Suzhou
Elegant Gardens and Legends
Suzhou, a famous cultural city with thousands of years of history, is a symbol of abundance and development. Suzhou is famous for its Chinese gardens, ancient water towns, thousand-year-old cultural heritage, and the pride embedded in the hearts of the people of Suzhou.
Suzhou’s Gardens, the Best in the World
People always say that “the gardens of Jiangnan (Southeastern China) are the best in the world, and the gardens of Suzhou are the best in Jiangnan”, which is true. The gardens in Suzhou are different from the royal gardens, which are mostly private gardens built by the rich and powerful in Southeastern China, and were more concerned with the skills and atmosphere. In Suzhou, there are many outstanding Suzhou gardens such as the Humble Administrator’s Garden, the Lingering Garden, the Master-of-nets Garden and the Lion Forest Garden, which are now on the World Heritage List.
The Humble Administrator's Garden
Mother of All Gardens
The Humble Administrator's Garden, as the most iconic one of Suzhou gardens, is a classical private garden marvel in China. The garden is divided into three parts: East, West and Central.
The Lingering Garden
The Cloud-Crowned Peak
The Lingering Garden was built during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty. The promenades in the garden are interwoven, connecting the halls into one. The central area is centered on the pond, and the Cloud-Capped Peak Rock in the east garden is one of the Four Famous Rocks in South China.
The Master-of-nets Garden
Smaller is Bigger
The Master of the Nets Garden in Suzhou is among the finest gardens in China. It is divided into three sections: the Residential Quarters, the Garden, and the Inner Garden. The Hall of Ten Thousand Scrolls in the eastern part of the garden is the main hall, the Garden is centered with the Rosy Cloud Pond, and the well-known small courtyard Late Spring Study is definitely a highlight of the garden.
Old City and Street
The history of Suzhou dates back to the late Spring and Autumn period, more than 2,500 years ago, when King Helu of Wu ordered Wu Zixu to build the city of Suzhou, resulting in a double chessboard pattern of water and road networks. The city’s history and culture can be seen in the Shantang Street and Pingjiang Road in Suzhou, where you can experience the beauty of the city. If you have time, you can also visit the Panmen, Xumen and Xiangmen ancient city walls to explore the city’s past.
Jinji Lake
Jinji Lake in the eastern part of Suzhou is larger than West Lake in Hangzhou. It is now the cultural, entertainment and leisure center of the Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP), with fashionable business districts such as the Li Gong Causeway, the Gate of the Orient, the Suzhou Culture and Arts Center and the Harmony Times Square (Yuanrong Times Square).
Ancient Water Towns
The city of Suzhou has a network of lakes and waterways, such as Lake Tai and Yangcheng Lake, which, together with the folk customs of Southeastern China, has created several charming water towns, the most famous are Tongli, Mudu and Luzhi.
Tongli
Ancient Water Town Villas and Gardens
Tongli is located on the shore of Taihu Lake and is famous for its "one garden, two halls and three bridges". One garden is the Retreat and Reflection Garden, an iconic garden in southern China. Two halls refer to the Jiayin Hall and Chongben Hall. Three bridges are the Changqing, Jili and Taiping, which are not far from each other, mostly built before the Qing Dynasty.
Mudu
Gardens and More
Mudu is an ancient water town on the east side of Lingyan Mountain, ten kilometers away from downtown Suzhou. During the Spring and Autumn period, the King Fuchai of Wu built a palace in the Lingyan mountain for Lady Xishi. Mudu, meaning "Wood Waterway", got the name because raw woods for the palace blocked the waterway.
Luzhi
Water Town Blessed by Sacred Luduan
Luzhi, formerly known as Fuli, is located 25 kilometers east of Suzhou City. The ancient town of Luzhi has more than 40 ancient bridges, and is known as "The #1 Watertown of China".
