[2025 Suzhou Attraction] Travel Guide for Hongyin Shanfang Resort (Updated Apr)

#favouriteitinerary Hongyin Shanfang, a garden retreat, served as the palace for Emperor Qianlong during his six Southern Tours. This exquisite garden features a grand opera stage and displays of the imperial edicts issued by Emperor Qianlong. The garden's historical significance and architectural beauty make it a prominent landmark in Mudu Ancient Town. Personal Opinion: In my opinion, Hongyin Shanfang is a fascinating destination for those interested in imperial history and traditional Chinese garden design. Its connection to Emperor Qianlong and the presence of the opera stage and imperial edicts add to its cultural and historical allure, making it a must-visit for anyone exploring the area.

Mudu is a famous ancient town in the south of the Yangtze River. It is a water town of the same age as Suzhou City, with a history of more than 2,500 years. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Mudu was the most prosperous commercial port in the west of Suzhou City. During the Qing Dynasty, Emperor Qianlong made six southern tours to the south of the Yangtze River, and he had to pass through Mudu Ancient Town every time. There is also Shantang Street with the same name as Gusu City, but it is less crowded and quiet, and it feels very pleasant to stroll around. Take a walk along Shantang Street. If you are tired, you can go to a teahouse to have a cup of tea, or sit and enjoy the breeze at the imperial pier inscribed by Emperor Qianlong, or take a rowing boat to see the scenery of the south of the Yangtze River on both sides of the river. Compared with other ancient towns, this place may not be as outstanding, but it is more lively and quiet. Enter through the small door next to the main entrance of Shen Shou's former residence, and walk along the long alley into the depths. Suddenly, the view opens up and a Suzhou garden-like courtyard comes into view, with pavilions, curved bridges, Taihu stones, century-old pomegranate trees, and a lotus pond. Every window and every view fully demonstrates Suzhou elegance. [○]Address: Mudu Shantang Street, Mudu Town, Wuzhong District, Suzhou City [Star] Check-in attractions: The ticket to Yan Family Garden (about 300 meters away from the hotel) is 40 yuan. The garden has beautiful scenery and exquisite layout. The ticket to Hongyin Mountain House (next to the inn, just outside the door) is 20 yuan. The building is magnificent and has unique charm. The ticket price for Bangyan Mansion (400 meters away from the hotel) is 10 yuan. It is the former residence of Feng Guifen, a disciple of Lin Zexu and a modern political commentator.

Did you know? This was a favorite of Emperor Qianlong, who visited six times! Today, we'll give you a detailed guide to this place. Let's start with Hongyin Shanfang. Located on Shantang Street in Mudu Ancient Town, Wuzhong District, Suzhou, it was the private garden of Xu Shiyuan, a scholar in the early Qing Dynasty. Back then, Emperor Qianlong would visit Hongyin Shanfang every time he traveled south to Mudu. Here, he would enjoy the garden, watch plays, listen to music, drink tea, and write poetry. For this reason, Hongyin Shanfang is known as the "folk palace" of Emperor Qianlong. Getting there: It's very convenient to get here. Take Metro Line 5 to Lingyanshan Station, exit from Exit 1, and you'll see Mudu Ancient Town. Opening hours: The park opens at 8:00 am and closes at 5:00 pm. Please plan your visit accordingly. Ticket information: The ancient town itself is free to enter, but some attractions require separate tickets. Yanjia Garden, Hongyin Shanfang, Gusong Garden, and Bangyan Mansion are paid attractions, while Mingyue Temple is free. If you want to visit all the attractions, we recommend buying tickets in advance. There are joint tickets available. A regular joint ticket is ¥78, but if you book one day in advance, it's only ¥68. Yanjia Garden and Hongyin Shanfang are ¥40 each, while Gusong Garden is ¥20. Recommended order of attractions: We recommend visiting Yanjia Garden first to experience its unique garden charm. Then, head to Mingyue Temple for some peace and tranquility. Next, visit Hongyin Shanfang to experience the leisure of Emperor Qianlong. Finally, visit Gusong Garden to enjoy its unique scenery. Food recommendations: Mudu Ancient Town has a lot of delicious food! You must try the black rice, which is sweet and glutinous with a great texture. The qingke bread is also very special, fragrant, and delicious. The Zangshu mutton is rich in flavor and perfect for warming you up on a cold day. The pine nut and jujube cake is also a must-try, full of traditional flavors. Oh, and there's a wonton shop in the ancient town with amazing wontons. There are also many other delicious foods nearby, so you're sure to have a great meal. Accommodation suggestions: If you want to experience the ancient town's charm, we recommend staying in one of the town's unique inns. Prices range from ¥200 to ¥500, and each has its own unique environment. Staying here feels like traveling back in time. In short, Mudu Ancient Town has a rich history and culture, as well as many delicious foods and fun activities. It's definitely worth a visit. Start your Mudu Ancient Town journey today!

83rd Garden in Suzhou: Hongyin Shanfang This was the private garden of Xu Shiyuan, a scholar from Mudu in the early Qing Dynasty. Emperor Qianlong visited the garden six times during his southern tours, and the locals called it Qianlong's folk palace. The architecture of Hongyin Shanfang is grand and magnificent, and there are many popular legends about it. The garden houses 20 authentic imperial edicts from the Qing Dynasty, as well as examination papers and cheating notes from the provincial, metropolitan, and palace examinations.

