Located on the south of Renmin Lu, this one-hectare garden is one of the oldest among the existing classical gardens of Suzhou. As a representative Suzhou Classical Garden, it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2000, and listed as Important Cultural Relics Site Under the State Protection in 2006.
During the reign of Emperor Qingli(1041-1049AD) of the Northern Song Dynasty, poet Su Shunqin was banished to Suzhou. Fascinated by the scenery around, he bought this area and built the garden and named it “Cānglàng Tíng” after a poem in the anthology Songs of Chu. During the Southern Song Dynasty(1127-1279AD), the site was taken over by Han Shizhong. Most of the garden buildings underwent numerous renovations in the Qing Dynasty(1636—1912AD), arranged including Emperor Kangxi’s handwriting, stone statue of Wen Zhengming, Lin Zexu’s poems and a Hall of Fame. A double-corridor unifies waterscapes outside the garden and mountain scenery inside in one breath, insetting 108 latticed windows with different designs. The well-known Surging Wave Pavilion stands on the top of the hill, whose famous couplet reading “The refreshing breeze and the bright moon are priceless; the nearby water and the distant mountains strike a sentimental note”.
Address:
3 Cānglàng Tíng Jiē(沧浪亭街3号)
Contact us:
Postal code: 215007
Tel: 68120019
Admission fees:
Peak season(Apr May Jul Aug Sep Oct): 20 RMB per person
Low season(Jan Feb Mar Jun Nov Dec): 15 RMB per person
Opening hours:
7:30-17:30(Apr 21- Oct 20)
7:30-17:00(Oct21- Apr 20)
Stop ticketing 30 minutes before closing.
Transportation:
Bus: No.1 No.5 No. 27 No.30 No. 39 No.101 No.102 No.103 No.218 No.261 No.308 No.309 No.933 Travel No.2 Travel No.4 Travel No.5
Subway: Line 1 to Lèqiáo Station, Exit 1(乐桥站1号出口), turn left and walk 100m to the south to Yǐnmǎqiáo Station(饮马桥站); then take Bus No.1 Travel No.4 Travel No.5 No.101 No.102 No.933 to Gōngrén Wénhuà Gōng(工人文化宫), and walk 50m to the south
Precautions:
To create a harmonious and beautiful, safe and well-organized sightseeing environment, according to Regulations of Suzhou Scenic Spots, Ordinance on Preservation and Administration of Suzhou Classical Gardens and some related laws and regulations, the following tourist guidelines are made:
1. Tourists should consciously abide by the related laws and regulations in municipal, provincial and national levels. Public orders should be maintained, and social morality should be observed to be a civilized tourist.
2. Buy a ticket and enter the scenic spot according to the guide logo after checking in at the entrance; any policy-oriented uncharged tourist must show valid credentials.
3. Tourists should take good care of the flowers, trees and the public facilities in the garden, breaking branches, picking fruits, climbing over the constructions, the rockeries and the fence are all prohibited, and trampling on the lawn, drawing on trees, bamboos and constructions are prohibited either.
4. No smoking, no open flame( unless it is prescribed and for licensing activity), no barbecue stoves in the garden.
5. Regulations on Administrative Penalties for Public Security is strictly enforced , no weapons or inflammable and explosive dangerous goods in the garden, neither horsing around or picking fight. External vehicles ( excluding vehicles for handicapped and bassinet) should not enter the garden.
6. Stalls, private photo studios, business activities or peddling goods are strictly banned. No unauthorized charging for introducing.
7. Neatly dressed, no pet, no swimming or fishing (excluding visiting projects). The time of opening and closing should be observed.
8. “Annual card for Suzhou Gardens” only be allowed to use at daytime and not be lent. Once discovered, it will be temporarily detained, and no further purchasing.
9. No advertising or filming without permission.