Mudu Ancient Town

Mudu Ancient Town

Mudu Ancient Town is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

Located to the west of Suzhou and by the shores of Taihu Lake, Mudu is a renowned ancient town in the Jiangnan region. Blessed with picturesque scenery and abundant local produce, and nestled among famous Wu Zhong mountains such as Tianping, Lingyan, Shishan, and Qizi, it is known as the "Treasure Basin."

Mudu is a water town with a history as old as Suzhou itself. Legend has it that during the late Spring and Autumn period, when the states of Wu and Yue were at war and Yue was defeated, King Goujian of Yue employed the "beauty strategy" and presented the beauty Xi Shi to King Fuchai of Wu. The king doted on Xi Shi and specially built the Guanwa Palace for her atop the elegant Lingyan Mountain. He also expanded the Gusu Terrace on Zishi Mountain. “It took three years to gather materials and five years to complete.” The continuous influx of timber blocked the rivers and streams at the foot of the mountain, leading to the saying “timber blocked the waterways,” from which the name “Mudu” (literally “timber blocked the river”) originated. Over 2,500 years of rich history have fostered a splendid culture in Mudu. Since ancient times, the town has been a hub of talent, producing 25 jinshi (successful imperial examination candidates) and over 30 juren (provincial examination candidates) from the Northern Song to the end of the Qing Dynasty, including two zhuangyuan (top imperial examinees) and one bangyan (second-place scholar). Notable figures include Fan Zhongyan, a Northern Song politician and literary figure; Shen Deqian, a renowned Qing poet and poetry anthologist; Feng Guifen, an Enlightenment thinker and political essayist in the late Qing; and modern figures such as Shen Shou, the “Queen of Embroidery,” and Yen Chia-kan, a Taiwanese political leader.

As a vital transport hub connecting Suzhou with the vast Taihu Lake, Mudu is truly the “gateway to Taihu.” During the Ming and Qing dynasties, it was the most prosperous commercial center in the western part of Suzhou. Xu Yang, a court painter for Emperor Qianlong, created the realistic scroll painting “Prosperous Suzhou” (also known as “Scenes of Suzhou’s Prosperity”), which is 1,225 cm long. Half of the scroll depicts Mudu, showcasing its former splendor. Emperor Qianlong visited Jiangnan six times, staying in Mudu on each occasion. He composed poetry with his tutor Shen Deqian and played chess and drank tea with his friend Xu Shiyuan, leaving behind many legendary tales. More than 200 years later, the layout and appearance of Mudu Ancient Town remain unchanged. It continues to be the largest commercial hub in western Wu and the premier water town of Gusu. The town features deep, classic residences, tranquil bridges, and flowing streams. The Xu River, built by Wu Zixu, is China’s first man-made river, while the Xiangxi Stream earned its name because Xi Shi was said to have washed her cosmetics there, filling the stream with fragrance. Every river and bridge in Mudu has an ancient and beautiful legend, offering high value for sightseeing and leisure.

Surrounded by mountains and adjacent to Taihu Lake, Mudu offers the charm of real mountains and waters, the tranquility of small bridges and flowing streams, as well as numerous cultural relics such as private gardens and the former residences of notable figures. As a result, the Mudu scenic area ranks first among the thirteen scenic spots in the Taihu Lake region. As China’s only ancient town known for its gardens, Mudu had over 30 private gardens during the Ming and Qing dynasties, more than ten of which still remain today. Among them, the Yan Family Garden was the former residence of Shen Deqian, Qianlong’s tutor and China’s longest-living poet, before it was acquired by Yan Guoxin, the wealthiest man in Mudu. The garden features a thoughtfully arranged layout, with varying densities and elevations, and exquisite details that reflect the builder’s ingenious landscaping artistry. Renowned architects such as Liu Dunzhen, Liang Sicheng, and Tong Jun highly praised it after visiting, calling it the “best of Suzhou gardens.” The Hongyin Mountain Villa, the spacious residence of the literati Xu Shiyuan, boasts magnificent architecture. Its “beauty of streams, mountains, moonlight, pools, pavilions, flowers, and trees” surpasses other gardens, and Qianlong would visit it every time he came to Mudu. The Gusong Garden is the former residence of Cai Shaoyu, a wealthy man in late Qing Mudu. The carved building within the garden is exquisitely detailed and was crafted by the same master as the Dongshan Carved Building on East Dongting Mountain, earning it the reputation of being the “sister carved building” of north and south. The Bangyan Mansion was the home of Feng Guifen, a pioneer of the Self-Strengthening Movement and a famous political essayist, and is famed for its “Three Carvings of Jiangnan” (brick, wood, and stone carvings). The Lingyan Mountain Villa was the private retreat of Bi Yuan, the top imperial scholar from Mudu in the Qing Dynasty. With its clear pools and winding shores, it is a renowned landscape garden in Wu Zhong. The private gardens of Mudu not only inherit the refined elegance of Suzhou gardens but also possess their own unique openness, lofty charm, and rustic appeal, radiating a sense of grandeur and imperial elegance. During the 28th session of the World Heritage Committee, renowned Chinese cultural relics and ancient architecture experts such as Luo Zhewen and Zheng Xiaoxie, after visiting the private gardens of Mudu, were deeply moved, declaring, “These are the true cultural heritage.”

