Su Dongpo Memorial Hall苏东坡纪念馆
Free museum at the south end of Su Causeway honoring Song-dynasty poet-governor Su Dongpo, who dredged West Lake and built the 2.8-km causeway.
Hangzhou · Visitor Guide2026-10-18
Quick Answer
Is Su Dongpo Memorial Hall worth visiting?
Memorial hall to poet Su Dongpo in Hangzhou, built in 2003 with about 2500 sqm of exhibits; free entry 09:00-16:30, closed Mondays, at the south end of the 2.8-km Su Causeway.
Quick facts
| Ticket | Free admission |
|---|---|
| Hours | 09:00-16:30 (last entry 16:00), closed Mondays |
| Recommended duration | 40 minutes to 1.5 hours |
| Best time to visit | Any season; best in spring, combined with Su Causeway and West Lake |
| How to get there | Bus K4 or K504 to Sudi stop; about 15 minutes on foot from Longxiangqiao station on Metro Line 1 |
| English signage | Yes |
| Wheelchair accessible | Yes |
| Built | 2003 |
| Floor area | About 2,500 sqm |
| Type | Memorial museum for a historical figure |
| Location | South shore of West Lake, south end of Su Causeway |
| Honoree | Su Shi (Su Dongpo) |
What to expect
Built against the hillside, the museum spreads its roughly 2,500 sqm across a main hall, a stele corridor and a courtyard. Photographs, replicas and multimedia displays trace Su Dongpo's literary achievements, his political career and his bond with Hangzhou. The collection includes copies of his calligraphy, reproductions of Song-dynasty artifacts, and rubbings of poems later writers dedicated to him; the most prized piece is his West Lake poem stele.
Su Shi first came to Hangzhou in 1071 as a vice-magistrate and returned in 1089 as governor. His lasting gift to the city was dredging West Lake and shaping the dug-out silt into Su Causeway: 2.8 km across the lake, crossed by six stone bridges, lined with peach and willow trees, and now the lake's classic walk. His poem "Drinking on the Lake, First Clear Then Rainy" — "the water shimmers in sun, the hills blur in rain; West Lake is Xizi, lovely in light or heavy make-up" — remains the lake's unofficial anthem.
The museum sits at the start of Su Causeway, next to the Huagang Guanyu (Viewing Fish at Flower Pond) scenic spot. A good plan: tour the museum first for context, then walk the causeway north toward Broken Bridge — about 2.8 km and 1 to 1.5 hours of lake scenery. Around the entrance you will find sculptures of Su Dongpo and a corridor of inscribed poem steles worth a slow look.
How to get there
Take bus K4 or K504 to Sudi stop — the museum entrance is right where you get off. From Longxiangqiao station on Metro Line 1 it is about a 15-minute walk south along Hubin Road to the south end of the causeway. From Hangzhou East railway station allow about 30 minutes on Metro Line 1.
Best photo spots
- The full-length Su Dongpo statue at the museum entrance
- Su Causeway in spring (Spring Dawn at Su Causeway)
- The stele corridor inside the museum
- The Su Dongpo art sculpture in the courtyard
- Yingbo Bridge, one of the six causeway bridges
Tips
- Entry is free and the museum closes on Mondays — plan around it
- Pair it with Su Causeway and West Lake: museum first for background, then stroll the causeway
- There are no big restaurants nearby; bring a snack or eat near Huagang Guanyu
- Cycling is banned on Su Causeway — walk or take the scenic shuttle cart
Scams to avoid
- No notable scams here, though vendors along Su Causeway sell low-quality souvenirs
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to book for Su Dongpo Memorial Hall?
No — register with your ID card at the door. Closed Mondays; hours can shift on public holidays.
What is the connection between the museum and Su Causeway?
The museum stands at the causeway's south end and is the best place to learn its story: the causeway is the embankment Su Shi built as governor, so the two are inseparable.
How long does a visit take?
About 40 minutes to an hour; allow 1.5 hours if you linger over the poetry and Song history.
How long is Su Causeway? Can I cycle it?
About 2.8 km. Bikes and e-bikes are banned — walk or take the scenic cart (15 yuan per ride).
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