Panmen Gate

Panmen Gate (also known as Pan Gate) is a famous historical landmark in Suzhou, China. It is located on the southwest corner of the Main Canal of Suzhou. Originally built during the Warring States Period in the state of Wu, historians estimate it to be around 2,500 years old. It is now part of the Panmen Gate Scenic Area, which features three famous landmarks. These are the Ruiguang Pagoda, (the earliest surviving pagoda in Suzhou and built in 247 B.C.), the Wu Gate Bridge (at that time the highest bridge in Suzhou and the entrance to Panmen Gate by water), and Panmen Gate.

Pan Gate is part of the ancient city wall (built in 514 B.C.) that surrounded and protected Suzhou. Pan Gate was the only entrance through the wall to ancient Suzhou. The architecture of the wall is truly amazing. The gate is not only one, but many and includes an entire complex of both land gates and water gates. Therefore it is also often called the "Land and Water Gate". In order to attract more tourists, in recent years the city of Suzhou has renovated the old wall and built many other attractions around the original gate in the Pan Gate Scenic Area.