Three Days in Suzhou: Follow This Guide to Savor Seasonal Delicacies and Explore Refreshing Gardens!

In June, the air of Gusu (Suzhou) carries the sweet fragrance of gardenias, while the moat’s ripples echo the millennia-old charm of Wu culture. My summer journey began at Humble Administrator’s Garden at dawn—sunlight filtering through ancient trees lit up the lotus pond in front of the Distant Fragrance Hall, where over 30 varieties of lotuses bloomed in the mist, their pink petals glistening with dew beneath emerald leaves. A tea master in a qipao performed a Biluochun tea ceremony on the stone boat, and as I sipped this spring’s fresh tea to the melody of a guqin, dragonflies flitted past the plaque inscribed with "Fragrance Travels Far and Cleanses All," transporting me back to the poetic era when Wen Zhengming designed this garden. **Garden Elegance: A Cool Retreat Through Shifting Scenes** The Lotus Festival at **Humble Administrator’s Garden** was just the prelude to Suzhou-style summer escapes. By afternoon, I wandered into **Master of the Nets Garden**, where the evening garden program shimmered with magic. At the Moon Comes with Breeze Pavilion, bamboo curtains half-drawn, the Kunqu opera *The Peony Pavilion* unfolded under the moonlight. As the performers’ flowing sleeves danced to the line "Who knows the beauty of spring without stepping into a garden?", the night breeze carried the scent of white orchids through the corridor. Even more enchanting was the summer exhibition at **Garden of Cultivation**—a Qing-dynasty icebox held seasonal fruits, a bamboo couch displayed Suzhou embroidery fans, and a purple clay pot brewed mint and smoked plum tea. Sitting by the Milkfish Pavilion, watching sunlight dapple through crape myrtle blossoms like scattered gold, I finally understood the ancient saying: "A calm heart brings natural coolness." **Mountain and Lake Serenity: Nature’s Refreshment** The next morning, Metro Line 3 took me to **Stone Lake Scenic Area**, where Fan Chengda once retreated for a decade and Emperor Qianlong visited six times. From Xingchun Bridge, Tianjing Pavilion floated like a white jade boat on emerald waves—said to be the ruins of Fan Chengda’s Southern Song-era villa. A boat ride startled egrets as we glided past reflections of Shangfang Mountain Pagoda. In the afternoon, I ventured into neighboring **Shangfang Mountain National Forest Park**, stumbling into a Monet-esque flower sea. A Dutch windmill cast shadows over lavender fields, while an 800-meter rose archway formed a fragrant tunnel. In the "Misty Forest" zone, fine sprays from cooling misters sent children chasing rainbows. **Jiangnan by Night: A Fusion of Light and History** As dusk painted Pingjiang Road’s flagstones, lanterns lit up Pingtan storytelling houses. By the window at **Fuxi Qin Hall**, I savored chilled mung bean soup while listening to *The Legend of the White Snake* played on a three-stringed lute. The soft Wu dialect melodies mingled with boat songs drifting from the canal outside. Jinji Lake offered a modern contrast. At 8 p.m. on Friday, the music fountain erupted—120-meter water jets swayed to *Jasmine Flower*, while lasers projected peony-patterned latticework onto the lake. On Li Gongdi’s viewing deck, the breeze carried the lake’s freshness. --- **3-Day Itinerary Highlights** **Day 1: Garden Sojourn** - Morning: Humble Administrator’s Garden (lotus viewing, tea ceremony) - Afternoon: Lion Grove Garden’s rockery maze → Suzhou Museum - Evening: Master of the Nets Garden night program (Kunqu + Pingtan) **Day 2: Lakes & Mountains** - Morning: Stone Lake boat ride (Tianjing Pavilion photo op) - Afternoon: Shangfang Mountain flower fields → Misty Forest cooling zone - Sunset: Pingjiang Road Pingtan experience **Day 3: Past Meets Present** - Morning: Suzhou Bay Museum (Wu culture exhibit) - Afternoon: Eslite Bookstore → Jinji Lake Art Museum - Evening: Li Gongdi fountain show + lakeside market --- **Gusu Summer Flavors** **Noodle Artistry:** - **Tongdexing (Jiayufang):** Fengzhen braised pork noodles in clear, sweet broth with melt-in-your-mouth meat - **Wantai Xing (Shiquan Street):** "Three-shrimp noodles" adorned with crimson shrimp roe, golden shrimp eggs, and jade-white shrimp meat over thin dragon whisker noodles - **Weiji Azao Noodles:** Red-broth duck noodles with crispy eel, following ancient "five-heat" techniques **Classic Bites:** - **Yaba Shengjian (Wenjia’an):** Pan-fried buns with crackling bottoms and scalding broth - **Shuangta Market:** Sweet red bean porridge with lard cake, steamed over old-fashioned stoves **Gourmet Feasts:** - **Bamboo Grove (Kimpton Bamboo Grove Hotel):** Crispy "squirrel-shaped" mandarin fish drizzled with secret tomato sauce - **Jade Osmanthus House (Xietang Old Street):** Steamed white fish with shrimp roe and chicken broth—a symphony of umami **Seasonal Sips:** Wanfuxing’s chilled mung bean soup, with glutinous rice, candied dates, and preserved fruits in minty water—a single spoonful banishes the heat. --- By dusk, Seven-Mile Shantang’s red lanterns glowed. Leaning on Tonggui Bridge, I watched painted boats glide through the ancient canal, the breeze carrying Pingtan melodies and lotus scents. In that moment, I understood Fan Chengda’s verse: "My feet know the old path by heart, yet my heart still leaps at familiar faces." Suzhou’s summer is the Zen sway of lotus ponds, the nostalgia in a bowl of chilled mung bean soup, and the timeless pulse of Jiangnan, vibrant as ever across a thousand years.