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The Ancient Canal of Suzhou

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Suzhou, an ancient city, became a bustling paradise for merchants thanks to the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. Even today, nearly half of Suzhou’s freight volume is still transported via waterways. Taking a nighttime boat cruise along the ancient canal, you’ll see the dazzling lights along the banks reflected in the rippling water and swaying willow branches. The lights blend harmoniously with the historic architecture of Suzhou, creating a captivating scene that...

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Suzhou, an ancient city, became a bustling paradise for merchants thanks to the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. Even today, nearly half of Suzhou’s freight volume is still transported via waterways. Taking a nighttime boat cruise along the ancient canal, you’ll see the dazzling lights along the banks reflected in the rippling water and swaying willow branches.

The lights along the canal complement the ancient architecture of Suzhou, blending seamlessly into a breathtaking whole that lets you fully appreciate the gentleness and refinement of this millennia-old city. Along the route, you’ll pass by 10 ancient city gates of Suzhou—including Panmen, Xumen, Jinmen, and Lumen—and 20 uniquely styled bridges.

80 RMB

Opening hours: 19:30–20:45 in the evening

Boarding

The entire journey passes through 10 city gates and 20 bridges. The cruise lasts 1 hour and 20 minutes.

You can take city buses No. 602, 305, 47, 522, 70, 7, Tourist Line 5, or 39 directly to the site.

Address: Gusu District, Suzhou City

Type: River hydraulic engineering / Boat tour

Recommended visiting time: 1–2 hours

Opening hours:

The ancient canal itself is open all day; boat cruises are available from 18:30 to 20:00

Ticket information:

Free entry. The ancient canal itself is free to visit, but if you wish to take a boat cruise, you’ll need to purchase a ticket. The on-site price is 120 RMB.