The gate to Suzhou is said to have more than a 2,400 year history. It is said to have been the only gate in China with both a lower water entrance and an upper land entrance. It was built at a time when a canal moat surrounded Suzhou.The Panmen City Gate is listed as the antique protection unit in Suzhou. Being the ancient building in Yuan Dynasty, the Panmen City Gate was listed as the national key protection unit by the State department. As the only gate connecting water and land, the Panmen City Gate is the symbol for ancient Suzhou. There is a famous saying: Great Wall in the north is famous for magnificence while the Panmen City Gate in the south is famous for elegance.

　　The Panmen City Gate lies in southwest of city Suzhou. There are the Panmen City Gate,a 1,000-year-old pagoda named Ruiguang Pagoda, the earliest pagoda in Suzhou; and the Wu Bridge, the entrance to the gate. The gate is located on the south-west corner of the Main Canal Suzhou . Originally built during the Warring States Period in the state of Wu, historians estimate it to be around 2,500 years old. Current ancient city gate was built in Yuan Dyansty. There were few renovation in Ming and Qing dynasty. It is composed of two water passages, three land passages and the outside gate. The canal outside the gate is the oldest section of the Grand Canal that was also built 2,500 years ago.

　　Pan Gate is part of the ancient city wall built in 514 BC. Pan Gate was the only entrance to the wall that surrounded ancient Suzhou. It is also known in China for its architecture. It is so famous for its complex of both land and water city gates. In order to attract more tourists, in recent years, the city of Suzhou has renovated the old wall and built many other attractions around the original gate in the Pan Gate Scenic Area.

　　The Pan Men Gate is a two-storied red house building with a curved roof. It was built in 1986. However, the house-like building sits on a large solid base that has an arched opening. The canal passed underneath. A sluice gate was lowered to close off access. The first floor has an exhibition of ancient weapons.

　　The Rui Guang Pagoda has a long history. It is said that a famous figure in Chinese history named Sun Quan had a tower built there for his mother. Sun Quan was a man who founded a state called Wu after the fall of the Han Empire. It is said that he had a 13-story structure built there in 247 AD. It is also said that in 937, as the temple was being repaired, brilliant colorful light was seen above the tower. The form of the present structure may date to 1125. It is said a wealthy man had a seven-story structure built at the spot. The tower was damaged extensively in the 1800s. In 1978, some scriptures, statues, and jeweled articles were found on the third floor. It is said that some of the objects were extremely valuable.

　　This stone arched bridge was built in the Qing Dynasty period (1644-1911). It is 11 meters (12 yards) high and 66.3 meters (72.5 yards) long. There are 50 steps on both sides.