Scenic spot introduction:

The Humble Administrator's Garden is the most famous of Suzhou gardens and has been listed as a World Cultural Heritage Site. It is known as one of the four famous classical gardens in my country, along with the Summer Palace in Beijing, the Mountain Resort in Chengde, and the Lingering Garden in Suzhou. It is also known as the "Four Famous Gardens in Suzhou" together with the Lion Grove, the Canglang Pavilion, and the Lingering Garden. It is the largest classical landscape garden in Suzhou gardens. The Humble Administrator's Garden was built in the early years of the Ming Dynasty (early 16th century) and is located on the Northeast Street of Pingjiang District, Suzhou. Most of the existing garden features were formed in the late Qing Dynasty. The layout theme of the Humble Administrator's Garden is centered on water. The pool area accounts for about one-fifth of the total area. Various pavilions and terraces are mostly built by the water. The East Garden is open and sparse, the Central Garden is the essence of the whole garden, and the West Garden has exquisite buildings with their own characteristics. The design of the entire garden is very delicate, and it can be said that "one step at a time" is a scene when visiting, reflecting the charm of the Jiangnan water town everywhere. The paths in the garden are winding, and each porch, stone wall with hollow patterns, pavilion and window are all unique and perfectly matched with the trees, flowers and plants, forming a picturesque landscape.
There are grand flower shows in the park every year, such as the azalea show from mid-March to early May, the lotus show from early June to mid-October, the chrysanthemum show from early September to mid-October, and the flower and fruit bonsai show during the Spring Festival. There are fewer people in winter, but you can enjoy the beautiful scenery quietly. Visitors can take photos as much as they want, or rent a guide to learn about the historical stories behind these beautiful scenes.

Attractions distribution:

The Humble Administrator's Garden covers an area of 78 mu and is divided into four parts: east, middle, west and residential. The main buildings are: Yuanxiang Hall , Snow Fragrance Pavilion , Daishuang Pavilion, Eighteen Mandala Flower Pavilion, Listening Pavilion , Thirty-six Mandarin Duck Pavilion, etc. The residence is a typical Suzhou residence and is now arranged as an exhibition hall of the Garden Museum.

Scenic spot qualifications:

National 5A-level scenic spot, world cultural heritage, national key cultural relics protection unit, national special tourist attraction

Scenic spot features:

Photography, historical sites, appreciation, sketching, gardens, museums, former residences

Scenic spot map:

Scenic spot map
Attraction Address
Travel Guide

Travel Notes of Travellers:

  • Travel guide: The 100 most beautiful scenic spots in China!
  • Travel guide: Top 10 places to enjoy lotus in summer in China
  • Travel Guide: Suzhou Free Travel Four-Day Travel Guide 2017

travelling guideline:

Eat: Suzhou's food street → Taijian Lane has: "Songhelou" founded by Emperor Qianlong, whose representative dishes are squirrel mandarin fish and boat-shaped dumplings; Deyuelou, whose representative dishes are cherry meat and fat loach soup; Wangsi Restaurant and Lao Zhenxing are very famous old restaurants; Wufangzhai, Zhu Hongxing and Lvyang Wonton Shop, all kinds of noodles, soup dumplings and xiaolongbao are absolutely classic.

Special Events:

Flower shows (azalea and lotus) are held from April to October.

Tour route:

One-day garden tour: Hanqing Pavilion→ Fangan Pavilion→ Orchid Snow Hall→ Furong Pavilion→ Tianquan Pavilion→ Xiangxiang Pavilion→ Green Ripple Pavilion→ Waiting for Shuang Pavilion→ Snow Fragrant Cloud Pavilion→ Lotus Wind Pavilion→ Yuanxiang Pavilion→ Xiuqi Pavilion → Tingyu Pavilion → Jiashi Pavilion → Dezhen Pavilion → Yulan Hall → Yiliang Pavilion → Fucui Pavilion → Li Pavilion → Tower Shadow Pavilion
East Garden Route: Zhuyun Peak → Xiangxiang Pavilion → Hanqing Pavilion → Furong Pavilion → Tianquan Pavilion
Central Garden Route: Jianshan Tower → Wuzhu Residence → Tingyu Pavilion → Yuanxiang Hall → Xiao Feihong

Best time to visit:

Spring, summer and autumn are all suitable for travel, but it is best to avoid the peak holiday season.

Shopping recommendations:

There are many handicraft shops on Northeast Street and Garden Road at the entrance of Humble Administrator's Garden, where you can buy local specialties, Suzhou fans, Suzhou embroidery, etc.

Scenic spot map:

Scenic spot map
Tourist Transportation

Scenic spot location:

China>Jiangsu Province>Suzhou City>Pingjiang District-

How to get there:

529; Tour 1; Tour 2; 313; 40; 202; 923; 178; Tour 5; 301; 309; 518

Scenic area map:

Click to expand the scenic area map

Attraction Tickets

Humble Administrator's Garden Ticket Price:

Peak season (April 16-October 30): 70 yuan;

Off-season (10.31-4.15): 50 yuan.

Discount: Seniors over 70 years old with senior citizen certificates, active military personnel with military certificates, people with disabilities on disability days, and children under 1.2 meters in height are free of charge.

Scenic area opening hours:

7:30-17:30

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