Top 5 Gardens in Suzhou

Suzhou has a reputation for its classical gardens, which are typical traditional Chinese gardens. Most of them are private gardens that were built from the Spring and Autumn Period to the Qing Dynasty. These gardens reached a climax in the mid-Ming to early Qing dynasties (16th–18th centuries). Nowadays, more than 50 well-preserved gardens exist in Suzhou, nine of which have been incorporated into the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1997.

The Humble Administrator‘s Garden and Lingering Garden are the most famous gardens in Suzhou and should not be missed. As Suzhou's gardens are similar, it's recommended to visit one or two gardens, which will be enough.

Here, we have detailed the top 5 gardens.

1. The Humble Administrator's Garden

• Address: 178 Northeast Street, Gusu District
• Tickets: 90 CNY (April to May, July to October) / 70 CNY (January to March, June, November to December)
• Open: 7:30 am to 5:30 pm (March 1 to November 15) / 7:30 am to 5 pm (November 16 to February 29)
• Features: the largest garden, connected ponds and islands, numerous pavilions and bridges
• The time needed: 2-3 hours

The Humble Administrator‘s Garden is located in the Gusu District. With an area of 5.2 hectares, it is the largest garden and is recognized as one of the four most famous gardens in China. A pond is in the center of the garden, and it features pavilions, bridges, corridors, and islands around it.

The garden was built in 1509 during the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) and is a representative garden of the Ming Dynasty. The garden is divided into three parts consisting of the Eastern Garden, the Central Garden, and the Western Garden. The Central Garden is the essence of the Humble Administrator‘s Garden. In addition, the Suzhou Garden Museum is located in the south of the garden, showing the different styles of gardening.

2. Lingering Garden

• Address: 338 Liuyuan Road, Gusu District
• Tickets: CNY55 (April to May, July to October) / CNY45 (January to March, June, November to December)
• Open: 7:30 am to 5:00 pm
• Features: exquisite layout, numerous special stones
• The time needed: 2 hours

Lingering Garden is an exquisite and beautiful Jiangnan-style garden and is famous for its amazing stones. It is a masterpiece garden from the Qing Dynasty. Together with the Summer Palace in Beijing, Chengde Mountain Resort, and the Humble Administrator‘s Garden in Suzhou, the garden is one of the top four gardens in China. It is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites and a national 5A tourist site. Compared with the Humble Administrator's Garden, it is less crowded. The garden is divided into four sections: East, Central, West, and North. It features buildings in the East section, a landscape garden in the center section, which is the oldest part of the garden, an artificial hill in the West section, and an idyllic landscape in the North section.

3. Lion Grove Garden

• Address: 23 Yuanlin Road, Gusu District
• Tickets: CNY40 (April to May, July to October) / CNY30 (January to March, June, November to December). Note: ticket sales stop half an hour before the closing time.
• Open: 7:30 am to 5:30 pm (March 1 to October 15) / 7:30 am to 5:00 pm (October 16 to February 29)
• Features: vivid lion-shaped rockeries, Buddhist culture
• The time needed: 1-2 hours

As one of the top four gardens in Suzhou, Lion Grove Garden has a history of more than 650 years and was created during the Yuan Dynasty. In the northeast corner, there are amazing large-scale rockeries with different shapes- lots of them are vivid lion-shaped rockeries. Lion Grove Garden was influenced by Buddhist culture. It was built in 1342 during the Yuan Dynasty by Monk Tianru in memory of his master, Abbot Zhongfeng.

4. The Master of Nets Garden

• Address: 11 Kuojiatou Lane, Daichengqiao Road, Gusu District
• Tickets: CNY40(April tp May, July to October) / CNY30(January to March, June, November to December) / CNY100 (night tour, April to October)
• Open: 7:30 am to 5:30 pm (April 16 to October 30) / 7:30 am to 5:00 pm (October 31 to April 15) / 7:30 pm to 10:00 pm (night tour from April to October, the tickets are on sale from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm)
• Features: the smallest one, a night garden with Kunqu Opera performances
• The time needed: 1-2 hours

The Master of Nets Garden was constructed in the Song Dynasty and originally called Yu Yin. Its name was changed to the Master of the Nets Garden during the Qing Dynasty. It is a typical Jiangnan private garden, and it's the smallest garden in Suzhou. Most of its owners have been scholars, so you can see a lot of poetry and inscriptions in the garden. The Master of the Nets Garden is the only garden that opens to the public at night from April to October. If you have missed a Suzhou garden or want to experience a special night garden, the Master of the Nets Garden is the best choice. It's also possible to see a Kunqu Opera performance at night. The garden consists of a residence, the central main garden, and an inner garden.

5. The Canglang Pavilion

• Address: 3 Canglangting Street, Gusu District
• Tickets: CNY20 (April 16 to October 30) / CNY15 (October 31 to April 15)
• Open: 7:30 am to 5:30 pm
• Features: the oldest one, a combination of architecture and nature
• The time needed: 1 to 2 hours

The Canglang Pavilion is the oldest garden in Suzhou, having been built in the Northern Song Dynasty (960–1127), and is a classic example of gardens from the Song Dynasty.

Near Sanyuanfang in the south of Suzhou, the garden is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Water runs through the garden, making it even more special. Visiting the Great Wave Pavilion on a slightly rainy day is a great way to enjoy this traditional Chinese garden.

Plan your Suzhou Trip with China Travel

If you are planning a Suzhou trip, we are glad to help you. Our expert travel advisor can tailor a tour for you, and our experienced tour guides will tell you about the history and stories of these charming gardens.

Here are our popular Suzhou tour packages: 

• 1-Day Suzhou and Tongli Water Town Tour from Shanghai
• 1-Day Suzhou Classic Tour
• Half-Day Suzhou Cycling Tour

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