Gate to the East


The Gate to the East, also known as the Gate of the Orient, is the second tallest building in Suzhou, Jiangsu, China behind Suzhou IFS. It is intended to be a symbol of a gateway to the city which emphasizes the city's continuing significance in modern China. With a height of, the building is located in the heart of Suzhou's China–Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park district. Construction began in 2004 and was completed in 2016 at a cost of $700 million USD. Its location precisely indicates the intersection of the historical east-west-axis of Suzhou Old Town with the west bank of Jinji Lake.

Criticism

Though its design was intended to evoke a gateway, the Gate to the East has been subjected to mockery by many Chinese netizens and western mass media as well, as "resembling a pair of trousers". The Daily Mail questioned: "Architectural triumphs or just plain pants?", also stating: "China's latest superstructures resemble a giant pair of long johns..." The landmark has thus led to a slew of internet parodies.

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