Zhuozheng Garden

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Spot Introduction

Zhuozheng Garden, founded during the Zhengde period of the Ming Dynasty (1509), was built by the imperial censor Wang Xianchen and has a history of over 500 years. As the largest existing classical garden in Suzhou, Zhuozheng Garden covers an area of 78 mu and is one of the Four Famous Gardens in China, along with the Summer Palace in Beijing, the Mountain Resort in Chengde, and the Lingering Garden in Suzhou.

The garden is centered around water, which accounts for approximately one-third of the total area, and the buildings are scattered around the ponds in a well-arranged manner. The layout of the garden is ingenious, divided into three parts: east, middle, and west. The eastern part features flat hills, distant mountains, pine forests, and lawns; the middle part is the essence of the garden, with water as the main scenery and buildings constructed beside the water; the western part is dominated by buildings with a compact layout.

Zhuozheng Garden perfectly embodies the artistic characteristics of Jiangnan gardens, which are “seeing the big in the small, and changing scenes with each step.” There are 31 buildings such as halls, towers, pavilions, and verandas, over 40 inscribed tablets, more than 500 inscribed boards and couplets, and a large number of precious ancient and famous trees in the garden. Among them, Yuanxiang Hall, Reflection Pond, and Xiaofei Hong are particularly famous attractions.

The garden design incorporates the artistic conception of traditional Chinese landscape painting, condensing natural landscapes into a tiny space through gardening techniques such as borrowing scenery, facing scenery, and framing scenery. The scenery in the garden varies with the seasons: in spring, hundreds of flowers compete for beauty; in summer, the fragrance of lotus flowers fills the air; in autumn, the scent of orange osmanthus spreads; and in winter, plum blossoms cast slanting shadows.

As a representative work of Jiangnan gardens, Zhuozheng Garden is not only a treasure of Chinese classical garden art but also an important physical material for studying architecture, landscaping, painting, and literature during the Ming and Qing dynasties. In 1997, Zhuozheng Garden, along with other classical gardens in Suzhou, was listed as a World Cultural Heritage site.

Must-Visit Attractions

  1. Yuanxiang Hall

    • Main hall of the garden
    • Classical architecture
    • Suggested visiting time: 40 minutes

  2. Reflecting Pond

    • Waterscape garden
    • Lotus pond
    • Suggested visiting time: 30 minutes

  3. Furong Pavilion

    • Waterside pavilion
    • Scenic viewpoint
    • Suggested visiting time: 30 minutes

  4. Xiaofei Hong Bridge

    • Arch bridge landscape
    • The essence of the garden
    • Suggested visiting time: 20 minutes

Visiting Suggestions

  1. Best Touring Route

    • Main gate → Yuanxiang Hall
    • Reflecting Pond → Furong Pavilion
    • Tour in all directions

  2. Time Arrangement for Visit

    • Morning is the best
    • Avoid holidays
    • Visit on weekdays

  3. Practical Tips

    • Wear comfortable shoes
    • Bring a camera
    • Savor the experience

Transportation Guide

  • Train: Suzhou Station
  • Metro: Line 4, Zhuozhengyuan Station
  • Bus: Tour Line 2, Tour Line 3
  • Self-drive: Parking available
  1. Squirrel-shaped Mandarin Fish
  2. Yangcheng Lake hairy crabs
  3. Suzhou-style Soup Bun
  4. Sweetened Lotus Root with Osmanthus

Special Reminders

  1. Avoid peak hours
  2. Wear comfortable shoes
  3. Bring a camera
  4. Apply sunscreen and keep warm
  5. Protect historic sites
  6. Check the weather
  7. Book tickets ahead
  8. Enjoy the views thoroughly.