Panmen Gate, city walls, Ruiguang Pagoda, Beisi Pagoda, boats, lakes… What were these structures and elements unique to Suzhou like one hundred years ago? University of Bristol Library has collected a batch of historical photos taken in Suzhou, which allow us to see the city in the olden days.
Boats near Pan Gate (a water and land gate) and citywalls
Image courtesy of Johnson, George Collections, University of Bristol Library.
The Beamless Hall
Image courtesy of Hutchinson Family Collections, University of Bristol Library.
East Mountain Temple, near Soochow, with two joss paper receptacles.
Image courtesy of Carstairs, Jamie Collections, University of Bristol Library.
North Temple Pagoda
Image courtesy of Hulme, Oliver Collections, University of Bristol Library.
Twin pagodas at Luohanyuan Temple
Image courtesy of Hulme, Oliver Collections, University of Bristol Library.
Ruiguang Pagoda
Image courtesy of Hulme, Oliver Collections, University of Bristol Library.
Water gate through citywalls and waterside buildings
Image courtesy of Hulme, Oliver Collections, University of Bristol Library.
European men on donkeys, by Beisi Pagoda
Image courtesy of Peck, Harold Collections, University of Bristol Library.
Waterside buildings
Images courtesy of Royal Asiatic Society Collections, University of Bristol Library.
Pan Gate (a water and land gate) and citywalls
Image courtesy of Ruxton Family Collections, University of Bristol Library.
Boats and old citywall
Image courtesy of Swire, G. Warren Collections, University of Bristol Library.