Qiandeng Ancient Town
千灯古镇
A water-town ancient town in Kunshan with more than a thousand years of history. It is the hometown of Gu Jian, a founder of Kunqu opera, and of Gu Yanwu, a thinker of the late Ming. Its stone-slab street and Qinfeng Pagoda have plenty of charm.
Qiandeng Ancient Town lies in the south of Kunshan City and has a history of more than 2,500 years. It is the hometown of Gu Jian, one of the founders of Kunqu opera, and of Gu Yanwu, a thinker of the late Ming dynasty. The town was built along the Shangshu Creek and preserves a stone-slab street of about 1.5 kilometers, one of the longest in Jiangnan, along with Qinfeng Pagoda, Gu Yanwu's former residence, the Gu Jian Memorial Hall and the Yu Family Pawnshop. Compared with Zhouzhuang, it has fewer visitors and a quieter atmosphere. The town is free to enter, and some sites charge admission, with a combined ticket costing about 60 yuan. It is about 50 minutes by car from downtown Suzhou and can be combined with Jinxi and Zhouzhuang in a day trip.
Opening hours
Approx. 08:00–17:00 (attractions)
Nearby sights
- Jinxi Ancient Town
- Tinglin Park
- Luzhi Ancient Town
- Zhouzhuang Water Town
- Yangcheng Lake
- Chongyuan Temple
- Lili Ancient Town
- Retreat and Reflection Garden