Caizhizhai Candies

Caizhizhai Candies

Suzhou-style candy is regarded as one of the most popular and tasty traditional Chinese sweets. There are 150 different kinds of Suzhou "Caishizhai" candy including; colorful jelly drops, candy fruits, pepper-mint drops, pine nut candy, pyramid-shaped sweets, peanut brittle, assorted pine nut jelly, crisp candy, and pine nut jujube. So, if you've got a sweet tooth, Suzhou is a great place to indulge yourself!

　　In order to compete with the occidental juice sugars, Cai Zhi-zhai Candy Store took foreign sugar-making experience for reference, using a wide variety of plants, flowers and fruits and developed more than a hundred types of their pyramid-shaped sugars. Suzhou candies have been featured by moderate honey, freshness and nourishment of yin and yang. Throughout the period of more than a century, Suzhou candies have been retained in the tradition of strict material-selection and elaborate making. The Pinenut Sugar made with malt extract, osmanthus and has, although all combined into a whole, exhibits three distinctive colors that are clearly discernable through the glassine. It also has three different tastes. The pyramid-shaped rose sugar is made with roses, plums and white sugar, exhibiting a pink color. A single bite would provide one distinctive flavor with its crispness and softness.

Dried Bean Curd With Soy Sauce

Dried Bean Curd With Soy Sauce

　 Suzhou dried bean curd with soy sauce can be served both as dessert and as dish for simple meals or banquets. It is a famed speciality of Suzhou.

　　The most popular brand is Jinjin featuring dark reddish brown color, special flavor and abundant gravy. It tastes fresh, sweet, soft and glutinous, embodying flavors of both gravy dish and candied fruit. In 1983, it won the title of “ Jiangsu Product of Quality” and golden-dragon prize for new products awarded by National Economy Committee. It enjoys great popularity throughout China including such cities as Beijing, Tianjin, Shenyang, Xi’an, Harbin, etc.

Green-bean Cake

Green-bean Cake

Green-bean cake, made around the Dragon Boat Festival, is a traditional summer food that can prune heat. Its materials are mainly boiled green-bean powder, steamed sweet-potato powder, vegetable oil, lard, white sugar, rose, date plum persimmon, etc. The small glossy stuffed cake is fragrant and delicious and can serve to smooth the urine, allay inflammation and remove toxic materials. There is a custom of eating green-bean cakes on Dragon Boat Festival in urban and rural Suzhou.

Huangtianyuan

Huangtianyuan

Assorted glutinous rice dumplings Located on the Guanqian Street and founded in the 1st year under Emperor Daoguang of the Qing Dynasty (the year 1821),it is a "Time-honored Store in China" and a "Renowned Chinese Catering Store". Mainly engaged in Suzhou style cakes and rice dumplings, it also operating noodles with associated garnishes on top, wonton and minor snacks as well as related foodstuffs, numbering to over 320 varieties. The greatest characteristic of Huang Tianyuan is to push forward a seasonal variety of pastry each month on the basis of Suzhou's traditional customs, e.g. rice dumplings in January, waist supporting rice cakes in February, green rice dumplings in March and so on.

Lugaojian

Lugaojian

Having the reputation of "No.1 Pot-stewed Dish Cooking Range South of Yangtze" ever since it’s founding in the 2nd year under Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty (the year 1663), Lu Gaojian is a "Time-honored Store in China" with a longer history than any of other such stores. Among its products, the most famous are five-spice braised pork seasoned with soy sauce, secret-recipe braised wild duck seasoned with soy sauce and pork cooked in soy juice, and they won the Titles of Excellent Products at the provincial and ministerial levels in succession.

Pinenut-jujubepaste Cake

Pinenut-jujubepaste Cake

Pinenut-jujubepaste cake is one of the famed traditional Suzhou pastries. The surface part is mainly compounded with white sugar, maltose, eggs, edible vegetable oil, flour, etc, while the fillings are mainly kernel, pulp, fragrant flowers, etc.

　　Various types include cakes made with pinenut and jujube paste, pinenut-peach and jujube paste, pinenut-jujube paste and sweetened-bean-paste, jujubepaste-lard, rose-lard, gingko-lard, etc. They are featured by the round or square shape and crispness and fragrance. Thus it is fair to say that in the making of these cakes, both color and smell, both shape and taste are paid equal attention to. The jujubepaste-lard cake made by Qian Sheng-yuan Bakery and Confectionary in Mudu Town, Wuxian city are especially famed for its moderate honey and fat as well as the crispness and fragrance. It is always the first choice of those customers who intend to give presents.

