Suzhou, the ancient city, is a famous water town in the south of the Yangtze River, with water ports and streets. Du Xunhe, a poet in the late Tang Dynasty, said in a poem: "When we meet in Gusu, people rest by the river. There are few leisure places in the ancient palace and many small bridges in the water lane. " Among the numerous streets and lanes in Suzhou, Shantang Street, a famous scenic spot, is known as "the first street in Gusu". I think there are several reasons: First, Shantang Street is an ancient street with a history of 1 100 years; Second, its pattern has the characteristics that can best represent the streets and lanes of Suzhou; Third, it is related to many celebrities and events.

Shantang Street was built in the Tang Dynasty during Pauli's reign. In 825 AD, Bai Juyi was ordered to Suzhou as a secretariat. Shortly after taking office, he took a sedan chair to Tiger Hill and saw that the nearby river was blocked and the waterway was impassable. After returning to the official residence, he immediately consulted with relevant officials and decided to build a road around Huqiu Mountain, and set out to dig a mountain pond river. It is about 3,600 meters long, starting from the vicinity of Duheshang Bridge in Nagato in the east and reaching Wangshan Bridge in Huqiu in the west, so it is commonly known as "Qilishantang to Huqiu". The river joins the canal at Nagato. Build a dike next to the river pond, which is Shantang Street. The excavation of Shantang River and the construction of Shantang Street have greatly facilitated irrigation and transportation, and this area has become a bustling market. Suzhou people are very grateful to Bai Juyi. After he left office, the people called Shantang Street Baigong Dike and built Baigong Temple as a memorial.

Shantang Street was once one of the most developed commercial and cultural blocks in China during the Ming and Qing Dynasties because of its unique geographical location and superior land and water transportation conditions. Shantang Street, restored in recent years, is the essence of the natural and cultural landscape of Suzhou ancient city, which can be called "the epitome of old Suzhou and the window of Wu culture". The street is in a parallel pattern of land and water, adjacent to River Street. The architecture is exquisite and elegant, and there are many shops and halls on the street, which reproduces the prosperity of Shantang Street. Someone sang, "There is heaven above and Suzhou and Hangzhou below. Hangzhou has West Lake, and Suzhou has mountain ponds. Two good places, unlimited scenery. " This is a vivid portrayal of Shantang Street.

Shantang Street connects the prosperous commercial district gate of Suzhou with Huqiu Town and Huqiu Mountain, scenic spots where flower farmers gather. Therefore, since the Tang Dynasty, it has been a commodity distribution center and a gathering place for businessmen from the north and the south. During the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, the famous painter Xu Yang created the long scroll "The Prosperous Times Breeding Map" (also known as "Suzhou Prosperous Times Map"), which described a village, a town, a city and a street in Suzhou at that time, among which the painting of Shantang Street showed the bustling market scene of "living in a mountain of goods, flowing clouds, signs everywhere, like clouds and brocade". Cao Xueqin also called Nagato and Shantang as "the most prosperous and romantic places in the world of mortals" in the first time in A Dream of Red Mansions.

Suzhou is a water town with many rivers and bridges, and Shantang Street is the most typical street in Suzhou. In the middle is Shantang River. Shantang Street is close to the north side of the river and connected with the street on the other side through a stone bridge. There are many shops and houses in Shantang Street. Most of the houses here face the street at the front door and the river at the back door. Some have also built special street-crossing buildings, which are really bamboo pillars and catkins. Shantang Street is also a typical water lane. Ships carrying jasmine, white orchids and other goods come and go, and cruise ships pass leisurely. The house here has stone steps along the river, and women wash clothes and vegetables by the river. At that time, some vendors were still rocking boats in the river to do business. Needless to say, they sell rice and firewood, as well as snacks, oil, salt, sauce and vinegar. Those who live upstairs don't have to go downstairs, they can buy what they need by hanging the basket with a rope.

Shantang Street can be divided into east and west sections. The eastern section is from Nagato only bridge to Bantang bridge. This section is mostly shops and houses, and various shops are next to each other. In the eastern section, Xingqiao area is the most lively and prosperous. The west section of Shantang Street refers to Bantang Bridge to Huqiu Mountain. This section is close to the suburbs, and the river is wider than the eastern section. This river is either tree-lined, with lush grass or green wild boats in the village. There are scenic spots such as Puji Bridge and Yefangbang, as well as historical sites such as "Five-Man Tomb" and "Gexian Tomb". Five righteous men, including Yan, were buried in the "Tomb of Five". They led the citizens to riot, protested against the arrest of Lindong party member Zhou Shunchang by Wei Zhongxian Yan Party, and finally died generously. Further west, we reach the Tiger Hill, which is known as "the first scene in Wuzhong". The mountains are covered with mountains, and the weather in the mountains is more charming.