Zhuozhengyuan

Zhuozhengyuan, or the Humble Administrator's Garden, is one of the four famous landscaped gardens in our country. It is among the first group of Historical Monuments and Cultural Relics under State Protection and is also listed as the World Natural Heritage. It was first built in the fourth year of Zhengde period in Ming Dynasty. Later Censor Wang Xianchen rebuilt it when returning home because of his failure in his official career. The garden was named after the connotation of one sentence from Pan Yue's article in Jin Dynasty. In the article "Watering Vegetables in the Yard", he said "to supply three meals a day, this is also a way of administration by humble ones".

The Humble Administrator's Garden was laid out in line with the local conditions. It was designed with the lotus pond at the center, surrounded by other pavilions and halls at random. In a natural style of primitive simplicity, these buildings still maintain the distinctive feature of Ming Dynasty with vast ponds and lush trees. Without going out of the city can man attain a pleasure in the woods here. The whole garden consists of 3 parts and some residential buildings. These 3 parts are divided into the eastern, western and middle part. Every part has its own distinctive features. "Its layout is so attractive that it leaves no pity for the visitors."

Shizilin

Shiziling was first built in the second year of Zhizheng Period of Yuan Dynasty (1342 A.D.) and is mainly known for its rockeries. The deep, quiet cavities and grooves wander around the rocks like a maze. No wander the garden is praised as the "Kingdom of Rockery".

Liuyuan

The name Liuyuan or Lingering Garden actually means lingering in the world. First constructed in Jiajing Period of Ming Dynasty (1522-1566), it is praised as one of the nation's four famous gardens. The other three are the Summer Palace in Beijing, the Imperial Summer Resort in Chengde, and the Humble Administrator's Garden in Suzhou.

Two Hectares in size, the Lingering Garden is one of the largest gardens in Suzhou. Divided by halls, whitewashed walls, corridors an doors in space, the whole garden appears to have a dozen of small or large courtyards with the skillful decoration of rockeries, ponds, trees and flowers. It is a clear demonstration of the artistic features of Jiangnan landscaped gardens. The garden consists of four parts: the central part is the most picturesque, known for its streams and rockeries; the eastern part wins its fame for its courtyards and buildings. That's where the famous King of Taihu Stone, "Cloud-capped Peak" is located. The northern part has a style of pastoral scenery, while the western part provides visitors interests of woods with its towering trees. To have so many different tastes of scenery in one, the Lingering Garden is the only place a visitor can find in Suzhou.

Wangshiyuan

Wangshiyuan an old site for Wanjuantang (Ten-thousand-book Hall). It belonged to Shi Zhengzhi, an assistant minister of Northern Song Dynasty and was once named by him as "Fishing in Seclusion". During the reign of Qianlong in Qing Dynasty, an observer named Song Zongyuan rebuilt it by digging ponds and constructing rockery and building houses. In reference to the original name "Fishing in Seclusion", the new garden was named "Fisherman's Villa", hence the name "Fisherman's Garden". The garden is on the list of Cultural Relics under State Protection and also listed as the World Natural Heritage.

Tiger Hill

Noted as the No.1 historical and scenic spot in Wu region, the Tiger Hill is the earliest (built in Spring and Autumn Period) landscaped garden among the city gardens in China. With a long history of over 2500 years, it is famous both at home and abroad. The temples on Tiger Hill were built all along the hillside. As an ancient poem described that "the pagoda thrusts itself up from outside the woods, the hill looks as though hidden in the temple". It is one of its great characteristics that the hill and the temple are completely at one. There are dozens of large or small scenic spots on the Tiger Hill, each one with a legendary story. One spot especially worth mentioning here is the Huqiu Pagoda, also named Yunyansi Pagoda. The ancient leaning pagoda stands souring into the sky for over one thousand years, which is praised as "the Oriental Pisa Tower". As Su Dongpo, a poet in Song Dynasty said. "It would be a great pity if one visits Suzhou but does not go sightseeing at the Tiger Hill".

Beisi Tower

Beisi Tower is the best among towers in Suzhou. It is one of the two symbols of ancient Suzhou City, with the other being Yunyan Pagoda on the Tiger Hill. 76 meters high, Beisi Tower is a nine-story construction in octagonal shape, with all its upturned eaves shading the 1.3mu base. Surrounded by fragrant camphor woods, the base is enclosed with low banisters. Along the two sides of the yard are the butterfly-shaped walls. The yard is very attractive with the decoration of ancient trees and rare flowers.

