Suzhou

Temple of Mystery

玄妙观 Xuán Miào Guān

A large Taoist hall perpetually obscured by a curtain of joss smoke of devotes eager to placate the gods inside. It has a large market area, many small shops with a range of goods aimed mainly at either devotees or tourists. The temple was established in the 3rd century and broadened to its present size in the Song Dynasty, where it became a popular spot for travelling magicians and acrobats. The erstwhile performers have given way to a multitude of stalls selling meretricious worldly goods on which you can easily make your money disappear. The main Sanxing Dian hall was rebuilt in 1811 to hold Song Dynasty deity statues, later destroyed by Red Guards they occupied the hall during the cultural revolution. The present sculptures are modern reproductions. Of greater antiquity is a stone impressed with the footprints of a Taoist god, found in the Ming dynasty. The stone is genuine, but the origins of the feet less certain.

Closed · opens 7:30 am·¥10

葑门横街

Fengmen Hengjie Street

A bustling, narrow market street frequented by locals, not tourists. It's the perfect place to experience authentic Suzhou life, sample seasonal foods and local snacks, and observe the daily rhythm of the city.

Morning until afternoon are busiest

长江文化节

Yangtze River Culture Festival

An annual cultural extravaganza held in Zhangjiagang, Suzhou. It celebrates the diverse cultures along the Yangtze River basin through five main themes: cultural relics, intangible heritage, arts, travel, and openness. The festival features thematic exhibitions, a vibrant intangible cultural heritage bazaar, and electronic guidebooks for exploring riverside cities[citation:6][citation:8].

通常在秋季举办·多数活动免费

坤元市集

新民桥菜市场

胥江菜市场

苏州南门市场

苏州市姑香苑农贸市场