Key Spots to See
The major component of Suzhou gardens are artificial hills made of rocks from Taihu Lake. Here the 21-foot-high (6.5-meter) Cloud-Capped Peak — the highest of its kind — is a limestone collection believed to be from the Northern Song Dynasty (AD 960-1127). Flanked by the Auspicious Cloud and Mountainous Cloud peaks, it weighs about 5 tons.
Overall, the entire Lingering Garden possesses 42 rooms and halls, 200 lattice windows, 44 parallel couplets and stone carvings, and 373 stelae (upright stone slabs or columns) superbly inscribed with calligraphy works.
Don’t miss the vast Celestial Hall of Five Peaks in the eastern section, a chief structure inspired by a verse from Li Bai. Enter through a dramatic entrance to find interiors outfitted with sturdy beams and pillars made of nanmu, a highly prized Chinese wood. The expansive hall branches out into five rooms decorated with traditional period furnishings. One treasure to be seen is the Fish Fossil, a natural picture on a round piece of marble. In addition to the marble’s patterns resembling a stream surrounded by mountains, cliffs and sky, the bones of more than 20 fish are visible.
Also known as the Lotus Hall, the Hanbi Mountain Villa in the middle of the garden is another important building. Its tall, roomy farmhouse design demonstrates the idea of a rustic retreat and it enjoys picturesque surrounding landscapes and a nearby pool with various kinds of fish.
At the Pellucid Tower, you’ll find a structure built to resemble the form of a pleasure boat launching into the pond. At two and a half stories tall, the tower showcases a uniquely designed mountain path winding upward. Other prominent towers of the central area include the Distant Green Tower, West Tower, Mingse Tower and Quxi Tower.
Location: No 338, Liuyuan Road, Gusu district. There are several options for reaching the venue by public transportation, including metro line 2 (get off at Shilu Station), or tourism bus No 1 (get off at Liuyuan Station).
Hours: Open from 7:30 am to 5 pm. Plan to spend 1.5 to 2 hours for your visit.
Admission: Ranges from 45 ($7.15) to 55 yuan, depending on peak or low season.
