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Canglang Pavilion
Introducing Canglang Pavilion
Canglang Pavilion is also known as Blue Wave Pavilion. Canglang Pavilion holds the distinction of being the oldest among the UNESCO Classical Gardens of Suzhou. Built in 1044 AD by poet Su Shunqin (1008-1048) on the grounds of a former imperial garden, Canglang Pavilion possesses a unique charm, its intimate scale and the gentle murmur of water cascading over rocks creating a sense of profound tranquility.
Covering 2.67 acres, it is smaller in scale than its counterparts like Humble Administrator’s Garden or Lingering Garden. Yet, this modesty only amplifies the sense of peace and seclusion found within. The pavilion boasts a distinctive Song Dynasty (960-1279) design, dating back to the garden’s creation. This design, a hallmark of the Song Dynasty’s appreciation for architectural beauty, features a striking wrap-around corridor punctuated by 108 windows, gracefully encircling a central hill. This distinctive layout contributes to the garden’s timeless charm. A visit to this thousand-year-old sanctuary is a journey of appreciation for the enduring beauty of Chinese landscape design.
Canglang Pavilion Fast Facts
• AKA: Blue Wave Pavilion, Surging Wave Pavilion
• Chinese Name: Canglangting 沧浪亭
• Best Time to Visit: April to October
• Recommended Visiting Hours: 2 - 3 x hours
• Things to Do: Photography, Architecture, History and Culture
• Opening Hours: 7:30 – 17:30 (Mar – Oct), 7:30 – 17:00 (Oct – Apr)
• Entrance Fee: CNY15 (Jan – Mar, June, Nov – Dec), CNY20 (Apr – May, July – Oct)
• Address: No. 3 Canglangting Street, Renmin Road, Canglang District, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province
What UNESCO Says of the Canglang Pavilion
The classical gardens of Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China date back to the 6th century BCE when the city was founded as the capital of the Wu Kingdom. Inspired by these royal hunting gardens built by the King of the State of Wu, private gardens began emerging around the 4th century and finally reached the climax in the 18th century. Today, more than 50 of these gardens are still in existence, nine of which, namely the Humble Administrator’s Garden, Lingering Garden, Net Master’s Garden, the Mountain Villa with Embracing Beauty, the Canglang Pavilion, the Lion Grove Garden, the Garden of Cultivation, the Couple’s Garden Retreat, and the Retreat & Reflection Garden, are regarded as the finest embodiments of Chinese “Mountain and Water” gardens. Conceived and built under the influence of the unconstrained poetic freehand style originally seen in traditional Chinese landscape paintings, they are noted for their profound merging of exquisite craftsmanship, artistic elegance and rich cultural implications. These gardens lend insight into how ancient Chinese intellectuals harmonized conceptions of aestheticism in a culture of reclusion within an urban living environment.
What to Expect at Canglang Pavilion
Unlike other gardens with more elaborate designs, Canglang Pavilion features simple, classic architecture style. The garden’s centerpiece is a duo of imposing rockeries, cleverly divided into two distinct parts. Lush greenery, including verdant trees and vibrant bamboo, adorns both formations, artfully recreating the essence of a pristine mountain forest. These majestic formations are further unified by winding corridors that connect the hills and pools, leading visitors on a journey of discovery.
The Pavilion for Fish Watching
Named after the famous philosophical dialogue by Chinese philosopher Zhuangzi, the Pavilion for Fish Watching invites reflection on the nature of reality. Situated beside a tranquil pond, the pavilion’s elegant, square design with its hipped gable roof and upturned eaves creates a sense of balance and uplift, mirroring the very openness it encourages. As visitors observe the fish gliding effortlessly through the water, their fluid movements spark deeper thought. Like Zhuangzi himself, the pavilion invites you to question, to observe, and to find profound meaning in the seemingly simple act of watching fish.
Yaohua Pavilion
Nestled between the stately Hall of Bright Path to the north and a whispering bamboo grove to the south, the Yaohua Pavilion exudes a simple elegance. Its other name, “The Realm of Yaohua,” evokes the mythical flower, white-as-jade and whispered to grant longevity to those who consume it. Perhaps the garden’s owner, once welcoming guests within the pavilion’s cool shade, hoped to capture a whisper of that enduring beauty.
Canglang Pavilion
“The refreshing breeze and the bright moon are priceless; And water nearby and hills afar how beautifully they rate.” These words, etched upon a pillar, perfectly capture the essence of the Canglang pavilion. This pavilion, constructed entirely of stone, lends its name to the surrounding garden, a tranquil oasis of carefully raked gravel and artfully pruned pines. From within the pavilion’s cool shade, visitors can enjoy breathtaking views of the nearby pond and the distant mountains, a harmonious blend of nature and architecture that embodies the spirit of the quote.
Hall of 500 Sages
Established in 1827, the Hall of Five Hundred Sages houses a remarkable collection of 594 bas-relief stone portraits on its three walls, depicting historical figures associated with Suzhou city. While fire tragically swept through the temple during the Xianfeng era (1850-1861), destroying a portion of this unique collection, the majority of the portraits were salvaged from the wreckage. During the temple’s reconstruction in 1873, meticulous replicas of the lost portraits were created using rubbings taken from the originals. This ensured that the hall remained complete, preserving it as both an artistic and historical treasure.
How to Get to Canglang Pavilion
• By Bus: Take bus 308 to Sanyuanfang Station.
• By Subway: Take subway line 4 to Sanyuanfang Station.
Additional Travel Advice on Canglang Pavilion
• Please book the entrance ticket via Suzhou Tourism Official Account on WeChat or official website (https://www.szylly.com) with your passport details.
• Keep your passport on you to claim the ticket.
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