Suzhou’s identity is inseparable from water. A dense network of canals has shaped the city’s gentle urban fabric and fostered a Jiangnan lifestyle centered on waterways. In the historic city, streets and canals still run side by side, connected by stone bridges, with whitewashed walls and dark-tiled roofs reflected in the water.

Historic districts such as Pingjiang Road and Shantang Street preserve urban patterns dating back to the Song (960-1279) and Yuan (1271-1368) dynasties. Strolling along the canals, visitors will encounter a living past where traditional residences, craft shops and contemporary cafes coexist, offering a vivid sense of how Suzhou’s water-town culture continues to evolve rather than simply being preserved.