lanes branch off the main street, including Dingxiang Lane (one of the inspirations for Dai Wangshu's poem “Rainy Lane”), Daru Lane, Niujia Lane and Xuanqiao Lane. They hold the Ou Garden (a small World Heritage garden, 25 yuan admission), the former residence of Pan Zuyin, the China Kunqu Museum and the free Suzhou Storytelling Museum. Pleasure boats (about 120 to 150 yuan per boat) let you see the white walls and black tiles along the banks. Street-side Han costume rental and makeup shops are concentrated here and popular with photographers. The district is free to enter. A good plan is to walk from the southern end at Ganjiang Road Junction slowly northward toward the Humble Administrator's Garden in the afternoon, stopping at a teahouse for a storytelling performance. In the evening, eat Suzhou noodles at Tongdexing or Yuxingji, or try osmanthus sweet porridge. After dark, when the lanterns light up along the river, walk the route again. Getting there: walk 5 to 10 minutes from Xiangmen Station or Lindun Road Station on Metro Line 1, or from Humble Administrator's Garden–Suzhou Museum Station on Metro Line 6. Note: the main street is crowded on weekends, while the side lanes are quieter. Many old houses are still lived in, so please do not enter them uninvited.
Opening hours
Open all day (shops about 10:00–22:00)
Nearby sights
- Suzhou Pingtan Museum
- China Kunqu Opera Museum
- Couple's Retreat Garden
- Twin Pagodas of Luohan Temple
- Lion Grove Garden
- Guanqian Street & Xuanmiao Temple
- Quyuan Garden
- Soochow University (Tianci Campus)