Speaking of the attractions in Mudu Ancient Town, apart from the Yan Family Garden, Hongyin Mountain Villa has won my heart❤! Facing the Xiangxi River and backed by Lingyan Mountain, the architecture is all exquisitely carved and painted, truly worthy of being the private palace where Emperor Qianlong visited six times. One can tour the gardens, watch plays, taste tea, and recite poetry here. The plaque at the entrance with the four characters for Hongyin Mountain Villa was inscribed by Liu Luoguo. The garden's owner, Xu Shiyuan, was a heavy drinker, hence the name Hongyin (Rainbow Drink) Mountain Villa. The garden is divided into east, middle, and west sections. 👉The middle is where the opera was watched, where Emperor Qianlong listened to Kunqu opera. 👉The west courtyard is the only Imperial Edict Museum in China. There are more than a dozen imperial edicts here, made of silk. 👉Next to it, a small house displays the emperor's imperial banquet. 👉Further on is the Liu Yong Art Gallery, with some introductions and court attire. 👉Further back is an Imperial Examination Museum, introducing the imperial examination system, and displaying an examinee's 'bi' artifact. 👉The east and west corridors also have many plaques. 👉The eastern garden has rockery landscapes, with pavilions and towers built on the rocks. 📍Tour route: To tour Hongyin Mountain Villa, enter from the hall by the Xiangxi River Pass through the hall👉Wucai Hall ancient opera stage, Chunhui Building Fold back to the western garden Yeren Boat, Zhuxiao Pavilion, Jiaolü Pavilion, Jiangnan Imperial Banquet Hall, Liu Yong Posthouse, Imperial Examination System Museum Finally fold back to the eastern garden and return to the hall by the original route Walking along the route, one can see a variety of beautiful scenes. It's very suitable for a summer retreat and play🉑 There are many tour groups here, follow the guide and listen to the explanations. 🌲By the way, when you come here, you should have a good meal, the surrounding Twenty-Eight Li Taihu Boat Cuisine (Jixiang Road Store) offers local delicacies of Taihu boat cuisine that should not be missed. 📍66 Shantang Street, Mudu Town, Wuzhong District, Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province 🚤Right outside the gate is the Imperial Dock, where you can take a boat tour of Shantang Street.

'Mudu Ancient Town'. When the car arrived at the foot of Qionglu Mountain, it was already dinner time. So we went to Mudu Ancient Town not far from Qionglu Mountain. The road was a bit congested. When we arrived at the ancient town, there were not many people. We wanted to see the four attractions of the package ticket. Only 'Hongyin Mountain House' was still open, and the rest were closed. Many shops had closed early. We didn't find a satisfactory restaurant in the ancient town, so we hurriedly walked around and went to a nearby mall to find food. After all, people take food as their heaven, we can't starve while visiting the attractions Leave regrets for the next time: Take a walk in the 'People's Palace' where Qianlong must go every time he goes to Jiangnan, 'Hongyin Mountain House'; Take a look at 'Yan's Garden', which is called 'The Classic of Jiangnan Garden' by modern famous architect Professor Liu Dunzhen; Turn around the 'Ancient Pine Garden' built by Cai Shaoyu, a wealthy man in Mudu in the late Qing Dynasty, and a Luohan pine from the Ming Dynasty; And the 'Number One Scholar's Mansion' built by Feng Guifen, a disciple of Lin Zexu, after he retired to Mudu in his later years. Highlights and features| Mudu Ancient Town, also known as Duchuan, Xujiang, and Xiangxi, is located in the southeast of Jiangsu Province. It is a famous scenic spot in Jiangnan and is known as 'The First Town in Wuzhong' and 'The Best in Jiangnan'. Mudu Ancient Town is a Han ethnic water town of the same age as Suzhou City. Mudu Ancient Town is a hometown of traditional Han handicrafts, with a history of more than 2,500 years. In August 2008, it was rated as a national AAAA-level tourist attraction and is also one of the thirteen scenic spots in Taihu Lake Scenic Area. |Practical Information| |Attraction Name|Mudu Ancient Town |Detailed Address|188 Shantang Street, Mudu Town, Wuzhong District, Suzhou City Business Hours|The ancient town is open all day and all year round, and the internal attractions are open from 8:00-17:00 in spring, summer, and autumn, and from 8:00-16:30 in winter. According to the news in July 2021 on the Internet, Mudu Ancient Town attractions have launched a year-round night opening, but most of them were closed when we went. The ticket price for the ancient town is free. The combined ticket for the small attractions inside (including Yan's Garden, Hongyin Mountain House, Ancient Pine Garden, and Number One Scholar's Mansion) is 78 yuan/person for adults, half price for people aged 60-69 with valid documents, and free for children under 1.2 meters and people over 70 with valid documents. Transportation Strategy Self-driving navigation to the ancient town parking lot Buses are not very convenient, it is recommended to drive by yourself, take the subway line 1 to 'Mudu' station, exit from exit 1, transfer to bus 38/661/622/666 to 'Cuifang Bridge' station, and arrive 200 meters away!