Precious Cake

Precious Cake

The main materials for Precious Cakes are crops, sugars and oil seasoned with some edibles of certain pharmaceutical functions.
　　The Precious Cake made by Suzhou Rice Fragrance Shop employs a folk recipe and compounds with food and such medicines as Chinese yam, hyacinth bean, etc., which could whet the appetite, prevent diseases and protect health. The Precious Cake could serve as dietetic-therapy food, and thus was granted the title of Jiangsu Famed Food.

Yeshouhe

Yeshouhe

　 Originally named Yeshouhe Tea Refreshment and Candy Shop, it was founded in the 11th year under Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty (the year 1885). The owner was surnamed Ye, a rich Zhejiang native merchant, and based on the meaning of friendliness being conductive to business success, he adopted his full name Yeshouhe. By learning widely from others' strong points, he became the first to create shrimp-roe dried fish, specially prepared smoked fish, smoked wild ducks and other feature products. His tea refreshments were also made mainly in Suzhou style, with the flavor of his own native land Ningbo added only later. Meticulously made, Yeshouhe's products enjoy high reputation south of Yangtze River.

Suzhou Mooncakes

Suzhou Mooncakes

Suzhou mooncakes, featured by their soft surface, elegant color and delicious filling, are regarded as the cream of Suzhou pastry. There are two types of mooncakes: sweet and salty according to the taste, or baked and toasted to the method. The sweet mooncakes are made baked, including such kinds as rose mooncake, gingko mooncake, etc; while the salty ones are made toasted including such kinds as ham mooncake with lard, fresh meat mooncake, etc. 　　The materials including flavorings of Suzhou mooncakes are carefully chosen, carrying typical local characteristics. The fillings of sweet mooncakes are mainly roses, osmanthus flowers, walnut kernels, shelled melon seeds, peanut kernels, seasame meat, etc. Those of salty ones are mainly ham, meat, shrimp meat, lard, onion, etc. While the surface part of the cakes are mainly compounded with flour, white sugar, maltose, fat, etc.

Luyang Wonton Restaurant

Luyang Wonton Restaurant

Founded in early 1960s of the 20th century, it wins over its guests by relying on its feature dim sum of superior quality, low price and well-prepared foodstuffs. The three-delicacy chicken soup with wonton, one of its feature varieties, is of a pure clean soup and a heavy delicious chicken taste. And its long-reputed small-steamer meat dumplings are good for its being of thin crust, heavy meat filling, plenty and delicious gravy as well as being fat but not greasy.

Wufangzhai Noodles Restaurant

Wufangzhai Noodles Restaurant

　Situated at the entrance of the delicacy street of Taijian Lane, Guanqian Street,it is a "Time-honored Store in China". Among the varieties it operates, of the greatest reputation should be its nostril-greeting fragrant and light-and-crisp-in-mouth "five-spice spareribs" and fried noodles, which are light, crisp and fragrant as well as "yellow on both sides" due to being deep fried in oil.

Zhuhongxing Noodles Restaurant

Zhuhongxing Noodles Restaurant

Being a "Time-honored Store in China", it was founded in 1930s, with the reputation of "its noodle varieties being well-known in the region from Nanjing to Shanghai". Later it was moved to the quaternary road crossing near the Humble Administration Garden, with its varieties increased into various fried noodles, fried Spring Festival cakes, presently fried garnishes to be served with on top of noodles, breakfast tea pastries, etc, in the way of incessantly bringing forth the new through discarding the old.

Songhelou Restaurant

Songhelou Restaurant

Squirrel mandarin fish Named in the meaning of living as long as the pine and crane, it is a "National Special Grade Restaurant" and a "Time-honored Store in China". Founded in the years under Emperor Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty, it has a history of over 200 years, with its image being displayed in the movies of "Satisfied Or Not", "The Gourmet" and Japanese film "China's Essential Secrets"and the restaurant itself being reputed as the "First Restaurant of Suzhou Cuisine". And its classical well-known dishes of "squirrel mandarin fish" and "Gusu pot-stewed duck" won the medals of "Gold Tripod Prize", "Chinese Famous Snack", etc, respectively.

