Introduction to Panmen! Why has Suzhou's Panmen preserved its complete side-by-side land and water gates?

Panmen Scenic Area introduction: Built during the Spring and Autumn period, Suzhou's Panmen has a history of over 2,500 years. It was one of the "Eight Gates of Wu" in the ancient city of Suzhou and is the only fully preserved side-by-side land and water gate complex in China, earning it the reputation that "in the north you admire the majesty of the Great Wall, in the south you admire the elegance of Panmen." Panmen land and water gates: This is an extremely rare form of ancient defensive architecture, consisting of a land gate and a water gate built side by side. The land gate features two gateways, with a square barbican enclosed between them. In the past, if defending soldiers lured enemies into the barbican, they would immediately drop both gates at once, trapping the enemy within the surrounding walls like turtles in a jar. The water gate is built right next to the land gate. It also has two stone arches fitted with a heavy lifting portcullis in between. In peacetime, cargo boats passed through here to enter and leave the city; in wartime, the sluice gate was closed to prevent surprise attacks from the water and to control the water level inside the city. Panmen Scenic Area travel guide: The overall layout and architectural structure of Panmen largely retain their appearance from the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties, comprising the Panmen Gate Tower, Wuxiang Temple, and the Three Scenes of Panmen. We recommend exploring from the outside in, starting with the history before enjoying the scenery.