During the Song Dynasty, it was named ‘Shi Quan’ (Ten Springs) due to the presence of ten wells. Later, in the Qing Dynasty, it was renamed in honor of Emperor Qianlong as ‘Shi Quan’ (Ten Complete). The street has preserved its traditional layout of ‘water and land parallel, rivers and streets adjacent, two roads and one river’, along with the charm of a water town.
Everywhere you look, you can find the marks of ancient history: ancient trees and famous gardens such as the Master of the Nets Garden, the Surging Waves Pavilion, the Southern Garden, and the Weaving Bureau, as well as the former residences of notable figures like Li Genyuan and Feng Menglong. Additionally, there are 14 quaint bridges including the Magpie Bridge, Daicheng Bridge, Brick Bridge, and the Teacher’s Bridge, making Shi Quan Street a showcase of rich historical and cultural heritage.
Today, Shi Quan Street has become a renowned culinary and crafts street both domestically and internationally. At a glance, behind the new buildings with Ming and Qing styles, a variety of restaurants and craft shops open one after another, each with its unique features. There are restaurants specializing in fish head soup, tea and wine buildings that integrate Wu culture with cuisine, and a variety of flavors from all directions, including hotpot, Japanese cuisine, Korean cuisine, barbecue, Cantonese, and Huaiyang delicacies, with a complete range of culinary schools.
The craft shops on Shi Quan Street display their strengths, with stores specializing in Suzhou embroidery art, ceramic antiques, calligraphy, and painting. Here, you can find purple sand, pottery, silk, calligraphy, painting, jade, and rosewood items – everything you could wish for. The opening hours and specific business status are subject to the daily opening conditions.
Shi Quan Street
During the Song Dynasty, it was named ‘Shi Quan’ (Ten Springs) due to the presence of ten wells. Later, in […]