Wangsi Restaurant

Wangsi Restaurant

Originally located at the foot of Mount Yushan, it was initially built in the 13th year under Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty (the year 1887).Weng Tonghe, Emperor Guangxu's teacher, once tasted the sweet-osmanthus flower wine of the restaurant, and wielded this writing brush to write the inscription of “Weeding with a hoe on a belt footpath, and leaving dew for fermenting the yellow flower”. And its “beggar's chicken” and “duck blood glutinous rice” are famous dishes with special flavor.

Deyuelou Restaurant

Deyuelou Restaurant

Enjoying a high reputation at home and abroad thanks to the movie "Satisfied Or Not”, the Deyuelou Restaurant, located in the busiest downtown center of the delicacy street of Taijian Lane, is a Chinese catering store renowned both inside and outside the county and one of national ten-excellence restaurant. Founded in the years under Emperor Jiajing of the Ming Dynasty, it has a history of over 400 years and has been mainly engaged in Suzhou cuisine dishes, with "beauty Xi Shi enjoying looking at the moon”,” honey flavored braised ham", etc. being among its well-known dishes.

　　Deyuelou's building ,of primitive simplicity and with a view in every step, is of the quintessence of Suzhou garden architecture being one of the ten major buildings in Suzhou.

Qionglong Mountain

Qionglong Mountain

To the south of Suzhou, Qionglong Mountain is the highest mountain in the region with many historical sites and scenic spots, including Sun Wu Garden, Shangzhen Taoist Temple, Ningbang Temple, Baizhang Spring, and the Pavilion of Imperial Tablet, etc. The mountain has been officially listed as a national forest park

The Stone Lake Scenic Area

The Stone Lake Scenic Area

Lying 6 km to the southwest of the city, the Stone Lake Scenic Area is the place where the great Song poet Fan Chengda once lived in seclusion. By the side of the lake is the Shangfang Hill. At the top of the hill is the Lengjia Pagoda dating from the Song Dynasty. To the east of the lake is farmland crisscrossed by canals. To the west of the lake are rolling hills. The Xingchun Bridge with nine arches by the northern shore of the lake looks like a long rainbow above the water. There are the remains of the Celestial Mirror Pavilion, the Putuo Crag, the Shrine of Fan Chengda, the Yuecheng Bridge, and other sights around. On the 18th of the 8th lunar month every year, it is the custom for many local people to travel here to enjoy the bright moon reflected in the lake through the arches of the Xingchun Bridge, forming a wonderful necklace of moons.

Guangfu

Guangfu

Guangfu is a historic and cultural town in Jiangsu Province. Like a brilliant pearl inlaid on the east shore of Lake Taihu, Guangfu lies 28 Kilometers apart away the ancient city of Suzhou and neighbors Lake Taihu National Tourism Vacation Zone. The whole town covers a total area of 58 square Kilometers, including 44 square kilometers of plain, 9 square kilometers of hilly area and 5 square kilometers of water area. Having already been listed into one of the key central towns of Jiangsu Province, Guangfu Township has prosperous economy, developed culture, picturesque scenery, numerous scenic spots and historical sites and rich special local products resources. Guangfu is a typical thousand-year-old town south of lower reaches of the Yangtze River. It has, since ancient times, enjoyed the reputation of being a "land of flowers and fruits throughout the year" and a "land of happiness and beautiful landscape". It is a sightseeing and tourist scenic spot.

West Hill

West Hill

The Western Hill Scenic Spot lies in the southern centre of Taihu Lake. Facing the Eastern Hill Scenic Area, the Western Hill is composed of Dongting western hill, the largest island in Taihu Lake and the other islands around. The scenery here embraces the essence of the hills and lakes of Taihu Lake featured by the unique archipelago scenes and the historic sites formed from the period of Wu&Yue. 　
　
Surrounding the Western Hill, the 36,000-hectare Taihu Lake is featured by the mist-covered water and the scattered islands. Among the 72 peaks in Taihu Lake, the Western Hill island proper boasts 41. Layer upon layer encircling peaks rise in emerald verdure. Each view, distant or close, would offer you immense artistic enjoument. Most of the Western Hill is covered by various kinds of flowers and fruits. The types and quantity of flowers & fruits as well as the ancient buildings of Ming&Qing dynasties of the Western Hill can rival those of the Eastern Hill. The West Hill is Well-known for natural beauty of islands and historical relics, such as Shigong Hill, Linwu Cave, Mingyue Bay, Baoshan Monastery, and Piaomiao Peak, etc.

　　In the recent years, the opening to traffic of Taihu Lke Bridge has offered people great convenience from Suzhou city to Western Hill, and thus make the once quiet ancient township of Western Hill a bustling tourist attraction.

