The Blue Wave Pavilion (Canglangting) is one of Suzhou's most famous and classic gardens. The use of space and combinations of water, rock and plants here, epitomize the art of Suzhou gardening.
The Blue Wave Pavilion is the oldest garden in Suzhou, originally built in the Tang Dynasty. Winding streams, beautiful trees and fragrant lotus blossoms are all framed between white walls and gray walkways make this garden quite unforgettable.
The garden is rather small and if you plan to enjoy Canglangting's quiet and elegant side, make sure you go at a quiet time. Winter is Suzhou's off season, while Spring and Summer are the busiest. Visiting this garden in the morning may also keep crowds to a minimum.
Open: 8am to 5pm daily.
How to get there: The garden is situated on a small road not far from Renmin Lu in the south area of the city (southwest of the Garden of Master of the Nets).
Cost: RMB8.
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The Garden of the Master of the Nets (Wangshiyuan) is the best and most celebrated of all the Suzhou gardens. This combined Qing Dynasty residence and garden is also the smallest of the Suzhou gardens.
The Garden of the Master of the Nets is truly a masterpiece. The effective use of space is the most impressive thing about this garden. Rock arrangements and beautiful fish pools balance each other as do the house and garden sections. The garden also contains many examples of using lattice windows to frame scenes of flowers or bamboo.
In the early 1980s, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York used the Dianchunyi Court section (located in the western part of the inner garden) as a model for a Ming style garden.
This garden is very small and as such, we recommend that you visit during an off-peak time to beat the crowds. Winter is Suzhou's biggest off season and even in Spring or Summer, going in the early morning can help.
Open: Expect the garden to open around 8 am.
How to get there: The garden is off Shiquan Jie west of the Suzhou
Hotel.
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Hanshan Temple (Hanshan Si) is one of Suzhou's greatest landmarks and most active Buddhist temples. This temple is an important part of Suzhou's local community and cultural life.
Built during the Liang Dynasty (502-519), more than 1400 years ago, the temple is named after the famous monk of that dynasty, Hanshan.
The Hanshan Temple with its dark roof tiles and yellow walls can be seen very clearly amongst the surrounding pine and cypress trees. The main buildings and towers of the Temple complex offer a good view of the area.
Chinese tourists love to buy tickets to ring the bell in the Bell Tower as this act of Buddhist devotion is said to bring good luck, but they probably just do it for fun!
Open: 7:30am to 5pm, except in Winter (8:00am to 4:00pm).
How to get there: Take bus line 4 or 5 to a transfer point with line 6 to the temple.
Cost: RMB4.
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The
Humble Administrator's Garden (Zhuozhengyuan) is the largest
garden in Suzhou and the most famous and representative of Suzhou
gardens.
The best sections of the garden are the
western parts where pools and pavilions are the main themes. This is a
wonderful place to stroll as the greenery, flowing water and the
antique pavilions have a relaxing effect.
These areas of the garden are quite
beautiful and are a great place to stroll, people-watch or take
pictures. This Ming Dynasty garden was actually made to enable the
master of the garden to have a place to do some gardening and get away
from the bustle of life as an official!
Unlike the Blue
Wave Pavilion or Lion
Grove Garden, the Humble Administrator's Garden is large and can
be enjoyed with more crowds around. We recommend visiting the Humble
Administrator's Garden after visiting nearby Lion Grove a few minutes
walk to the south.
Open: 7:30am to 5:30pm, except in
Winter (8am-5pm).
How to get there: The park is a few minutes walk south of the
Humble Administrator's Garden. Taking a taxi from the train station or
your hotel may be the best choice as Suzhou is not a very large city.
Cost: Tickets are RMB35.
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Lingyanshan, 15 km southwest in Suzhou's Mudu Township (Muduzhen), is a great place for a bicycle outing from the city. It has a number of historical ruins and sites dating back to the ancient Wu Kingdom. Lingyanshan stands 182 meters in height, towering over the surrounding low hills, and is easily recognizable from a distance.
According to legend, the platform of Lingyanshan's peak was once visited by the famous Chinese beauty, Xi Shi, during the Spring and Autumn Period (770BC-476BC) . There, she played music and danced for royalty of the day.
Lingyan Temple sits majestically on the slopes of Lingyanshan. On Lingyanshan one can also seek out the last resting places of famous people from throughout Chinese history including Han Shizhong, a great general of the Song Dynasty.
Ask at your hotel about bicycle rental.
Open: 7:30am to 5:30pm daily.
Cost: Tickets are RMB1.
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Sightseeing
Index
