The wall that protects Suzhou for centuries
Print Edition
Walls of a city are the first and strongest defense against its enemies. Troy’s legendary walls are still standing today to remind people of the tragedy frequently told in Greek mythology.
In Suzhou there was also a war, and the walls of Panmen Gate were truly unbreakable.
It happened about 700 years ago. The Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) emperor had his eyes on one of the richest cities in China — Suzhou, and to conquer the city, he needed to break through the newly refitted wall.
The walls around the Panmen Gate were very unique. They were fortified by a deep moat, with small water gates that allow boats to come into the city. With all the water gates completely shut, there was no way that the emperor’s army could go in by boat. They were left with the only option — break Panmen Gate.
After many soldiers had died in front of the gate trying to break it, the gate was still unmovable. To the emperor’s surprise, just when the army was about to give up, the main gate slowly opened.
Thinking the city had surrendered, soldiers poured into the gate, only to discover that it was a trap. There was an enclosed space between the front gate and the real gate leading to the city. With the front gate slowly shutting again, the soldiers found themselves trapped between two walls, facing an unavoidable death.
The emperor eventually conquered the city, not with his army but through his statesmanship. A few hundred years later, modern wars have left their marks, but the Panmen Gate and surrounding walls have been carefully kept and maintained. Nowadays, it is the only remaining water-land gate structure that still stands in China. It is renowned for its unique structure and rich history. Together with the Wumen Bridge and the Ruiguang Temple Tower, they have become the famous “trio,” one of the most popular tourist attractions in Suzhou.
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