| Shantang Street | |
| Length M: | 3830 |
| Location: | Northwestern Gusu District, Suzhou |
| Inauguration Date: | 825 AD |
| Status: | Complete |
Shantang Street (; Suzhou Wu: Se daon ka, pronounced as /se̞ dɑ̃ kɑ/), also known as Seven-li Shantang, is a street in northwestern Gusu District, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China. The street connects Changmen in the east with Huqiu in the west, with a total length of about 3,829.6 meters (2.38 miles),[1] or a little more than seven li or traditional "Chinese miles".[2] Due to the great history and events involving Shantang Street it is sometimes stated as being the "First Street in Shuzou".[3]
In 2015, the Shantang Street Scenic Area was added to the list of China's "National Historic and Cultural Streets".[4]
Construction of the Shantang Canal started in 825 AD, during the Tang Dynasty by Bai Juyi, a poet and the Cishi (modern-day equivalent of the prefectural governor) of Suzhou, to provide a link between Huqiu and the city. The sludge that was dug out from the construction formed a dam along the north bank of the canal known as Baigong Dam in honor of Bai Juyi. A street was then built on the dam, which later became the modern-day Shantang Street.[5] [6] [7]
Along with Pingjiang Road, the street was declared a Historical and cultural block of China in 2015.[8]
Today, it is a popular tourist destination with visitors being attracted by the heritage nature of the buildings and the various old stone bridges.[9]