The East Hill

The East Hill

A peninsular of Lake Tai to the southwest of Suzhou, the township has under its jurisdiction 17 of the 72 island hills in the lake. Besides scenic spots, there are numerous and places of historical interest, the most famous being the Purple Gold Nunnery, Xuanyuan Palace, Mingshan Hall, Qi Garden, Carved Mansion, and Sanshan Island. 　　

Known as “the land of fish and rice”, “the mountain of flowers and fruits”, the East Hill Township produces more than 50 kinds of famous products such as loquat, Biluochun Tea, one of the ten most famed in China, as well as tangerines, Taihu Lake water shield, etc. The hills themselves also present picturesque scenery: in spring, the flowers bloom luxuriantly, exhibiting a blaze of colors and the tea buds boast jade green; around the Dragon Boat Festival, the ripe loquats among the green leaves, the exuberant red babassu trees and the lush-and –green orange orchards, all show a scenery more beautiful than in the spring; when autumn comes, the hills are teemed with groves of oranges. Watched from far away, there is a vast expanse of verdure tinged with some redness; while observed nearby, clusters of fruit hang heavy. The Township of East Hill, it is really a wonderful resort for tourism and for recuperation as well.

The Tianchi Hill

The Tianchi Hill

In the same mountain ridges as Lingyan and Tianping Hills to the west of Suzhou, Tianchi Hill is named to denote “heavenly pool”, which is a pool of limped water halfway uphill. Sights of interest on the hill are Jijian Temple, Boyu Spring, Lotus Peak, and Heart-washing Spring, etc. 　　Famous monks, hermits and old diehards have withdrawn from society and live in solitude in the Heavenly Pond Hill so it has been famous as a hill of solitude. 　　

The Tianchi Hill has always been the Buddhist resort and the so many historical sites, beautiful scenery and clear pond water are all make people feel carefree and joyous.

The Flat-top Hill

The Flat-top Hill

The Flat-top Hill is one of the main scenes of the Mudu Scenic Spot of National Taihu Lake Scenic and Historic Spot. It is 14 kilometers west to Suzhou city with an elevation of 221 meters. Although it is high and steep, it is flat at the top, from which its name is got. 　　

The Flat-top Hill is famous for the three superbs grotesque rocks, clear fountains and red maples. Half way up the hill there is the White Cloud Spring. The water is mellow and sweet and is said to be praised as the “Number One Spring in the Wu area” by Lu Yu, the saint of tea. The old maple woods at the southeastern foot were brought back from Fujian Province during the reign of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty and planted in the ancestrily precious land by Fan Yonglin. It is a splendid sight that the red leaves covering the hill look like rosy clouds curling up in the late autumn. There is a praise saying that “the red maples on the Flat-top Hill are the finest under heaven”. 　　

Since the Tang and Song Dynasties, the Flat-top Hill Has been the famous tourist resort in south of the Yangtse River . So many poems, travels and relics left behind by the famous figures of Bai Juyi, Fan Zhongyan, Tang Bohu and the Emperor Qianlong attract the visitors to recall the past and find out the historical sites. The buildings, halls, corridors and pavilions were built according to the physical features of the hill with rocks, water, flowers and trees embellished among them. The hill and the trees show more delights. 　　

Climbing by the path onto the Flat-top hill, you will pass through the huge rock with a long linear crack in ,among the rock flying by, the Maple-seeing Pavilion, the White Snow Pavilion, the tall and erect peak, the terrace for looking at the lake, and finally come to the top of the hill above the clouds, from which you can see nearby as well as in the distance that the fields, the woods, the stretching hills and the vast Taihu Lake draw up a picture of hills and waters south of the Yangtse River full with the flavor of the times.

The Delicate Rock Hill

The Delicate Rock Hill

The Delicate Rock Hill lies at the side of Mudu Town 30 kilometers southwest to Suzhou city. It is 180 meters high and covers 1,800 mu. It was said that the Delicate Rock Hill was tall, straight, beautiful and queer, and it looked unwilling to be paralleled with the other hills. Therefore, it has been praised as “the most beautiful and superb hill in south of the Yangtse River ” and the “Number one Peak in Wu Area”. It has main scenes like the Well of the King of Wu, the Moon-enjoying Pond, the Flower-flowing Pond, the Hole of Xishi and the Terrace for Qin. 　　

