Classical Gardens of Suzhou - UNESCO listed gardens in Suzhou, China
Last Update: 14th October 2020
The Classical Gardens of Suzhou date back to the garden of King Wu in the 6th Century BC in the Spring and Autumn Period (770 BC - 221 BC). Private gardens originated in the 4th Century in Suzhou. In the Ming (1368 - 1644) and Qing (1644 - 1912) Dynasties, Suzhou was the most prosperous region across China. Between the 16th and 18th Centuries, there were more than 200 gardens in Suzhou. Nowadays, the city has more than 60 classical gardens well preserved.
Classical Gardens of Suzhou Fast Facts
|
|
Interested in visiting the Classical Gardens of Suzhou on a Tour?
Wendy Wei Tours offers a variety of different packaged tours as well as custom tours including the Classical Gardens of Suzhou, among other attractions and destinations. To find out more, please visit our Tours page or Contact Us directly to find out more.
What to expect at the Classical Gardens of SuzhouClassical Gardens of Suzhou are the No. 1 landmark of the city. Most of the existing gardens in Suzhou were built in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. They represent the style of the gardens in the south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River.
For now, you can visit the followings: the Garden of Surging Waves Pavilion, Humble Administrator’s Garden, Lingering Garden, Lion Grove Garden, Masters of the Nets Garden, Couple’s Retreat Garden, the Mountain Villa of Secluded Beauty, and Garden of Cultivation. Originally built in the Northern Song Dynasty (960 - 1127), the Garden of Surging Waves Pavilion is the oldest existing in Suzhou. More than 20 species of bamboo grow in the garden. More than 500 flat carvings of characters related to history of Suzhou in the Five-Hundred Persons Memorial Hall are one of the highlights there. Humble Administrator’s Garden, Lingering Garden is the largest as well as the most popular in Suzhou. Therefore, it is the most crowded. The general layout is the one in the Ming Dynasty while most of the buildings in the garden were rebuilt in the Qing Dynasty. Originally built in the Ming Dynasty, Lingering Garden is as well-known as Humble Administrator’s Garden. You can appreciate the landscape views, rural views, hills and woods and courtyards views in one garden. If you want a quiet environment when exploring the garden, it is recommended that you pay visits to Masters of the Nets Garden, Couple’s Retreat, Garden the Mountain Villa of Secluded Beauty, or Garden of Cultivation. The gardens advised are not so popular as those mentioned above. Therefore, it is possible that you may get better experience. |
|
Best time to visit the Classical Gardens of Suzhou
It is recommended that you visit the gardens in the early morning.
The best months to visit are from April to October.
The best months to visit are from April to October.
How to get to the Classical Gardens of Suzhou
Some of the gardens are located in a car-restricted area while others aren’t. Therefore, you can rent a vehicle or take a bus directly to the gardens you’re interested or to the entrance to the car-restricted area.
Additional Classical Gardens of Suzhou Travel Advice
- Opening hours: 07:30 - 17:00
- The pricing of the entrance tickets for the different gardens differs from one another. Please kindly view the related pages on the specific gardens.
- Please book the entrance ticket via Suzhou Tourism Official Account (苏州旅游总入口)on WeChat.
- Please present your passports to the staff at the entrance.
Interested in visiting the Classical Gardens of Suzhou on a Tour?
Wendy Wei Tours offers a variety of different packaged tours as well as custom tours including Classical Gardens of Suzhou among other attractions and destinations. To find out more, please visit our Tours page or Contact Us directly to find out more.