City Walls and Gates

In ancient China, many cities had walls surrounding them, to protect them from invading armies.

 

Pan Gate

The water-town of Suzhou( not far from Shanghai) is unique in that there were both land and water gates along the old city walls.

Pan Men water and land gate

Weng Gate in inner courtyard of Pan Men

It was a double fortification – anyone entering via boat through the water gate, then had to face the courtyard where large gates in the wall prevented armies from charging into the city.

When Wu Zixu planned and constructed Suzhou 2500 years ago, he had eight city gates built, placed in the cardinal directions along the city wall.

Over the ensuring centuries, the old gates and city walls have been destroyed and rebuilt numerous times. The Pan Men is in the south-west corner of the Suzhou old city.

Overlooking Suzhou old town from the top of Pan Men

View from Pan Men

Water Gate, Pan Men, Suzhou

Land Gate, Pan Men, Suzhou

The combination of Land and Water Gates along the old city Wall made for an excellent defence mechanism during the ancient times.

View from the top of the old City Wall surrounding Suzhou, showing the canal which leads to the Water Gate, leading to the Land Gate

The city of Suzhou still maintains the same geometric layout, and criss-cross of canals, as it did 2500 years ago when Wu Zixu first planned it. Many old city gates have been rebuilt and give Suzhou a unique feel, merging the ancient city with a modern, bustling town.

Pan Men

Pan Men City Gate along the old Suzhou City Wall.