Classical Gardens

Suzhou enjoys a worldwide reputation for its delicate and classical gardens. Most of the gardens were built by aristocrats and rich businessmen and date back to the sixth century BC. Garden design was very popular during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and by the time of the latter years of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), a large number of classical gardens were spread across Suzhou. Ten of these gardens are still in a good state of preservation, including the Humble Administrator's Garden (Zhuozheng Garden), the Lingering Garden (Liu Garden), the Garden of the Master of the Nets (Wangshi Garden) and the Villa with Embracing Beauty (Huanxiu Mountain Villa). These four gardens exhibit a typical character of classical gardens such as structure, style, cultural attainment, aesthetics and arrangement of the furniture. For this reason they have been included in UNESCO's World Heritage List.

The Humble Administrator's Garden

The Humble Administrator's Garden covers about 52,000 sq. meters and is the largest and most renowned garden in Suzhou. It was constructed in the 1500’s in the Ming Dynasty by Wang Xianchen, an imperial censor. Due to its unique designs and ethereal beauty, the garden has acquired many special honors. It is listed as a World Cultural Heritage site and has also been designated as one of the Cultural Relics of National Importance under the Protection of the State as well as a Special Tourist Attraction of China.

Tiger Hill

Tiger Hill covers more than 14000 square meters and is 36 meters high. Although it is a relatively small area, the many historical sites here date as far back as 2,500 years to the founding of Suzhou. Originally, the King of the State of Wu, Fu Chai, buried his father - Helu along with 3,000 swords. Legend has it that on the third day after the burial, a white tiger appeared to guard the tomb, hence the name of the hill.

Silk Museum

Since the Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties, Suzhou has been the silk producing center of China. In the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties most of the high-grade silk produced for the royal families was made by Suzhou silk weavers. The Silk Museum chronicles the history of silk production in Suzhou. The entire museum design is informative, elegant and yet unconventional - combining a sense of ancient civilization with modern style. Learn about making silk and the centuries of silk weaving in Suzhou. There are also retail stores on the premise for purchasing silk.

Guanqian Street

Located in the central downtown area, Guanqian Street is the tried and true shopping area with century-old shops that are known far and wide, such as Daoxiangcun, Caizhizhai and Huangtianyuan. Since the Qing Dynasty, all sorts of shops with different brands and dozens of department stores have been gathered here. The section from Bifengfang to Taijian Alley is where restaurants serving authentic Suzhou cuisine are assembled. In 1999, Suzhou Municipal Government reconstructed this ancient street giving it a fresh appeal. Strolling in this area is a favourite pastime of locals and tourists alike.