On Dec. 11, a grand ceremony was held to mark the reopening of Jianjin Bridge Lane in Block 32 of Canglang Sub-district in Gusu District. The lane has returned to public view with a brand-new look after a three-year renovation, which is a vivid example of the protection and renewal of the ancient city of Suzhou.
Legend has it that in the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 B.C.), King Fuchai of Wu Kingdom and Xi Shi arrived at the bridge during a boat trip and the king cut off a piece of his golden hairpin to exchange it for rouge to please the beauty. Hence the name “Jianjin Bridge” (Cutting Gold Bridge). And Jianjin Bridge Lane got its name from the bridge. As part of the efforts for the protection and renewal of the ancient city area of Suzhou, the renovation project of the lane was launched in 2022, aiming to transform it into a business cluster featuring the in-depth integration of “culture, commerce and daily life” where trendy businesses flourish alongside time-honored brands.
The ceremony witnessed the launch of three “Cityboat + Citywalk” tour routes, each of which is about 5 kilometers, linking Jianjin Bridge Lane with other tourist attractions such as the Twin Pagodas and the Suzhou Museum, which allow tourists to admire the water town scenery of Suzhou on boat. The Jianjin Bridge Lane Pier on the Xueshi River, the Suzhou Museum Pier on the Lindun River and the Twin Pagodas Pier on the Guantaiwei River are also put into use.
On the same day, the northern section of Xueshi Street, which is near Jianjin Bridge Lane, also made its debut with a brand-new look after a facelift.
