Suzhou Street

　　Suzhou Street is situated in the northwest suburbs of Beijing. It is a commercial street built along both banks of Houhu Lake, modeled after the water towns of the Jiangnan region. Constructed during the Qianlong era in imitation of the Jiangnan water towns, it was a water street specially designed for the Qing emperors and empresses to stroll and shop. Burned down by the Anglo-French Allied Forces in 1860, it was reconstructed on the original site in 1990 and stands as the only surviving example of ancient China's "palace market."

　　Suzhou Street is located in the middle section of Suzhou River. The street stretches over 300 meters in length, featuring one river flanked by two streets, with shops lining the shores. It includes a total of 64 various types of shops, 14 archways, and 8 small bridges. Both banks offer a vibrant array of establishments such as teahouses, restaurants, banks, pharmacies, pawnshops, silk and cloth stores, and printing bureaus.

　　Along the shore, there are various types of shops, including antique and jade stores, silk shops, dessert shops, teahouses, and gold and silver jewelry shops. The shop assistants and clerks here are all dressed up as eunuchs and palace maids. Whenever the emperor, empress, or concubines came to visit, shop, or sightsee, they would put on an enthusiastic performance of bustling trade.

　　The creation of such a beautiful Jiangnan-style water town market street resembles a folk temple fair that combines entertainment, food, and commerce, reflecting the unique charm of life in the Qing imperial court as well as the thriving traditional commercial culture of China. Visitors can stroll along the shore or take a small boat to shop, enjoying the immersive fun of a historical-themed tour.

　　Among the street names in Beijing, there are as many as seven named after Suzhou. In addition to Suzhou Street within the Summer Palace and next to the Purple Bamboo Park, there are five others within the city. Today, on Nanchizi Street, there are Big Suzhou Lane and Small Suzhou Lane. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, this area was part of the imperial East Garden. The Golden Water River in the Forbidden City flows past the Flying Dragon Bridge here and into the Sweet Flag River. In ancient times, there were exquisite stone bridges here, along with numerous pavilions and terraces, creating a truly picturesque scene. Ming Dynasty poet Chen ??? wrote: “The river winds delicately along the edge of the forbidden city, its dredged waters clear beyond memory of years. Best is when the southern wind blows at dusk, with lotus fragrance drifting and white egrets resting.”

　　On Chongwenmennei Street, there are Suzhou Lane and Suzhou Alley. In the early Ming Dynasty, this area was a water town in the southeast corner of the capital. Additionally, in the northeast corner of Beijing’s Imperial City, there is also a small alley called Small Suzhou Lane. In the past, imperial river water was diverted here, and there were rockeries and pavilions. As it shared the same name as Small Suzhou Lane in Nanchizi, it has now been renamed Yangchun Lane.

　　A famous Suzhou Street once existed in front of the renowned Wanfo Temple in western Beijing.

　　Wanfo Temple was built in the fifth year of the Wanli era during the Ming Dynasty (1577), and historical records state that it was funded by the mother of Emperor Wanli. It was located five li outside Xizhimen. Wanfo Temple was one of the largest temples in the capital. At its peak, the temple covered an area of more than four qing and housed up to several thousand monks. It had three courtyards: the central courtyard contained the main temple halls, with the Grand Yan Shou Hall as the main hall enshrining the Three Great Bodhisattvas, followed by the Heavenly King Hall, and fronted by the Bell and Drum Towers. There was also the Ning’an Pavilion, stele pavilion, scripture tower, and more. The Yongle Bell now housed in the Great Bell Temple was once hung here. The eastern courtyard served as the abbot’s quarters, where monks resided, while the western courtyard was an imperial lodging used when emperors visited. Emperors such as Kangxi and Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty, when traveling to the Western Hills, would exit Xizhimen in their dragon carriages, switch to dragon boats at Baishi Bridge, and dock at Wanfo Temple. The emperor would then stay in the temple’s lodging quarters to rest, drink tea, dine, or even spend the night listening to monks chant scriptures and perform Buddhist rituals. Empress Dowager Cixi also passed here many times when traveling to the Summer Palace. At the northern end of the western courtyard, there is a pavilion rich in Chinese ethnic style, which is said to have been Empress Dowager Cixi’s dressing table. With projecting eaves, corridors, pavilions, rockeries, and peculiar peaks, the scenery is exquisitely serene.

　　Emperor Qianlong visited the Jiangnan region several times and greatly admired the peerlessly beautiful scenery of Suzhou. In the 26th year of Qianlong’s reign (1761), it was the 70th birthday of the Qianlong Emperor’s mother. The monks of Wanfo Temple planned to recite longevity scriptures for the dowager empress. The emperor ordered the construction of a market street along both sides of the Imperial River in front of Wanfo Temple, imitating the southern style, stretching several li in length, for the imperial carriage to tour. It was named Suzhou Street. The water of the Imperial River comes from Yuquan, crystal clear and mirror-like, with fish leaping and stones visible beneath the surface. Trees were planted along both banks, with weeping willows hanging directly over the water, and famous flowers and trees competing in beauty. Two layers of exquisitely delicate stone bridges were also built in front of the temple, making visitors feel as if they had entered a fairyland. Today, the China Modern Literature Museum and the Beijing Art Museum are located here, which not only greatly promote the research of modern Chinese literature and art, benefit the reference and prosperity of contemporary literature and art, but also play a significant role in the protection of the ancient temple and cultural relics.