Pingjiang Road, Suzhou

Located in the center of Suzhou City, Pingjiang Road is the largest and best-preserved historical block in Suzhou. It’s a 1.6km-long (about 1mi) narrow road along the old canal, Pingjiang River, still maintaining its ancient Chinese water town features.
 
With a history of over 2,500 years, Pingjiang was once the main road of the ancient east Suzhou city. This road can be seen on the map of Suzhou in the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279).The government has protected and reconstructed the old buildings and alleys in accordance with their previous appearances and the “water flowing along the roads and alleys” structure.
 

What to See along Pingjiang Road

Many small alleys intersect Pingjiang Road, including Xuanqiao Alley, Shilinsi Alley, Chuanfang Alley, Donghuaqiao Alley, Caohuxu Alley, Dingxiang Alley, Daxiao Xinqiao Alley, Xiaojiao Alley and Niujia Alley, etc. Along the alleys are many old residential areaswhere celebrities used to live. Nowadays they have been changed to bars, teahouses, and cafes, while still maintaining their former appearances.
 
Seventeen stone bridges have stood over the river near Pingjiang Road for hundreds of years. Most of them still look like they have for hundreds of years, each with a different story and distinctive bridge railing carvings.
 
The China Kunqu Opera Museum is located in Mid Zhangjia Alley in the Pingjiang Road Zone. The building was once Quanjin Guild Hall, the best-preserved among more than 100 provincial halls in Suzhou. As the home of Kunqu, a classical Chinese opera, the Suzhou government built this museum to protect and pass on Kunqu art. Inside the museum visitors can see the splendid stage of Quanjin Guild Hall, the handwritten script of many Kunqu operas by late Qing (1644-1911)Kunqu professionals and famous singers, and a pipa (a four-stringed ancient Chinese musical instrument) used by Pipa King, Xue Laqing. The most valuable and splendid part of the collection is the movable opera stage, decorated with white jade and glass lotus lights. This museum holds a kunqu performance each Sunday at 2pm.
 
Near the Kunqu Opera Museum is Suzhou Pingtan Museum. Pingtan is regarded as one of three unique culture heritages of Suzhou together with Kunqu and Suzhou Classic Gardens. Inside this museum is a screen drawing of the great Pingtan master, Liu Jingting, in the early Qing Dynasty learning skills from his teacher, a stone pillar built in 1926 to honor the 150th anniversary of the establishment of the Pingtan troupe naming Guangyu Troupe, an exhibition hall of 27 kinds of Pingtan genres, and various Pingtan materials including unique copies, scripts, and audio records. Every afternoon, Pingtan artists perform on the Pingtan stage in this museum, the Depth of Wuyuan, set the same as it was 100 years ago.
 

What and Where to Eat along Pingjiang Road

Snack stalls along the streets are run by local residents. They wear water town-featured clothes and sell osmanthus jelly, glutinous rice balls in fermented rice wine, meat-stuffed moon cake, begonia cakes and so on. You can eat those snacks while walking along the streets experiencing the Pingjiang culture.
 
Street shops on the road are also enticing. On the northern end of Pingjiang Road, Legegzi Belgium muffin store provides scented freshly baked muffins decorated with cream and fruits. The famous Jijiao Gala is a place to taste delicious chicken claws and duck tongues.What’s more, there are pan-fried buns stores, and the well-known “Fox’s Yogurt” selling special yogurts of different flavors.
 
Some Suzhou restaurants appeal to tourists from all over the world. Famous restaurants on this road include Sounghu Restaurant, and Yuxiangfandao Restaurant. Visitors can’t miss the sweet and sour mandarin fish, crab tofu and pork hock in brown sauce there.
 

How to get to Pingjiang Road

1. By Metro
Take metro line 1 to Lindun Road Station or Xiangmen Station. Walk for about 300m (328yd) to the south end of the road.
 
2. By Bus
Bus Stop Bus Line
Xiangmen 2, 9, 32, 40, 60, 89, 112, 146, 178, 200, 202, 261, 307, 900, 923, 980, Night 2
Pingjiang Road 301, 305, 9009
 
Admission Fee Free
Opening Hours All Day
 
 Recommended Nearby Attractions
 Humble Administrator's Garden
 Lion Grove Garden
 Suzhou Museum
 Couple’s Retreat Garden

 Top 10 Things to Do in Suzhou       8 Things to Do in Suzhou at Night
 Shanghai to Suzhou Day Trip

- Last updated on Apr. 15, 2020 -
Questions & Answers on Suzhou Pingjiang Road
Asked by Awwal from UNITED STATES | Oct. 22, 2019 23:34Reply
How do you go from humble administrator garden?
Answers (1)
Answered by Micah from POLAND | Oct. 24, 2019 02:31
00Reply


Do you want to go Pingjiang Road? If yes, just walk south around 600 along Lindun Road and then turn left, walk west around 900 meters along East Baita Road. After that, you can arrive at Pingjiang Road.
Asked by Ronny from INDONESIA | Jul. 14, 2019 01:00Reply
What time does the shop on Suzhou Pingjiang Road close?
Answers (1)
Answered by Gavin from USA | Jul. 16, 2019 23:27
00Reply


Some shops close at around 22:00 and some will open all day.
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