Shihu Scenic Area

Shihu Scenic Area

• Admire the beautiful scenery of Shihu, where mountains and waters blend seamlessly and peaks layer one upon another, to experience the profound landscape and cultural heritage of Suzhou.

Attraction Introduction

Shihu Scenic Area is situated in the southwestern suburbs of Suzhou, seven kilometers from the ancient city. It is famed for its relics from the Wu and Yue states and the picturesque rural landscape of the Jiangnan water town. The area features many ancient temples, pagodas, tombs, and the villas of prominent figures such as Fan Chengda, a renowned pastoral poet of the Song Dynasty. It mainly consists of the Shihu Resort, scenic sightseeing area, film and television culture zone, and a distinctive dining area.

The most famous attraction in Shihu is the “Moon Strings over Shihu,” originating from the lake’s Jiudong Bridge (Xingchun Bridge). The bridge’s interconnected arches reflect on the water, and on the evening of the 18th day of the eighth lunar month, when the moon is full and bright, each of the nine arches reflects a moonlit image on the lake, creating the spectacular view of “nine moons in a row”—a breathtaking sight. The area offers services such as barbecues and boat rides. Major attractions include: Shangfangshan National Forest Park; three Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Heritage sites—Shen Shixing’s Tomb, Lengqia Pagoda Courtyard, and Yuecheng Ruins; five Suzhou Municipal Cultural Heritage sites—Xingchun Bridge, Fan Chengda’s Ancestral Hall, Zhiping Temple, Yuecheng Bridge, and Gu Ye Wang’s Tomb; and over 20 other sites including Shifo Temple, Jiaotai Platform, Qianlong Imperial Path, Fishing Villa, Baoji Spring, Peacock Garden, Stone Dyke, Yue Dyke, and Wucheng Ruins.

Additionally, the Fishing Villa (also called “Yu Zhuang”) to the north of Shihu is a villa built in 1934 by Yu Jue, a modern calligrapher, in the Fishing Village. The simple yet elegant villa opens directly onto the lake, and its main hall, “Fushou Hall,” was a gift from Empress Dowager Cixi. Also within the scenic area is Shihu Jingshe, the retreat where Fan Chengda, the celebrated Song Dynasty pastoral poet, spent his later years in seclusion at Shihu and styled himself “the Old Man of Shihu.”

Shihu has a long history and is associated with many legends and folk tales. It is said that during the Spring and Autumn Period, the State of Yue dug a canal to attack the State of Wu, cutting through the mountain and chiseling a channel to reach Suzhou, hence the name “Stone Lake.” After defeating Wu, Fan Li, a famous minister of Yue, took Xi Shi and retired to Taihu Lake via this area, which is why there is a nearby town called Lishu (“Lǐ’s Villa”).

Address: No. 333 Youxin Road, Wuzhong District, Suzhou City

Type: Lakeside Historical Site

Grade: AAAA

Recommended Visit Duration: About 1 day

Tel: 0512-65646668

Official Website: http://www.szstonelake.com/home.asp

Opening Hours:

Open all day

Ticket Information:

Free admission.