If Suzhou were a book, then Panmen would be its cover, from which we can open the 2,500-year history of Suzhou. From the Panmen left over from Helu City, to the Pujichan Temple and the Baoyen Tower (the predecessor of Ruiguang Tower) built by Sun Quan during the Three Kingdoms period, it has gone through various dynasties up to modern times, leaving behind many literary landscapes.

This area was once the southwestern transportation hub of Suzhou and a bustling commercial district. Walking from Wumen Bridge to Panmen, we seem to see the lively scene described by Fan Chengda: "People's voices mockingly chatter as the evening breeze cools, thousands of windows light up along the river." The tower now shines with Ruiguang, the Dharma drum sounds, the white turtle listens to Zen, and the bamboo grows in harmony, bringing us to the once prosperous Ruiguang Temple, where the sound of Buddhism was as vast as the tide, and people were as numerous as ants, with incense like mist. The Panmen area has experienced several rises and falls, with many famous scenic spots being repeatedly built and destroyed. Especially in modern times, as China declined under the invasion of imperialist powers, the area around Panmen became sparsely populated and desolate, with many historical sites damaged, referred to as "Cold Water Panmen."

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the government placed great importance on the protection of cultural relics and historical sites. The famous "Three Sceneries of Panmen"—Ruiguang Tower, Panmen Water and Land City Gate, and Wumen Bridge—were respectively listed as national, provincial, and municipal cultural relic protection units.

In 1983, the Suzhou Municipal People's Government established a special agency to reorganize the ancient city wall, repair Ruiguang Tower, and rebuild the Wu Xiang Shrine.

In 1997, the renovation and transformation project of the Panmen Scenic Area was included in Suzhou's major tourism development strategic plan and was listed as a key project by the municipal government.

In 1998, the municipal government approved the planning adjustment scheme for the Panmen Scenic Area, which was implemented by Suzhou International Economic Development Holding Group Co., Ltd.

On October 1, 1999, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the National Day, the scenic area was completed and opened to the public.

During the construction of the Panmen Scenic Area, based on the ruins of the former Ruiguang Temple, the terrain and water system were cleverly utilized to dig lakes and pile earth into mountains, reconstructing attractions such as Baigui Pond, Si Rui Hall, Li Jing Tower, Shuangting Corridor Bridge, and Tao Yin Cui Ye Pavilion. These attractions interconnect with the famous "Three Sceneries of Panmen" and Wu Xiang Shrine, forming a tourist area that integrates ancient Buddhist architecture, ancient urban construction, and classical garden architecture, creating a complete tourist area rich in the characteristics of the Jiangnan water town.