A female college student's one-day check-in at Suzhou's Liuyuan Garden in 2003

‼ ️Guide to Suzhou Lingering Garden** **1. Introduction to the Lingering Garden** The Lingering Garden is one of the "Four Famous Gardens of China" along with the Humble Administrator's Garden, the Summer Palace, and the Mountain Resort in Chengde. It is one of the representatives of Suzhou's classical gardens. It was first built during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty and is famous for its exquisite architectural layout and well-arranged rockery and pools. The entire park is divided into four scenic areas: east, central, west and north. It integrates mountains, rivers, pavilions, flowers and trees, and can be regarded as a model of Jiangnan garden art. --- **2. Recommended tour routes** **1. Entrance - Curved Corridor - Hanbi Villa (Main Scenic Area in the Middle Part)** After entering from the main gate, walk along the winding corridor, with lattice windows on both sides providing views and different scenery as you walk. Hanbi Villa is the main building of Liuyuan Garden. It is built by the water, where you can enjoy the reflection in the pool and the rockery. **2. Wufeng Xianguan - Linquan Qishuo's Hall (the best of the east)** In front of Wufeng Xianguan there are five Taihu stone peaks with unique shapes, symbolizing the Five Mountains. The interior of Linquan Qishuo's Hall is elegantly decorated, with exquisite carvings on the doors and windows, which is worth a careful appreciation. **3. Guanyun Peak-Guanyun Tower (Western Highlight)** Guanyun Peak is the treasure of Liuyuan Garden. It is tall and steep, and is a relic of the Song Dynasty's Huashigang. Guanyun Tower is the best place to appreciate the rocks, and one can overlook the entire garden from the top of the tower. **4. Lively place - Yau Yat Tsuen (quiet area in the north)** The northern part is dominated by bamboo forests and paths, with a quiet environment suitable for strolling and relaxing. "Another Village" is like a paradise on earth, with a unique wild charm. --- **3. Highlights not to be missed** ✅ **Guanyun Peak**——One of the three famous rocks in Jiangnan, it is thin, wrinkled, leaky and transparent, and has great ornamental value. ✅ **Hanbi Villa**——A building by the water, it is most beautiful when the lotus flowers are in full bloom in summer. ✅ **Wufeng Xianguan**——The five stone peaks in front of the hall symbolize the Five Mountains and are magnificent. ✅ **Flower Windows and Long Corridors**——The long corridors in Liuyuan Garden are winding and changeable, and the flower windows are cleverly used to borrow scenery, making them great for taking photos. --- **Four. Travel Tips** 📍 **Address**: No. 338 Liuyuan Road, Gusu District, Suzhou City ⏰ **Opening hours**: 7:30-17:30 (extended to 17:45 during peak season) 🎫 **Ticket**: 55 yuan (peak season April-October), 45 yuan (off-season November-March) 🚇 **Transportation**: Take Metro Line 2 to Shilu Station and walk for about 10 minutes; or take Bus No. 1, No. 3, or No. 933 to Liuyuan Station. 📌 **Best time to visit**: Spring and autumn (March-May, September-November), early morning or evening with few people and beautiful scenery. ⚠️ **Note**: Some of the stone roads in the park are slippery, so be careful on rainy days; it is recommended to avoid holidays to avoid crowds. --- **V. Surrounding recommendations** 🔸 **Xiyuan Temple** (10 minutes’ walk): A famous ancient temple in Suzhou, the vegetarian noodles are worth a try. 🔸 **Shantang Street** (5 minutes by car): Tour the ancient street at night and experience the Jiangnan water village style. 🔸 **Tiger Hill** (15 minutes by car): "The first scenic spot in Wuzhong", Su Shi once praised it as "It is a pity not to visit Tiger Hill when visiting Suzhou". Although the Liuyuan Garden is not as grand as the Humble Administrator's Garden, it is more exquisite and elegant, with a new scene at every step, which is worth savoring carefully. If you have enough time, you can visit other gardens in Suzhou and experience the charm of the "City of Gardens".