Historical and Cultural Street: The Origin of Shantang Street in Suzhou?

Suzhou Shantang Street is a national AAAA scenic spot and a famous historical and cultural street in China. It was once one of the most developed commercial and cultural blocks in China during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and was known as the first ancient street in China. Shantang Old Street is 360 meters long. Although it is only one tenth of Qili Mountain Pond, it is the essence of Mountain Pond, and it is called the epitome of old Suzhou and the window of Wu culture. Shantang Street was built in the Tang Dynasty during Pauli's reign. In 825 AD, Bai Juyi was ordered to Suzhou as a secretariat. Shortly after taking office, he took a sedan chair to Tiger Hill and saw that the nearby river was blocked and the waterway was impassable. After returning to the official residence, he immediately consulted with relevant officials and decided to build a road around Huqiu Mountain, and set out to dig a mountain pond river. It starts from the vicinity of Nagato Duheshang Bridge in the east and reaches Wangshan Bridge in Huqiu in the west, which is about 7 miles long, so it is commonly known as "Qilishantang to Huqiu". The river joins the canal at Nagato. Build a dike next to the river pond, which is Shantang Street. The excavation of Shantang River and the construction of Shantang Street have greatly facilitated irrigation and transportation, and this area has become a bustling market. Suzhou people are very grateful to Bai Juyi. After he left office, the people called Shantang Street Baigong Dike and built Baigong Temple as a memorial. Shantang Street connects the prosperous commercial district gate of Suzhou with Huqiu Town and Huqiu Mountain, scenic spots where flower farmers gather. Therefore, since the Tang Dynasty, it has been a commodity distribution center and a gathering place for businessmen from the north and the south.

Shantang Street