Wandering into a Chinese Ink Painting | Detailed Guide to Suzhou's Lingering Garden

| Detailed Guide to Suzhou's Lingering Garden. "Enjoying mountain forest scenery without leaving the city," Suzhou's Lingering Garden captures the poetry and gentleness of the Jiangnan region. Today I'm sharing my Lingering Garden tour route to help you immerse yourself in the charm of this classical garden! 📍Address: 338 Liuyuan Road, Gusu District, Suzhou 🚇Transportation: Exit 1 of Shilu Station on Metro Line 2, about 1 km walk 🎫Tickets: Peak season ¥55/person, Off-season ¥45/person, can be booked online in advance ⏰Opening Hours: March 1 - October 31, 07:30 - 17:30; November 1 - February 28, 07:30 - 17:00 (last entry at 16:30) Tour Route 1. Main Entrance - Ancient Intertwining Trees - Green Shade Pavilion: Upon entering, you'll first see the "Ancient Intertwining Trees," where old trees complement the pink walls and dark tiles. Walking further, you'll reach the Green Shade Pavilion, a perfect spot to rest and feel the garden's tranquility. 🌳 2. Minse Tower - Hanbi Mountain House: Continue along the corridor to Minse Tower, which offers a sense of clarity between water and wood. Nearby is Hanbi Mountain House, the main central building constructed by the water, where you can admire a pond full of lotus flowers in summer. 🪷 3. Osmanthus Fragrance Pavilion - Ke Pavilion: As you stroll further, you'll reach the Osmanthus Fragrance Pavilion, which is filled with sweet osmanthus scent in autumn. The nearby Ke Pavilion, with its elegant design, is a great photo spot. 📸 4. Little Penglai - Haopu Pavilion: Cross the winding stone bridge to reach Little Penglai, which feels like a fairyland. Haopu Pavilion is full of natural charm, allowing visitors to experience nature's vitality. 🐟 5. Winding Stream Tower - West Tower: Walk along the Winding Stream Tower and enjoy the changing scenery with each step. The West Tower features a unique architectural style worth savoring. 🏮 6. Clear Breeze Pool Pavilion - Five Peaks Immortal Pavilion: The Clear Breeze Pool Pavilion offers a serene environment that lifts your spirits. The Five Peaks Immortal Pavilion is the garden's highlight, known as "Jiangnan's Finest Hall," with exquisite interior decorations that you must see! 💎 7. Bowing to the Peak Pavilion - Stone Forest Courtyard: The Bowing to the Peak Pavilion is delicate and filled with scholarly atmosphere. The Stone Forest Courtyard features Taihu rocks of various shapes, showcasing nature's incredible artistry. 🧐 8. Still Reading My Books Study - Forest Spring Elder's Pavilion: The Still Reading My Books Study is quiet and elegant, perfect for peaceful reading. The Forest Spring Elder's Pavilion uses a mandarin duck hall layout, with the south hall for women and the north hall for the male host to receive guests, showing the sophistication of ancient gardens. 👀 9. Crown Cloud Peak - Crown Cloud Tower: Crown Cloud Peak is the garden's iconic landscape, standing 6.5 meters tall, a relic from the Song Dynasty's imperial rock collection. The peak soars high with a crown-like shape, and the adjacent Crown Cloud Tower offers a panoramic view of the entire garden. 🌁 10. Fine Weather, Happy Rain and Joyful Snow Pavilion - Bonsai Garden: The poetically named pavilion allows you to appreciate the garden's scenery in different weather conditions. The Bonsai Garden displays many exquisite bonsai plants, each embodying the garden owner's craftsmanship. 🌳 11. Little Peach Valley - Ultimate Joy Pavilion - Comfortable Whistling Pavilion: Little Peach Valley is full of pastoral scenery, reminiscent of a utopian paradise. The Ultimate Joy Pavilion and Comfortable Whistling Pavilion allow you to climb high and gaze into the distance, experiencing the garden's wild charm. 🏞️ 12. Lively Ground - Exit: Finally, you'll reach the Lively Ground, an area full of vitality and energy. Follow the signs to exit the Lingering Garden, concluding this wonderful garden tour. 🎉 📸Photography Tips: 1. Consider wearing Hanfu or qipao to better capture the Jiangnan style. 2. Visit in the morning when there are fewer people and the lighting is better for photos. 3. Make good use of the garden's doors, windows, corridors, and other elements to create unique compositions. The Lingering Garden is truly beautiful, with every scene captivating visitors! Save this guide and embark on a spontaneous journey to explore Jiangnan's classical gardens! 💕