The Humble Administrator's Garden: Exquisite Layout and Beautiful Scenery

👍Recommendation The Humble Administrator's Garden is the largest and most famous garden in Suzhou. It is one of the four most famous gardens in China, along with the Lingering Garden, the Summer Palace in Beijing, and the Chengde Mountain Resort. It is listed as a World Cultural Heritage Site and is a classic example of a Chinese private garden. The garden is mainly composed of water features, with a simple and elegant design that resembles natural scenery. It features many exquisite attractions, such as the Distant Fragrance Hall, the Seeing Hill Tower, and the Wuzhu Retreat. The architecture is unique, the flowers and trees are numerous, and every step reveals a new scene, allowing visitors to fully appreciate the unique charm of Jiangnan gardens. Detailed Address No. 178 Northeast Street, Gusu District, Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province. Ticket Prices Off-season (October 31 - April 15): CNY 50, Peak season (April 16 - October 30): CNY 70; Student tickets are half price; Free admission for seniors over 70, active military personnel with valid ID, people with disabilities on Disability Day, and children under 1.2 meters tall. 📅Tour Guide - Entry Time: Try to enter the park at opening time to avoid peak crowds during holidays and weekends, which will allow you to better appreciate the garden scenery. - Tour Route: It is recommended to start from the east and visit attractions such as the Orchid Snow Hall, Furong Pavilion, and Shuxiang Hall; then enter the central area through the covered walkway and visit the main attractions such as the Distant Fragrance Hall, Small Flying Rainbow, Dry Boat on Fragrant Isle, and the Lotus Wind Pavilion; finally, enter the western area through the "Another World" gate and visit the Thirty-Six Mandarin Duck Hall, Yi Liang Pavilion, and the "Who Sits with Me" Pavilion. - Must-See Attractions: The Distant Fragrance Hall in the central area is the main building of the Humble Administrator's Garden, where you can enjoy the beautiful blooming lotus flowers in summer; the Seeing Hill Tower is surrounded by water on three sides and mountains on both sides, offering a panoramic view of the central garden; the Thirty-Six Mandarin Duck Hall in the west is beautifully decorated, and the L-shaped pool is particularly charming. 🍜Food Guide - Suzhou Cuisine Restaurants: Song He Lou and De Yue Lou are authentic Suzhou cuisine restaurants near the Humble Administrator's Garden. Their signature dishes include squirrel-shaped mandarin fish, cherry meat, and eel in oil, which are authentic but relatively expensive. - Local Snacks: You can try Suzhou's local snacks, such as honey-glazed tofu, Caizhizhai candies, rose-flavored melon seeds, and lard rice cakes, which can be purchased at snack bars or specialty stores near the Humble Administrator's Garden. 🏨Accommodation Guide - Budget Hotels: Hanting Hotel (Railway Station Branch), GreenTree Inn (Railway Station Branch), and Motel 168 (Pingqi Road Branch) are all within half a kilometer of the Humble Administrator's Garden, offering affordable prices and convenient transportation. - Upscale Hotels: For a better accommodation experience, you can choose hotels in the old town area, such as the Youngor Grand Hotel and the Gloria Plaza Hotel, which are centered around Guanqian Street, or the Friendship Hotel and the Suzhou Hotel, which are centered around the Panmen Scenic Area in the south. The price for a standard room ranges from CNY 400 to 900. 💗Other Tips - The Humble Administrator's Garden holds flower exhibitions from April to October, including azalea and lotus exhibitions, making the garden even more colorful during this time. - Handheld electronic tour guides are available for rent at the entrance, which can help you better understand the history and culture of the garden. - Pay attention to the interplay of light and shadow when taking photos. Since there is a lot of green vegetation in the garden, choose a lens with good imaging and use high resolution for shooting.