Step into Mudu, and you enter the elegant realm of Tang poetry and Song lyrics; walk through the ancient town, and you traverse 2,500 years of history.

The Shantang Street in Mudu was formed much earlier than the Shantang Street in Suzhou. Its history can be traced back over 2,500 years to the Spring and Autumn period. At that time, to build the Guanwa Palace and expand the Gusu Terrace, the King of Wu gathered large numbers of laborers and resources, as well as many skilled craftsmen. As a result, many families settled along both sides of the street, forming the earliest residential community, which gradually developed into a market town. Thus, Shantang Street became the oldest street in the ancient town.

One of the four major attractions in Suzhou’s Mudu Ancient Town, located in the central part of the town. The most appealing aspects of Hongyin Mountain Villa are the numerous imperial edicts and the spaciousness of the garden. Especially compared to the typical Jiangnan-style Yan Family Garden, it feels much more open—after all, this is where the emperor once visited. Even so, there are many fine details in the garden worth observing and appreciating. In a Jiangnan garden, it’s only natural to find a new view around every corner.

The Hongyin Mountain Villa in Mudu is a private garden from the Qing Qianlong era, built by the literati Xu Shiyuan. It is situated by the Xiangxi Stream on Shantang Street in Mudu and named after its proximity to the Hong Bridge. Described as excelling in “the beauty of streams, mountains, moonlight, pools, pavilions, flowers, and trees,” it surpasses other Jiangnan gardens. The architecture is grand, blending the refined beauty of Jiangnan literati gardens with the majestic splendor of northern imperial gardens. Qianlong visited this place every time he traveled to Jiangnan, always disembarking to tour the garden and watch performances. His attendants, including Liu Yong, even stayed here twice, leaving behind legendary and touching stories. Hence, Hongyin Mountain Villa is also known as the “Qianlong Temporary Palace.”

The Shen Shou Residence is located in the middle section of Shantang Street in Mudu Town. Shen Shou was the famous “Queen of Embroidery” in the late Qing Dynasty. She spent her childhood at her maternal grandmother’s home on Shantang Street in Mudu, where she learned embroidery from her elder sister Shen He Yi, beginning her artistic career. The residence was originally the Xiaoyin Garden of the Li family from the Ming Dynasty. In the early years of Qianlong’s reign, it was purchased and expanded by Xu Shiyuan, the owner of Hongyin Mountain Villa, resulting in a front residence and rear garden layout. By the late Qing Dynasty, the Xu family declined and sold the eastern garden to the Chen family. Chen’s niece, Shen Yunzhi, later became the renowned “Queen of Embroidery” Shen Shou. Mudu Town restored the eastern garden of Hongyin Mountain Villa and established the “Shen Shou Memorial Hall,” adding a tourism attraction to Shantang Street and promoting the traditional Suzhou embroidery craft.

The Mudu Corridor Bridge is located on the town river of South Street in Mudu Town, Wuzhong District. It dates back to the late Qing Dynasty. On August 23, 2019, it was designated as part of the eighth batch of cultural heritage protection units in Suzhou.

The Mingyue Temple is located on Shantang Street in Mudu Ancient Town. A hundred meters east of the Yan Family Garden, its apricot-yellow exterior walls and wisps of incense smoke evoke a religious atmosphere, inspiring reverence. Built in 935 AD during the Later Tang Qingtai era by the monk Mingzhi, it was later merged into Puxian Temple in the early Ming Hongwu period. In 1890 AD during the Qing Guangxu 16th year, the monk Daogen renovated it.

The Mingyue Temple features distinctive architecture. The layout of its Heavenly King Hall, Mahavira Hall, and Scripture Depository resembles that of the nearby Lingyan Mountain Temple. Upon entering the mountain gate and Heavenly King Hall, the jovial Maitreya Buddha sits serenely in the center. The Four Heavenly Kings stand on either side, each with fierce and imposing expressions.

