Pingjiang Road runs north-south along the eastern edge of the old town, following a canal of the same name that has existed since the Tang dynasty. The street is stone-paved, quiet by comparison with Shantang's tourist scene, and lined with teahouses, bookshops, hostels, and small restaurants. The canal alongside is narrow and crossed by small stone bridges at regular intervals. This is the most genuinely atmospheric part of old Suzhou and the best place to base yourself if you want to walk out from a central point.
The surrounding neighbourhood retains the traditional white-wall black-tile architecture of old Suzhou more completely than almost anywhere else in the city. Side lanes and alleys open off the main canal street, and some of the houses have small courtyard gardens visible through open gates. The street is liveliest in the evenings when local restaurants fill up and the canal is lit with coloured lights. A short walk north brings you to the Suzhou Museum and the Humble Administrator's Garden.