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Last Update : 5/11/2007 3:35:32 AM

The Suzhou Market Street (Suzhoujie), located behind Longevity Hill, is the middle section of the Back Lake. The Market is great fun, because the lake serves as the street with the stalls and shops on its banks. It has all the features of other market streets in Suzhou, a famous 'Water Town' in China. The ancient-style street, about 300 meters (328 yards) long, transports the tourist back to the mid-18th century of China.

Last Update : 2007-2-5 9:39:34

It was built originally during the reign of Emperor Qianglong to give the emperor and his empress and concubines the experience of shopping in the Water Town. At that time, the eunuchs would act as clerks and shopkeepers, lending an air of realism to the experience. Over sixty old-styled stores, including restaurants, teahouses, pawn shops, banks, drugstores, clothing shops, dyers and publishing houses line the banks. The storekeepers, shop assistants, boaters and policemen on patrol are all dressed in costumes of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

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