Atlas of China
Pan Gate & Ruiguang Pagoda 盘门Pán Mén
4A scenic area · National heritage site · Suzhou, Jiangsu
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Days to budget
- Half a day
- City
- Suzhou
- Region
- Jiangsu
- Type
- Heritage
- Listed as
- 4A scenic area, National heritage site
About Pan Gate & Ruiguang Pagoda
The only original gate left from Suzhou's city wall, a combined land and water gate at the south-west corner of the old city where the moat meets the Grand Canal; the present gate was built in 1351 under the Yuan, with a square barbican added in 1356, and it is a component of the Grand Canal World Heritage Site. The scenic area also takes in Wumen Bridge, a tall single-arch stone bridge over the moat rebuilt in 1872, and Ruiguang Pagoda, a seven-storey octagonal pagoda whose brick body dates from the early 11th century. Relics of the Five Dynasties and early Song were found inside the pagoda in 1978.
How to get to Pan Gate & Ruiguang Pagoda
In the south-west corner of Suzhou's old city beside the outer moat, a short taxi or bus ride from the centre.
Nearby
- Classical Gardens of Suzhou 苏州园林 under 10 km
Whole landscapes of rock, water and pavilion folded into a city block - Zhouzhuang 周庄古镇 30 km
Jiangnan's most famous water town, famed for its Twin Bridges and merchant halls
Also within 20 km: Suzhou Confucian Temple (Stone Inscription Museum) 苏州文庙 (under 10 km), Canglang Pavilion 沧浪亭 (under 10 km), Master of the Nets Garden 网师园 (under 10 km), Mountain Villa with Embracing Beauty 环秀山庄 (under 10 km), Twin Pagodas (Luohan Temple) 罗汉院双塔 (under 10 km), Old Campus of Soochow University 东吴大学旧址 (under 10 km).
On the map
Open Pan Gate & Ruiguang Pagoda on the illustrated map to see the terrain around it and what else is close, and to add it to a trip.
Open Pan Gate & Ruiguang Pagoda on the map