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Lingering Garden
Introducing Lingering Garden
The Lingering Garden is one of the four most famed gardens in China. The Lingering Garden covers an area of 23,300 square meters (5.76 acres), and was originally built in 1593 as the private residence of a Ming Dynasty official. In 1997, it joined the ranks of Suzhou’s other classical gardens as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The garden, designed to evoke a traditional Chinese painting, captivates visitors with its harmonious blend of architectural elements and natural beauty. The garden features 42 rooms and halls, a meandering 680-meter-long (0.42 miles) corridor, and 200 unique lattice windows, all adorned with intricate carvings and couplets. Adding to its allure are 17 valuable old trees, including gingkoes and southern wisteria, and an impressive collection of 379 stelae, the largest among Suzhou’s gardens, showcasing the evolution of Chinese calligraphy over the past millennium. This stunning garden is further enhanced by its division into four distinct sections – central, eastern, western, and northern – each offering a unique experience, from breathtaking lakeside vistas and serene garden courts to enchanting forested hills and idyllic pastoral scenery.
A visit to the Lingering Garden is a journey through time, art, and nature, where every step reveals a new facet of its multifaceted beauty.
Lingering Garden Fast Facts
• AKA: Liuyuan Garden
• Chinese Name: Liuyuan 留园
• 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 (Nov – Feb)
• Entrance Fee: CNY45 (Jan – Mar, June, Nov – Dec), CNY55 (Apr – May, July – Oct)
• Address: No.338 Liuyuan Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province
What UNESCO Says of the Lingering Garden
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 Lingering Garden
If you want to see a truly amazing Chinese garden, the Lingering Garden is an excellent choice. The architecture within the garden is both abundant and densely arranged, yet it exhibits a remarkable sense of order and spatial ingenuity. Each building, distinct in its character, contributes to a cohesive whole, creating a harmonious and captivating environment.
Old Intertwined Trees Court
This court is a beautifully designed space where a courtyard and covered walkway flow seamlessly together. A grand sign marks the entrance to this harmonious place. Its inscription, written in elegant calligraphy, reads “Paradise on Earth,” creating a feeling of awe and anticipation. Inside, a covered walkway offers a sheltered path around the courtyard, inviting quiet reflection. The courtyard itself, a peaceful and meaningful place, is carefully designed, with every element imbued with symbolism. Two ancient trees stand sentinel: a grand Saucer Magnolia, representing jade, and a sweet-smelling Sweet Olive, symbolizing gold. These trees are more than just decoration; they are living representations of luck and wealth.
Celestial Hall of Five Peaks
The Celestial Hall of Five Peaks isn’t merely an intricate building; it’s a poem brought to life. Inspired by poet Li Bai (李白)’s verse describing Mount Lu’s peaks as “golden lotus flowers cut out by nature,” the hall is perfectly positioned to frame these breathtaking summits.
Facing the hall, a Ming Dynasty (1644-1912) grotto adds layers of history to the already profound scene. Within the hall itself, elegant pillar couplets adorn the walls, offering visitors little bursts of poetic wisdom at every turn. It is a sanctuary where the beauty of nature, the skill of human artistry, and the power of literature converge in perfect harmony.
Green Shade Pavilion
The pavilion borrows its name from a line in Gao Qi (高启)’s poem which speaks of how “brightness and beauty come from the vermillion light brushes and flowers lean on the shade side”. This poetic imagery evokes the dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves of the magnificent 300-year-old maple tree that graces the pavilion. Designed as a three-room terrace with a rear double arcade, the pavilion’s gabled roof opens on one side, inviting visitors to relax on backrests and soak in the tranquil pond view. Adding to the serene ambiance, the courtyard floor boasts intricate paving designs featuring phoenixes, fish, deer, cranes, bats, and lotuses.
HaoPu Pavilion
The Haopu Pavilion, a freestanding square structure gracefully perched upon the pond’s tranquil surface, draws its name from a clever interplay of meanings. While referencing two renowned angling resorts, “Hao” (濠) and “Pu” (濮), the name also subtly alludes to the philosophical dialogue “The Happiness of Fish” (鱼之乐) featuring Chinese philosophers Zhuang Zi and Hui Zi. This layered meaning reflects the owner’s aspiration for a simple life, reminiscent of the philosophical ideals discussed. Gazing out from the pavilion, one’s eye is drawn to a carefully curated view, encompassing three of the twelve celebrated scholar stones from Liu Su’s collection: The Moon, The Magic Fungus, and The Cockscomb. Architecturally, the pavilion itself is characterized by a hipped gable roofline and adorned with elegant flying eaves, showcasing a refined aesthetic sensibility.
How to Get to Lingering Garden
• By Bus: Take bus 317 to Liuyuan Station.
Additional Travel Advice on Lingering Garden
• 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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