Panmen

Panmen is the best-preserved part of the ruins of ancient Suzhou City. In 514B.C., in order to make people live in peace, and to strengthen his control over the neighboring region so as to conquer the Central Plains, Helu, the king of Wu, sent Wu Zixu to choose a favorable place according to Chinese Fengshui. Thus the ancient Suzhou City was built, known in history as "the Great Helu City". There are 8 land gates and 8 water gates in the ancient city.

And with woodcut curling dragon on them, the land and water gates in the southwest were called "Panmen Gate", which was in the position of the fifth of the twelve Earthly Branches. Traditionally the fifth of the twelve Earthly Branches was dragon, which could exercise restraint over the snakes, i.e., over the powerful Yue Kingdom Later, it was renamed "Panmen Gate" for the winding land and water routes in this area. Pan here, in Chinese, means "winding".

Cold Mountain Temple

First built between 502 A.D. and 519 A.D. in the Liang Dynasty of the Period of the Six Dynasties in Chinese history, it was initially named Miao'Li'Pu' Ming'Ta'Yuan, (which presumably is a transliteration of a Sanskrit phrase.) it is said that during the Period of Zhenguan in Tang Dynasty, two famous monks from Tiantai Mountain named Hanshan and Shide were given charge of the temple and the name was then changed to Han'Shan'Si.

A famous poem by Zhang Ji in Tang Dynasty, "Mooring by Fengqiao at Night", made the temple a worldwide known tourist attraction, which goes as follows:

The crows caw to the falling moon;
The frosty air fills the sky.
The fisher's lights gleam, the maples croon;
With much sorrow I lie.
On the outskirts of Suzhou Town;
From Han Shan Temple, Hark!
The midnight vesper bells come down,
Wafting to the rover's bark.

The Grand Canal in Suzhou

The Grand Canal in Suzhou, with wide surface, abundant and crystal clear water, has been the best part of the Grand Canal for shipping. The old canal is about 35km long from Hushu Pass to Wujiang City. On both sides of the bank, white walls and black tiles are dotted in the open green country. Yellow rapes in spring, green paddy field in summer, bumper harvest in autumn and happy peasant life in winter are really fascinating. The 53-hole Belt Bridge first built in Tang Dynasty lies across the old canal like a rainbow floating on the wave. The ancient ferries, ancient towing tie paths, ancient bridges seen everywhere along the canal are all witnesses of the economic development of the area along the old canal.

Taihu Lake

The region of Taihu Lake is surprisingly enchanting. The lake itself is not very deep, yet it covers a wide area. And the mountains in this area are not very high, yet very delicate and pretty. 62% of the lake surface is in the Suzhou City, less than 30 kilometers away from the urban district. Along the lake ranges of the precipitous hills and mounds extend far into the distance, and those among the lake are very similar to a peninsula. To overlook the lake, one could see that "many is lands are dispersed in the mirror-like lake, and from the silver plate-like lake comes out the pure white lotus." Among the 36,000 hectares of surging waves there stand 72 hills, upon which flowers and fruits could be found in any time of the year. The area along the Taihu Lake is teemed with high-quality rice. The lake abounds in silver fish, white shrimp and white fish. Thus the region of Taihu Lake has always been known as "a land of abundance".

Gusu City

Located in the Taihu Lake area, waterside Gusu City is a typical one in the southern area of the Yangtze River. There are many closely dispersed ports and interweaved rivers, which is also one of Suzhou City's characteristics. Vivid descriptions of the Suzhou's spider-net-like rivers could be found in poems written by the poets in Tang Dynasty. These beautiful lines are still remembered nowadays, such as, "You could hear the music from each balcony; and see the boats perched in front of each home," and "If you come to Gusu City, you will surely find that each home is built beside the river."

To the park has been added the Lover's Column and Lover's Post Office and other attractions, to create a merry and romantic atmosphere.

Suzhou Taihu Pearl Resort

"River flows around green hills, upon which flowers are in full blossom. Hidden in the brightness of flowers is the Pear Resort." Suzhou Taihu Pearl Resort is situated in the south west of Suzhou City. The center of this area is 25km away from the urban district. The resort adjoins the Taihu Lake to the south, Yuyangshan Hill to the north. The nearby Taihu Bridge, like a nimble dragon, is just at a stone's throw. To overlook from the high buildings here, one can see islands, Taihu Bridge, valleys and peaks of the hills. Four scenic spots including Eastern Hill, Western Hill, Guangfu, and Mudu are not far from here, cither. It takes one little time to get there and appreciate the beautiful scenery of real rivers and real hills.

Suzhou Taihu Pearl Resort is a comprehensive resort for food, housing, sightseeing, entertainment and shopping.