China attractions -

    Mooring By Maple Bridge At Night
    At moonset cry the crows, streaking the frosty sky;
    Dimly lit fishing boats ‘neath maples sadly lie;
    Beyond the city walls, from Temple of Cold Hill;
    Bells break the ship-borne roamer’s dream and midnight still.

Maple Bridge ancient town is located in Huqiu District, Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province, with its unique downstream Yangtze River scenery of "families pillow the rivers".

The ancient town is a provincial-level scenic spot 3.5 kilometers away from Suzhou city, leads the main tour content "five ancient", Hanshan temple, Jiangfeng bridge, iron bell ancient barrier, Maple Bridge town and ancient canal. The environment is beautiful while humanistic landscape is rich.

Maple Bridge ancient town has a long history. It's a well-known downtown place in ancient Suzhou. In Sui Dynasty, after the great project of Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal had completed, Maple Bridge became an important port in the west section of Suzhou City. According to historical record, shopps and stores lists thickly like forest on both sides of the river.  The north bank was a large market for trade cotton, rice, beans, wheat while silk and handicrafts were sold on the south bank. The town endured prosperity during Ming and Qing Dynasty untill army of Taiping Heavenly Kingdom besieged Suzhou city and the Qing defender burned it down to dirt. Then the past commercial center became one of the small rural towns.    

The grand canal, ancient courier route and Maple river interchange here. Two main streets, Maple Bridge street and Hanshan Temple street, extend along the bay with unique charm of water town. Most of the buildings built in the end of Qing Dynasty. The roads twist and turn, combine the attractions as Hanshan Temple, Maple Bridge and iron bell ancient barrier into an organic whole. The bustling town offers various tour services and becomes a popular toursit destination for sightseeing and shopping.