Suzhou 2-Day Classic Garden Tour
Suzhou Garden Essence: Top Classical Gardens + Historic Streets
Day-by-Day Itinerary
1
Humble Administrator’s Garden → Suzhou Museum → Pingjiang Road Historic Block
Humble Administrator's Garden
The Humble Administrator's Garden is located at No. 178 Dongbei Street, Gusu District, Suzhou City. It is one of China's Four Great Classical Gardens and the largest and most famous garden in Suzhou. It was built during the Ming Dynasty and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Humble Administrator's Garden is centered around water, with mountains and rivers winding through it, exquisite halls and pavilions, and lush flowers and trees, embodying the rich characteristics of the Jiangnan water towns. It is known as the 'Mother of Chinese Gardens'. The entire garden is divided into three parts: East, Central, and West, each with its unique features. The East Garden is open and spacious, the Central Garden is the essence of the entire garden, and the West Garden features delicate architecture. The Humble Administrator's Garden is an important window for understanding traditional Chinese garden art and Jiangnan culture.
Suzhou Museum (Main Branch)
The Suzhou Museum was founded in 1960, originally located in the Prince Zhong's Mansion of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. In 2006, it moved to its current location, designed by the renowned Chinese-American architect I. M. Pei. The new building covers an area of over 19,000 square meters, combining traditional Chinese design, Suzhou local characteristics, and modern style. The architecture features sloping roofs, traditional black, white, and grey color schemes, and white stucco walls, while incorporating glass roofs and steel structures to introduce natural light. The museum houses approximately 30,000 artifacts, including excavated relics, ancient calligraphy and paintings, and handicrafts. Permanent exhibitions include 'Treasures of Wu Land', 'National Treasures of Wu Pagoda', 'Elegance of Wu Zhong', and 'Calligraphy and Painting of Wu School'. In 2018, the number of visitors exceeded 2 million.
Pingjiang Road Historical Block
The Pingjiang Road Historical Block, formerly known as Shiquanli, is a historical area located in the northeastern part of Gusu District, Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province, China. As part of Suzhou's well-preserved old town, it was listed as a 'National Historical and Cultural Block' in China in 2015. The main street, Pingjiang Road, is built along the Pingjiang River, stretching 1606 meters from Ganjiang East Road in the south to Baitai East Road in the northwest, close to the Humble Administrator's Garden and Suzhou Museum. The entire historical block covers an area of 0.4 square kilometers, featuring 51 alleys and approximately 3 kilometers of canals. It is renowned as the center of Suzhou's artistic life, dotted with bookstores, local opera theaters, and teahouses where people enjoy traditional storytelling and 'Tanci' performances.
2
Lion Grove Garden → Qili Shantang Scenic Area → Panmen Scenic Area
Lion Grove Garden
Lion Grove Garden, located at No. 23 Yuanlin Road, Gusu District, Suzhou, Jiangsu, is one of China's four most famous classical gardens, and is known as one of the 'Four Famous Gardens of Suzhou' along with Humble Administrator's Garden, Lingering Garden, and Canglang Pavilion. The garden was first built in the second year of the Zhizheng reign of the Yuan Dynasty (1342) by Monk Tianru to commemorate his teacher, Monk Zhongfeng. Lion Grove Garden is famous for its unique rock formations. The rockeries are made of Taihu stones and resemble a group of dancing lions, hence its name. Within the garden, the labyrinthine rock caves, pavilions, towers, and flowing streams showcase the essence of Chinese classical garden art, and it has been listed as a World Cultural Heritage site by UNESCO.
Seven-Mile Shantang Scenic Area
Shantang Street, approximately 3829.6 meters long, connects Changmen Gate and Tiger Hill. It was built by Bai Juyi during the Tang Dynasty when he excavated the Shantang River, using the excavated silt. Due to its long history and rich cultural heritage, this street is known as 'Gusu's First Street' and was listed as a 'National Historical and Cultural Street' in China in 2015. Today, Shantang Street is a famous tourist destination in Suzhou, where visitors can admire well-preserved ancient buildings and bridges, and experience the unique charm of a Jiangnan water town.
Panmen Scenic Area
Panmen Scenic Area is located in the southeastern corner of the ancient city of Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, and is the site of Panmen, one of the eight gates of ancient Suzhou. With its unique style combining the three scenic spots of the water and land city gate, Wumen Bridge, and Ruiguang Pagoda, it has become an iconic attraction in Suzhou. The scenic area not only features well-preserved ancient city walls and water and land city gates but also exquisite garden landscapes and historical buildings, showcasing Suzhou's profound historical and cultural heritage.
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