Humble Administrator's Garden is a famous garden in Suzhou, the largest classical garden in existence in Suzhou and the top of Chinese gardens. The entire garden is centered around water, with winding rockeries and exquisite courtyard buildings, filled with flowers and plants. This exemplary garden in the Jiangnan region is known as one of the "Four Famous Gardens in China" along with the Summer Palace in Beijing, the Mountain Resort in Chengde, and the Lingering Garden in Suzhou. It is also listed as a World Heritage Site.
Lion Grove, together with Humble Administrator's Garden, Lingering Garden, and Canglang Pavilion, are known as the "Four Great Gardens of Suzhou." As one of the Four Great Gardens, Lion Grove is famous for its rockeries. These peculiar rocks resemble dancing lions, and the connecting rockeries create a maze-like experience, where you can count the stone lions and explore the diamond-headed maze for the fun of hide-and-seek.
The Humble Administrator's Garden in Suzhou, the Summer Palace in Beijing, and the Chengde Mountain Resort are collectively known as the Four Great Gardens of China. These gardens feature pavilions, towers, winding corridors, and beautiful greenery, along with a serene pond. Each step reveals a picturesque view, showcasing the elegance of Chinese gardens.
The Suzhou Museum consists of two parts: the new museum opened in 2006 and the ancient building of the Prince Zhong's Mansion (old museum). The entire museum is like a small garden. In the new museum, you can see artifacts such as pottery, jade, and paintings from ancient times to modern times. In the Prince Zhong's Mansion, you can also see beautiful and elegant "Suzhou-style painted decorations".
Pingjiang Road Historical Block is located south of the Humble Administrator's Garden, with a history of over 2,500 years. It is a well-preserved ancient block. It is only one lane away from the west side of Guanqian Street, but it has a completely different quiet and quaint atmosphere. It is very enjoyable to stroll around here, admire the architecture, and eat some snacks. The entire block is centered around Pingjiang Road, with small lanes such as Xuanqiao Lane, Daru Lane, Weidao Guanqian, Zhong Zhangjia Lane, and Daxinqiao Lane on both sides. The east side also retains several water lanes. The block features both land and water, with rivers and streets adjacent to each other, showcasing the characteristics of a Jiangnan water town.
Tiger Hill
Tiger Hill, although it's just a small hill, has natural landscapes such as cliffs and gullies, as well as numerous cultural attractions formed by construction throughout the dynasties. The buildings and plants in the garden complement each other, showcasing the exquisite style of Jiangnan gardens. You can learn about the stories from the Spring and Autumn Period here, and admire the iconic leaning Yunyan Temple Pagoda. The entire Tiger Hill Scenic Area is like a square, with an area of about 500 meters horizontally and vertically, and the mountain is only about 30 meters high. You can explore the scenic area on foot. The scenic area is mainly divided into three parts: Qianshan, Qianren Stone, and the mountaintop. Each part has many scenic spots and cultural attractions worth visiting. In addition to Yunyan Temple Pagoda, highlights include Jianchi and Qianren Stone.
Golden Chicken Lake
Jinji Lake is located in Suzhou Industrial Park. Compared to the ancient city area with its quaint charm, the high-rise buildings here showcase another side of Suzhou - its modernization. Jinji Lake is slightly larger than West Lake in Hangzhou. Every day, many tourists come here to relax, take a stroll by the lake, go shopping, enjoy delicious food, and newlyweds also like to come here to take wedding photos.
Tianping Mountain
Tianping Mountain is located 15 kilometers west of Suzhou city, and it is the burial site of Fan Zhongyan's ancestors. 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 a bit steep and exciting to climb. During the annual Maple Festival from October to December, the vibrant autumn colors always attract a large number of visitors.
