Shantang Street

Shantang Street
Shantang Canal
Native name山塘街 (Chinese)
Length3,830 m (12,570 ft)
LocationNorthwestern Gusu District, Suzhou
Construction
Inauguration825 AD
Other
StatusComplete
Puji Bridge (普济桥)

Shantang Street (Chinese: 山塘街; pinyin: Shāntáng Jiē; Suzhou Wu: Se daon ka, Wu Chinese pronunciation: [se̞ dɑ̃ kɑ]), also known as Seven-li Shantang (Chinese: 七里山塘), is a street in northwestern Gusu District, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China. The street connects Changmen (Chinese: 阊门) in the east with Huqiu in the west, with a total length of about 3,829.6 meters (2.38 miles),[1] or a little more than seven li or traditional "Chinese miles".[2] Due to the great history and events involving Shantang Street it is sometimes stated as being the "First Street in Shuzou".[3]

In 2015, the Shantang Street Scenic Area was added to the list of China's "National Historic and Cultural Streets".[4]

History

The Tonggui bridge over the canal at Shentang Street

Construction of the Shantang Canal (Chinese: 山塘河) started in 825 AD, during the Tang Dynasty by Bai Juyi, a poet and the Cishi (modern-day equivalent of the prefectural governor) of Suzhou, to provide a link between Huqiu and the city. The sludge that was dug out from the construction formed a dam along the north bank of the canal known as Baigong Dam (Chinese: 白公堤) in honor of Bai Juyi. A street was then built on the dam, which later became the modern-day Shantang Street.[2][5][6][7]

Along with Pingjiang Road, the street was declared a Historical and cultural block of China (Chinese: 中国历史文化街区) in 2015.[8]

Today, it is a popular tourist destination with visitors being attracted by the heritage nature of the buildings and the various old stone bridges.[9]

References

  1. ^ "Shantang Street China Daily". Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  2. ^ a b "Suzhou Shantang Street - Introduction". Suzhou ponds and Tourism Development Co., Ltd. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
  3. ^ "Shantang Street (Seven-Li Shantang)".
  4. ^ "Historical streets in Jiangsu listed as national heritage". China Daily. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  5. ^ 中国第一古街苏州七里山塘景区. Sohu.com (in Chinese). 16 May 2012. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
  6. ^ "Shantang Street". Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  7. ^ "Shantang Street (Seven-Li Shantang)". Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  8. ^ "苏州平江路、山塘街被认定为首批"中国历史文化街区"". Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  9. ^ "Shantang Street, Seven-Li Shan Tang of Suzhou".


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