Ping Jiang Road Suzhou China
The entrance from the bottom end of Ping Jiang road. This street is always crowded, no matter what time of day you come here.
One of the oldest streets in Suzhou, China, Ping Jiang Road has become one of Suzhou’s hottest tourist attractions for both domestic and international tourists. This is a pedestrian street that stretches out for about a mile, lined up against an old canal that runs adjacent to the street. The street is now a huge commercial area with many restaurants and small souvenir shops vying for your attention.
A lot of small little bars line the alleyways on this street.
Even though some of the bars look small and dingy, this entire street is aimed at tourists and you will find that most places speak English and will welcome foreign guests.
Traditional popcorn being made and sold on the street.
You can pay for a ride along the street in a traditional canal boat, but these small trips are really expensive though.
I loved these old boats and I spent hours shooting them. Black and white just felt right for them.
I love walking down this old street. I’m not really sure how old the street is, though. Some people tell me it is 1,000 years old, and some say it is much older. I am not sure who to believe, but the street does feel old. It looks old, feels old, and it is how I imagined China would look like when I first came here many years ago.
Lanterns hung in all the shops around the canal.
Most of the restaurants are in renovated houses along the canal but with their great location and view, you are going to be paying an arm and a leg for your meal.
This is the end of the street, once you see cars, you know you are back onto the normal roads and you have left Ping Jiang road.
I really do love Ping Jiang Road, even though it is super commercial. It feels old, but it is super crowded. In my opinion, if you come to Suzhou, China, this is the first location that you should visit. Go visit this street before you go to any parks, before you go shopping, before you do anything. Get a feel for what ancient China used to be like.
Shaun.