Mudu Shantang Ancient Street

Mudu Shantang Ancient Street

The formation of Mudu Shantang Street predates Suzhou’s Shantang Street by a significant margin. Its history can be traced back over 2,500 years to the Spring and Autumn Period. At that time, the King of Wu was constructing the Guanwa Palace and expanding the Gusu Terrace. Year-round, he gathered large numbers of laborers and resources, as well as many skilled craftsmen in the area. As a result, many families settled along both sides of the Shantang waterway, forming the earliest residential communities, which gradually developed into a market town. Thus, Shantang Street became the oldest street in the ancient town.

Mudu Shantang Street bears a striking resemblance in layout to Suzhou’s Shantang Street. The entire street features a parallel arrangement of street and river, small bridges over flowing water, continuous greenery, grand mansions, secluded lanes, and historic sites everywhere. One end of the street borders the serene and rustic mountain valley, while the other connects to a bustling commercial district.

Shantang River, also known as Xiangshui Creek or Fragrant Stream River, is the source of Mudu’s elegant nickname “Fragrant Stream.” The name originates from a legend during the Spring and Autumn Period of the Wu and Yue states. To please the beauty Xi Shi, King Fuchai of Wu built the Guanwa Palace atop Lingyan Mountain. Xi Shi took daily scented baths in the palace, and the water, carrying fragrant oils, flowed down into the river below. Over time, the fragrance lingered and permeated the waters, giving the river its name—Fragrant Stream.

The waters of Xiangxi (Fragrant Stream) flow from Guangfu and Shanrenqiao in the west, reach the ruins of the Wu Palace, and continue eastward to the Xieqiao entrance of Mudu Shantang Street, where they converge with the Xu River. Since Xiangxi is mountain stream water and the Xu River is fed by Taihu Lake, one clear and the other murky, one slow and the other rapid, the two currents meet beneath Xieqiao Bridge, creating the spectacular sight known as “water parting.”

Mudu Town: Located on the shores of Taihu Lake and at the foot of Lingyan and Tianping Mountains, Mudu Town is a garden-style ancient town in China with a history of over 2,500 years. It boasts profound Wu culture and breathtaking mountain scenery. Covering an area of 62.28 square kilometers, it has a local population of 86,000 and a migrant population exceeding 200,000. Historically a key town in Wu region, it is known as the “Home of Stone Carving,” “Home of Calligraphy,” and “Home of Gardens,” and enjoys the reputation of being the “No. 1 Town in Wu Region.” It has been honored as a “National Model for Creating Civilized Small Towns,” “National Advanced Town in Creating Civilized Towns,” “China’s Famous Historical and Cultural Town,” and “National Sanitary Town,” among others. More detailed information about Mudu Town++

Mudu Ancient Town

Lingyan Mountain Temple

Mudu Yan Family Garden

Mudu Mingyue Temple

Mudu Ancient Pine Garden (Former Residence of Cai Shaoyu)

Wu Xiang Shrine

Mudu Bangyan Mansion (Former Residence of Feng Guifen)

Mudu Lingyan Peony Garden