Suzhou Pingjiang Historic District Urban Renewal

Located in Suzhou’s ancient city of Pingjiang, the “Suzhou Rail Transit Line 6 Xuanqiaoxiang Station” is the city’s first TOD project, covering about 37,000 square meters. It serves as a new cultural landmark, blending a cultural promenade, performance spaces, art hotels, and an art museum. The landscape design draws on Suzhou’s classic alleyway and riverside spaces, abstractly inspired by Suzhou embroidery, garden art, and Xuanqiaoxiang’s history. Integrating tea culture, interactive boat activities, and naturalistic planting, it recreates the “exquisite relaxation” of Suzhou’s literati lifestyle.

The site is located about 15 minutes’ walk from the Humble Administrator’s Garden and 5 minutes from Guanqian Street. Originally the location of the district government office, it has taken advantage of the new Metro Line 6 to facilitate urban renewal. The landscape design fully interprets local culture within the limited space, inheriting the street scale and rhythm of Pingjiang Ancient City, refining the spatial sequence of Suzhou gardens, flower street paving, Suzhou embroidery art, and the historical evolution of Hanging Bridge Lane. These elements are subtly integrated into the landscape plan, revitalizing the site, restoring the relationship between people and water, and creating a unique, delicate, artistic, ecological, and relaxed commercial atmosphere.

The design draws on Suzhou embroidery’s “Crane and Deer Welcoming Spring” for vitality and Xuanqiao Alley’s history for a unique project logo and landmark. The “Wanzi Pattern” from Suzhou gardens is adapted into key paving, while granite textures simulate the artistry of Su embroidery.



Inspired by Suzhou gardens’ “winding paths,” the layout creates intimate commercial spaces. Engraved poems from Suzhou literati enrich key rest areas, and eight major nodes use traditional plaque styles. Layered embankments enhance water access, and rowing boats boost the waterfront experience. Together, these elements celebrate Suzhou’s history, art, and literature, evoking the city’s relaxed yet refined lifestyle.