Panmen

Panmen is a historic gate and part of the Panmen Scenic Area in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China. It is one of the best-preserved water-town gate complexes in the region and illustrates the integration of land defense works with an extensive canal system that has underpinned Suzhou's commercial and everyday life for centuries. The site comprises a land gate that controls access to the historic city and accompanying water gates that regulate the flow and level of local channels. Together, the structures demonstrate traditional approaches to urban defense, flood control, and navigation in a city shaped by its waterways.

The Panmen area has undergone multiple phases of construction and restoration, with layers from different historical periods reflected in the existing architecture. As a cultural and historical site, Panmen attracts visitors for its architectural features, its role in the canal-based economy of Suzhou, and its contribution to understanding the development of southern Chinese water towns.

In the modern era, Panmen is managed as part of Suzhou's protected heritage and is often included in tours of the city's historic core. The site continues to function in the public imagination as a symbol of Suzhou's historic synergy between water, land, and urban life.