Pingjiang Road
Pingjiang Road, historically known as Shiquan Li, is a historic street and neighborhood in Gusu District northeast of Suzhou, Jiangsu. It is a well-preserved area and is part of the so-called Old Town of Suzhou. Since the Song Dynasty (960-1279) Pingjiang Road has been a centerpiece of maps of Suzhou. Stretching for almost two kilometers through the heart of Suzhou Old Town, this narrow street and those that extend from it are lined with well-preserved traditional architecture, shops, teahouses, guesthouses and local houses that give them an ambiance of authentic and nostalgic.
Things to Do at Pingjiang Road
Seek for Souvenirs
Pingjiang Road is a popular place to shop for quality local crafts, traditional clothing and other souvenirs. There are numerous tea houses where tourists can sit and sip tea while enjoying a traditional performance of Pingtan ballads and storytelling. Tourists can also take a traditional boat ride along the narrow canal that runs parallel to the street, during which they will glide under the arched stone bridges and whitewashed houses that appear in many Chinese paintings.
Walk Around Small Alleys
Many small alleys intersect with Pingjiang Road, such as Xuanqiao Alley, Shilinsi Alley, Chuanfang Alley, Donghuaqiao Alley, Caohuxu Alley, Dingxiang Alley, Daxiao Xinqiao Alley, Xiaojiao Alley and Niujia Alley, etc. Along the alleys there are many old residences where famous people lived. Nowadays they have been converted into bars, tea houses and cafes, but they still maintain the style of yesteryear. There are many restaurants serving delicious Suzhou dishes along the street, and the area is particularly atmospheric at night, when the lanterns and nearby canal are lit. As a street offering a wonderful mix of ancient and modern, it is a good place to stroll and have a snack or meal between visits to the beautiful Suzhou Classical Gardens.
Listen to Kunqu Opera
The Chinese Kunqu Opera Museum is located on Pingjiang Road. The building was a Quanjin Guild, the best preserved among the more than 100 provincial guilds of Suzhou. As the birthplace of Kunqu, a classical Chinese opera, the Suzhou government built this museum to protect and transmit Kunqu art. Inside the museum, visitors can see the splendid stage of the Quanjin Guild, the handwritten lyrics of many kunqu operas by kunqu opera professionals of the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and famous singers, and a pipe (ancient Chinese four-string musical instrument) used by the pipa king, Xue Laqing. The most valuable and splendid part of the collections is the mobile opera stage, decorated with white jade and crystal lotus lights.
Pingjiang Road is located in the center of Suzhou Old Town, within walking distance of many of the city's most famous landmarks. At the north end of the street you will find two of Suzhou's best-known gardens, the Humble Administrator's Garden and the Lion Garden, as well as the Suzhou Museum. Pingjiang Road can be easily reached by car, bus or subway from most locations within central Suzhou.
