Long serving as a writers’ paradise, Suzhou could not help but make its mark on Chinese literary culture. Works ranging from the classic of military strategy, The Art of War, to the idealized picture of the feminine side of life in Dream of the Red Mansions have been produced by writers hailing from Suzhou. Suzhou’s illustrious history is connected with the names of the playwright Fang Menglong, and poets Bai Juyi, Fan Chengda, and the ‘Four Poets of Suzhou’, Gao Qi, Yang Ji, Zhang Yu, and Xu Lai. Cao Xueqin, author of Dream of the Red Mansions, described Suzhou in ten words: (“walk as if to the river’s end, sit and watch the rising of a cloud”), summarizing the romance of the city. His famous classic of Chinese fiction depicts events taking place almost exclusively inside a walled garden typical of the Suzhou classical style.
The magical air of Suzhou has worked its way into the masterpieces of generations of Chinese poets and writers, reflecting the city’s rich tradition in the flow of Chinese literature.
The Streets and Alleys of a Water Town
Suzhou has always been a water town, with canals crisscrossing one another throughout the city. Traces of an ancient traditional lifestyle are still visible along the canals, especially when you get off the beaten track, causing many to comment that the true charm of the city lies in its small lanes and back alleys. Pingjiang Road and Shantang Street both offer delightful walking paths along the canals where you can catch a glimpse into Suzhou’s past. Pingjiang Road, home of the Museum of Opera and Theater, is paved with hand-cut stones over a thousand years old. Shantang
Street, itself a major tourist attraction in the old city, is lined by alleys representative of a typical Old Suzhou street. The layout and architecture of these alleys will transport visitors to a past age, bringing to mind the many celebrated personalities who have walked these very streets throughout Suzhou’s history. Many other thoroughfares in Suzhou offer to visitors traveling along them a pleasant reminder of Old Suzhou. Many visitors to the city have enjoyed walking along the tree-lined Baita Road, a side street off of Renmin Road that leads to the East Garden along the eastern edge of the old walled city. Venturing onto side roads and alleys in Suzhou will often turn up treasures like the leafy covering of Baita Road, allowing curious walkers to enjoy the romance of Old Suzhou.
China’s development in Suzhou has been slower than other areas, the increase in Beijing Jobs and Jobs in Guangzhou was due to the economy in the countries capita, Suzhou did not benefit from the surge.