Lingering Garden, along with Suzhou's Humble Administrator's Garden, Beijing's Summer Palace, and Chengde's Mountain Resort, is known as one of China's Four Great Gardens. The garden features pavilions, towers, unique rocks, and winding corridors, complemented by lush greenery and a clear pond, creating picturesque scenes at every step. Here, one can experience the serene atmosphere of a classical Chinese garden. Lingering Garden is one of the Four Great Gardens, and in autumn, it is adorned with red maples, yellow leaves, and green cypresses, creating a splendid view.
Xiyuan Temple
Xiyuan Temple has many aliases. When you open Baidu or Google Maps, the marked Jietong Lusi, Xiyuan Ancient Temple, and Xiyuan all refer to Xiyuan Temple, the same place. The temple was originally built during the Yuan Dynasty Zhiyuan period (1264-1294 AD) and was originally named Guiyuan Temple. The existing buildings were rebuilt during the Qing Dynasty. During the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty, it was once converted into a private garden by Xu Taishi, the Minister of the Imperial Stables and the builder of the Lingering Garden. Now, as the only temple garden in Suzhou city, the architectural feature of combining temple and garden should be influenced by the Ming Dynasty. Xiyuan Temple is one of the four major ancient temples in Suzhou, with ginkgo leaves flying in late autumn.
Tianping Mountain
Tianping Mountain is located 15 kilometers west of Suzhou city center. It is the burial place of Fan Zhongyan's ancestors, and the cultural attractions related to the Fan family are mainly concentrated at the foot of the mountain. Tianping Mountain has an elevation of 201 meters. Although the mountain is not high, it is somewhat steep and quite exhilarating to climb. Every year from October to December, during the Red Maple Festival, the vibrant autumn colors attract countless photographers. The 'Three Wonders of Tianping'—strange rocks, red maples, and clear springs—are renowned worldwide.
Lion Grove Garden, along with Humble Administrator's Garden, Lingering Garden, and Canglang Pavilion, is known as one of the 'Four Great Gardens of Suzhou.' Although Lion Grove Garden is small, its rockeries are very famous. These oddly shaped rocks resemble dancing lions, and the interconnected rockeries form a maze-like structure. You can count the stone lions and explore the stone maze to experience the fun of hide-and-seek. In the thick of autumn, the rockeries, pavilions, and towers blend beautifully with the vibrant autumn colors.
The Carved Building, known for its exquisite carvings and ingenious structure, is called the 'First Building in Jiangnan'. Due to its exquisite carvings and magnificent layout of ancient halls and pavilions, over a hundred TV dramas have been filmed here. Visiting the Carved Building in autumn offers a journey through ancient charm and the auspicious sight of red maples.
Soochow University
Soochow University is located in the ancient city of Suzhou, which is known as the 'Paradise on Earth.' It is a key university under the national '211 Project' and one of the first universities recognized under the '2011 Plan.' It is a comprehensive university under the jurisdiction of Jiangsu Province. Its main predecessor was Soochow University, founded in 1900. The university currently has five campuses: Tiancizhuang Campus, East Campus, North Campus, Dushu Lake Campus, and Yangcheng Lake Campus, with Tiancizhuang Campus being the main campus.
