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Panmen City Gate

There are three excellent scenic spots of Panmen (盘门), the solemn Panmen City Gate on land and water, the cross Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal Wumen Bridge (吴门桥) and the elegant Pagoda of Ruiguang Temple (瑞光寺塔). These sites are being linked by the majestic Grand Canal and they become a tourist attraction in Suzhou's old city area.

The history of the Panmen Gate traces back to 514 AD. It was built by Wu State in the period of Spring and Autumn. Despite the many times of changing and reconstructing by later dynasties, the location of the gate had never changed. On the body, it was carved a fierce dragon (蟠龙, pronounced "Pan Long") that is on the side facing to the hostile Yue State. This was to demonstrate the military ambition that Wu wanted to conquer Yue. Thus the gate was called at that time as Panmen (蟠门). In later times, because the local special landscape and perhaps for easier recognition of name, it was changed to "盘门". Panmen is the only ancient city wall left intact in Suzhou, the last rebuilding of the wall body was in the year 1351 and it is said that Marco Polo (1254 – 1324), the famous Italian missionary and merchant, had visited the site.

Wumen Bridge was built during the Northern Song Dynasty but the present one was rebuilt in 1872. The name implies the fact that the bridge lies in the strategically important area of ancient Wu State. The bridge is used for cross Grand Canal traffic and ships can freely pass through below. It is a typical stone bridge that properly incarnates the architectural style in lower reaches of Yangtze River region. On the bridge, the great scenery of Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal will feast your eyes.

The Pagoda of Ruiguang Temple is the oldest among the three scenic spots here. It was built in 247 AD. The famous statesman and military strategist Sun Quan (孙权) ordered to build this pagoda inside Puji Zen Monastery (普济禅院). Then in early 12th century, the pagoda had been altered to a 13-level "Tianning Longevity Pagoda" (天宁万寿宝塔). Divine light in five colors appeared on it, so the temple was changed to Ruiguang (Fortunate Light Temple). The levels of Ruiguang Pagoda were reduced to seven during a reconstruction in 1186. The temple was destroyed in 1860 and only the pagoda remained intact. The base is octagonal and having eight sides. It has a height of about 44 meters with ancient and elegant looking. Lots of relic from early Northern Song Dynasty can be found inside.

Suzhou Travel Tips

Explore Suzhou, Xian, Guilin, Shanghai...in your own way by taking
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