Luzhi Ancient Town is located 25 kilometers southeast of Suzhou city. It is not as crowded as other famous water towns, and is suitable for weekend casual strolls. Visitors can cross several Three-Step, Two-Bridge (Twin Bridges) in "Bridge City", and admire the white-walled and black-tiled buildings along the river, or search for the location where the story "An Extra Five Bushels of Rice" in the Chinese language textbook from middle school took place.
Suzhou University
Suzhou University is located in Suzhou, a ancient city known as "Paradise on Earth". It is a key university under the national "211 Project" and one of the first batch of universities recognized under the "2011 Plan". It is a key comprehensive university belonging to Jiangsu Province, with its main predecessor being Dongwu University, founded in 1900. There are currently 5 campuses, namely Tianci Zhuang Campus, East Campus, North Campus, Dushu Lake Campus, and Yangcheng Lake Campus, with Tianci Zhuang Campus being the main campus.
Guanqian Street is located in the center of Suzhou, not far from Suzhou Railway Station. It is an old commercial street that was formed in the Qing Dynasty. Now it has been transformed into a pedestrian street, about 800 meters long. Together with the roads radiating from it, such as Taijian Lane and Bifeng Square, it is a famous street for local snacks and shopping, similar to Nanjing's Confucius Temple and Shanghai's Chenghuang Temple.
The history of Mudu ancient town is as long as that of Suzhou ancient city. The water town itself is ordinary, but the classical gardens along the main street, Shantang Street, from west to east, such as Yanzu Garden, Hongyin Mountain House, Gushong Garden, and Bangyan Mansion, have brought the characteristic of "garden ancient town". The tourist center (ticket office) is located at the western end of Shantang Street.
Taihu Lake
Taihu, also known as Wuhu and Lize, is located in the southern part of the Yangtze River Delta. It is one of the five largest freshwater lakes in China. The lake has a surface area of 2427.8 square kilometers, with a water area of 2338.1 square kilometers and a shoreline length of 393.2 kilometers. It spans the provinces of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, with Wuxi to the north, Huzhou to the south, Yixing to the west, and Suzhou to the east.
Shantang Street
Shantang Street stretches from the northwest end to Huqiu, and the southeast end is at Changmen. The street runs parallel to the Shantang River, with ancient bridges crossing the river. On both sides of the stone-paved street, there are old houses with white walls and black tiles and numerous shops. At night, the glowing red lanterns are reflected in the river, making it a great spot for photography. You can also take a boat trip, or visit a tea house and listen to traditional storytelling.
Zhouzhuang
Zhouzhuang is a famous water town in the south of the Yangtze River. The town has crisscrossing waterways and ancient buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties. The "Double Bridges" depicted by the painter Chen Yifei portray the gentle beauty of small bridges, flowing water, and humble homes. The beautiful and spacious Nanhu Lake to the south of the town adds to its charm. When night falls, Zhouzhuang is illuminated, creating a unique ambiance.
Jinxi Ancient Town is located on the southern outskirts of Kunshan, next to Dianshan Lake. It is a thousand-year-old water town in the Jiangnan region. The town is not big, but it attracts visitors with its picturesque ancient Lotus Bridge and the mysterious Chen Fei Water Tomb. There are also various folk museums worth visiting, and various snack shops can be found on the old street.
Jiangnan Water Town Tongli is located in Wujiang, Suzhou. It is surrounded by lakes and divided into seven islands by a network of rivers. Most houses in the ancient town are adjacent to water, with narrow alleys and old buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties. There are not too many tourists on weekdays, giving a sense of peace and tranquility. At night, the lights illuminate the eaves, creating a beautiful and stunning scene.
Hanshan Temple is located in the western outskirts of Suzhou and has a history of over 1,400 years. It is famous worldwide for a line in the famous Tang dynasty poet Zhang Ji's poem "Night Mooring by Maple Bridge" which says, "Beyond the city's edge, Hanshan Temple's chill; At night, its bell rings on a far-off boat." Hanshan Temple is a well-known place for worship and blessings, where devotees come daily to ring the bell and pray for peace.
