Shan Tang street [Suzhou]

This is a new but old street. This is a street in Suzhou that has been around for 1500 years. It was the street that connects the old city center (Shi Lu Road - Stone Road) and the temple(HuQiu temple) where big festivals are held. It is newly rennovated back to its old look. In the old time, where there is a festival called "Ga Shen Xian", peoople will march from "downtwon" through that street all the way to the temple. The street will be very crowded and full of small intersting stuff(like mud toy and cloth shoes). The event is called "Ga Shen Xian". When I was young, I was told the more crowd the street gets, the more likely godess will be pleased in the heaven and come down to see us. The street has a lot of traditional shops but that is not the most important aspect of it. The whole street lies besides the canel (from hangzhou to beijing) and served mainly as a "habor" for the city. On that street, you can also find a lot of merchant unions from other cities. In the old china, the difference of locations are the biggest difference between people. Merchants formed unions to protect themselves in this city. If the merchants from that other place is successful, the union building will be very nicely constructed and can be a point of interest. The old street was worned out with the ages and it was rennovated a couple of years ago. So the majority of buildings you see there are actually new. But fortunately, Suzhouneeds still keep their skill to build the traditional buildings and the street looks very nice and authentic.