Suzhou Pingtan Museum
苏州评弹博物馆
A small museum on Pingjiang Road that presents the history of Suzhou pingtan (storytelling with ballad singing). A teahouse hosts afternoon performances where you can sip tea while listening.
The Suzhou Pingtan Museum is located on Zhangjia Lane in the Pingjiang Historic District, next to the China Kunqu Opera Museum. It presents the history of pingtan, the famous performers and their instruments. The museum has a teahouse, where afternoon performances of pinghua (storytelling) and tanci (ballad singing) usually take place. Each show lasts about 1.5 hours, and you can sip tea while listening to the Wu dialect's melodious singing. Exhibitions are free, but tickets to the teahouse performances are required and are inexpensive. The museum is closed on Mondays. It is a worthwhile stop while strolling along Pingjiang Road.
Opening hours
Tuesday–Sunday, 09:00–16:30 (storytelling hall per schedule)
Nearby sights
- Pingjiang Road
- China Kunqu Opera Museum
- Couple's Retreat Garden
- Twin Pagodas of Luohan Temple
- Lion Grove Garden
- Quyuan Garden
- Guanqian Street & Xuanmiao Temple
- Soochow University (Tianci Campus)