Step beyond Suzhou’s ancient South Gate and you’ll find Nan Men Tan Shang – a living postcard of China’s Jiangnan culture where steamed rice cakes perfume the air and artisans craft silk under sloping tile roofs. CGTN’s Zhu Zhu recently wandered this 800-meter street, where 2026 meets the Ming Dynasty in the most delicious way. 🍜
"It’s like TikTok meets your grandma’s recipe book here," Zhu laughed while sampling shengjian mantou (pan-fried pork buns) at a family-run stall operating since 1998. Nearby, young influencers in hanfu pose with rainbow-colored tanghulu candied fruits, blending tradition with today’s viral trends.
Three must-try 2026 highlights:
🧵 Silk Story: Watch master weavers create Suzhou’s legendary brocades using techniques unchanged for centuries
🎨 DIY Workshops: Paint your own Kunqu opera mask at pop-up cultural hubs
🌙 Night Market Magic: After sunset, the street transforms with lantern-lit food stalls serving osmanthus rice wine and crispy scallion pancakes
With over 60% of visitors this year being under 30, Nan Men Tan Shang proves history doesn’t have to be dusty – it can sizzle, stitch, and sweeten your day. ✨