The Yong’an Bridge, also known as the “Wang Family Bridge,” was built in 1497 during the Ming Hongzhi era by Fu Chao. It is a single-arch stone bridge constructed from granite. The bridge is 13.7 meters long, 2.2 meters wide, with abutments 2.4 meters wide, and stands 4.8 meters above the water. The arch is semicircular, 4.2 meters high, 0.38 meters thick, and spans 7.8 meters. The bridge runs north-south, crossing the Xingfu Pond.

The Yan Family Garden is located by Wangjia Bridge on Shantang Street in Mudu Town, facing the Xiangxi Stream and backed by Lingyan Mountain. “Though situated in the mountains, the refinement of this garden’s structure rivals that of urban gardens” (Tong Jun, “Records of Jiangnan Gardens”). It is one of the famous gardens of Jiangnan. The predecessor of the Yan Family Garden was the residence of Shen Deqian, a renowned literatus of Suzhou during the Qianlong era and compiler of “Origins of Ancient Poetry.” In 1828, the Shen family passed the property to the poet Qian Duanyan of Mudu. Qian designed rockeries, ponds, pavilions, and towers, creating attractions such as Youyu Study, Tiaonong Tower, and Yian Pavilion, which attracted many poetic tributes. Gong Zizhen praised the garden, saying, “Its ingenious construction is entirely natural, not man-made,” and “Leaning on the rocks is like embracing a beauty.”

In 1902 during the Qing Guangxu era, Yan Guoxin, the wealthiest man in Mudu (and grandfather of Taiwanese political leader Yen Chia-kan), purchased Duanyuan, thoroughly renovated it, and renamed it “Xianyuan.” Because the owner’s surname was Yan, locals called it the “Yan Family Garden.” Through the efforts of three generations of owners over 170 years, the Yan Family Garden has acquired a cultural richness and refined elegance, regardless of the trials of time or its historical legacy. In 1935, Professor Liu Dunzhen, a modern architect, visited the garden twice, captivated by its layout and meticulous details, and hailed it as the “best of Suzhou gardens.”

The Yan Family Garden covers 16 mu. The central axis consists of five main buildings: the entrance hall, Yibin Hall, Shangxian Hall, Mingshi Tower, and Tiaonong Tower. The third building, Shangxian Hall, is a rare Ming-style nanmu (phoebe nanmu) hall in Suzhou, with a history of over 400 years. It features elegant stone bases, round and smooth nanmu pillars, simple and unadorned carvings, and a light, understated color palette, serving both practical and aesthetic purposes. In front of Shangxian Hall and Mingshi Tower are Qing-era brick-carved gate towers, intricately carved with vivid scenes of figures and plays, full of subtle charm. Though attached to the halls, they are independent artworks of great artistic and aesthetic value.

Address: No. 188, Shantang Street, Mudu Town, Wuzhong District, Suzhou City

Type: Ancient Town/Village

Rating: AAAA

Recommended Visit Duration: 3 hours

Phone: 0512-66253688; 0512-66368225

Opening Hours: April–October 8:30–17:00; November–March 8:30–16:30

Ticket Information: Free entry to the ancient town; tickets required for attractions. Yan Family Garden: 40 RMB; Hongyin Mountain Villa: 40 RMB; Gusong Garden: 20 RMB; Bangyan Mansion: 10 RMB; Combined ticket for all four: 78 RMB. Mingyue Temple: 10 RMB; Ming-Qing Ancient Porcelain Museum: 5 RMB (not included in the combined ticket).

Mudu Town: Nestled by Taihu Lake and at the foot of Lingyan and Tianping Mountains, Mudu is a 2,500-year-old Chinese garden town rich in Wu culture and scenic mountain landscapes. Covering 62.28 square kilometers, with a local population of 86,000 and over 200,000 migrants, it has long been a key town in Wuzhong. Known as the “Stone Carving Capital,” “Calligraphy Capital,” and “Garden Capital,” it enjoys the title of “No. 1 Town in Wuzhong” and has been honored as a “National Model for Creating Civilized Small Towns,” “National Advanced Town for Creating Civilized Towns,” “China’s Historical and Cultural Town,” and “National Health Town.” More details about Mudu Town++

Further Reading:

· 2020 Top 100 Historic Site Attractions Brand Ranking

Lingyan Mountain Temple

Yangu Family Garden in Mudu

Mingyue Temple in Mudu

Gusu Garden in Mudu (Former Residence of Cai Shaoyu)

Wu Xiang Ancestral Hall

Shantang Ancient Street in Mudu

Bangyan Mansion in Mudu (Former Residence of Feng Guifen)

Lingyan Peony Garden in Mudu