This beautiful 19th-century garden in the east of the old town delightfully translates as the ‘Withdraw and Reflect Garden’, so named because it was the retirement home of a demoted Qing government official. The 'Tower of Fanning Delight' served as the living quarters, while the garden itself is a meditative portrait of a shimmering pond, rockeries and pavilions.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
14.79 MILES
In the far northwest of town, Tiger Hill is a major drawcard for Chinese tourists, and the beacon that draws them is the leaning Cloud Rock Pagoda (云岩塔,…
25.65 MILES
Oddly overlooked by most visitors, this 400m stretch of 100 (or so) wooden row houses, flanking a narrow canal, is Nanxun's most charming spot. The…
Garden of the Master of the Nets
10.93 MILES
Off Shiquan Jie, this pocket-sized garden is considered one of Suzhou's best preserved. Laid out in the 12th century, it went to seed and was later…
12.64 MILES
This stunning museum, one of only two in mainland China designed by IM Pei, is a modern interpretation of Suzhou architecture, with its confluence of…
12.6 MILES
The largest of Suzhou's gardens, the Humble Administrator’s Garden is often considered to be the most impressive, but its fame draws in constant crowds,…
11.68 MILES
On the eastern side of the city, this canalside road has whitewashed local houses sitting comfortably side by side with teahouses and trendy cafes selling…
10.87 MILES
This quiet part of Suzhou is lovely, with a section of the city wall straddling the outer moat in the southwest corner of the city. Dating from 1355, the…
Guangfulini Ancient Relics Park
29.43 MILES
This enormous archaeological park is built around the ancient relics of Songjiang and spans nearly three miles. You'll need a day to properly experience…
Nearby Jiangsu attractions
0.23 MILES
In the north of town, quiet Pearl Pagoda dates from the Qing dynasty and contains a spacious residential complex decorated with Qing-era antiques, an…
0.23 MILES
This exhibition of more than 1200 crystal dendrites (crystals that form in rock fissures) was collected over a period of 30 years by a husband-and-wife…
0.28 MILES
This elegant Ming-dynasty estate in the west of town has 41 beautifully restored halls that have been redecorated with paintings, calligraphy and…
7.91 MILES
Straddling the Grand Canal southeast of Suzhou, and boasting 53 arches, the lovely Precious Belt Bridge was once a Tang dynasty construction, although the…
8.22 MILES
This mysteriously named optical art museum has a miniature hall of mirrors and a handful of room-size 3D illusions, perfect for interactive group photos.
8.25 MILES
Zhouzhuang's most iconic bridges are this Ming-dynasty pair (双桥, Shuāngqiáo) gracing the intersection of two waterways in the heart of town.
8.28 MILES
To the south of the Twin Bridges, this beautiful 60-room, three-hall structure was built in the Ming era and bought by the Zhang clan in early Qing times…
8.32 MILES
The amber-hued ‘Full Fortune’ temple was originally founded during the Song dynasty, but has been repeatedly rebuilt. The structure you see today is an…