From its history, it is observed that the Delicate Rock Hill got its name for the grotesque rocks on the hill, among which the ganoderma rock is the most outstanding. Even as early as in the Jin Dynasty, the Delicate Rock Hill had been known far and wide, and it has a history of more than 1, 700 years so far. 　　Here are jagged rocks of grotesque shapes on the Delicate Rock Hill which was said to have “ Twelve Grotesque Rocks ” or “ Eighteen Grotesque Rocks ” . In fact, there are more grotesque rocks with name on the hill than above-mentioned. 　　

The main characteristic of Delicate Rock Hill is that it has many relics of the State Wu, including the legends of Hu Chai, the once mighty King of Wu. 　　

The Delicate Rock Temple is the largest in scale of the old buildings on the Delicate Rock Hill. Built at the top of the hill, the temple is towering into the sky with a magnificent sight. The Delicate Rock Pagoda east to the hall was built in the second year during the reign of Tianjian in the Liang Dynasty and now is a brick pagoda of seven storeys with eight sides each after having undergone so many changes. The Pagoda stands erect and is the symbol of the Delicate Rock Hill where visitors all like to have pictures taken as souvenirs.

Scenery of Lake Tai

Scenery of Lake Tai

The charming Lake Tai, in great expanse of water of moderate depth, dotted with many reefs and isles and surrounded with elegant undulating green hills along crooked shorelines, is of special scenic appeal. 　　

With an area of 2,435 square kilometers, the lake measures 56 kilometers from east to west and 67 kilometers from south to north, with a circumference of 407 kilometers. Its total capacity amounts to 5,150 million cubic meters. About 62% of the lake area is under jurisdiction of Suzhou Municipality. 　　

The long history and cultural traditions of Lake Tai area can be traced to the Paleolithic Times, represented by the world-famous “Sanshan Culture”. 　　

The great natural beauty and valuable historical and cultural sites in the lake area have inspired the literary celebrities and men of letters of various times, who left in history many poems about the lake, adding luster to the wealth of Wu Culture. In 1982, the State Council designated the Lake Tai Scenic Area as a major scenic and historical site of China.

Luzhi

Luzhi

Luzhi Township of Wuxian City about 18 kilometers away to the east of Suzhou has history of over 1,000 years. Transpiration by land, water and air leads to everywhere. Suzhou-Shanghai Airport Highway goes through it. The whole township has 32 administrative villages under its jurisdiction with a population of 50,000. The total area is 50 square kilometers with 50,000 mu of arable land and 20,000 mu of water. 　　

The ancient township is the leading scenic and tourist spot of Taihu Lake Scenic Area. It is dotted with numerous quaint small bridges, canals and cultural relics protection units published by the State council. The existing nine Tang Dynasty disciples of Buddha are rare in the country and unique in the south of the Yangtze River. Bao Shen Temple in the town is a well-known Buddhist sanctuary in the region. Besides there are several ruins of the famous persons in the post such as the white lotus flower temple of north Song Dynasty in the east, the Palace of Wu Kingdom King Fuchai in the north, etc. Another special feature of the township is its numerous bridges and plenty of water. The water in the canals is clean and the environment elegant. The one square kilometer town proper once had 72.5 bridges from the past dynasties and now 41 still exist. They are different from each other in design and style. The density of bridges here even exceeds that of Venice.

Mudu

Mudu

MuDu is a Garden Ancient Township as age as Suzhou, which has more 2500 years history until now. "Mudu", meaning "timbers blocking the rivers", comes from a story: During the Spring and Autumn Period, King Wu was building " Guanwa Palace " for his concubine Xishi. The timbers rafted here were so many that they blocked the rivers. 　　

MuDu is one of the important Tai lake scenic spot. Its national view is the first one in jiangnan, and there is deep culture of Wu country in its culture heritage. MuDu is the jiangsu famous town of archaic culture, products of calligraphy and painting enjoy a good reputation for a long time, personalities of past dynasties emerged in endlessly at Buddhism culture for a long history. The vestiges of Wu palace at Lingyan Mountain. Red maple of Tianping mountain, Private garden during the Ming and Qing dynasties, water under bridge, have been the archaic vestiges which are very famous in abroad and home.

Tongli Town

Tongli Town

Tongli is located by Lake Taihu and the Grand Canal, 80 kilometers west of Shanghai and 18 kilometers east of Suzhou. Like Zhouzhuang, it is also an ancient waterside town. The layout of the town and the residences basically retain the traditional style. Houses of the Ming and Qing Dynasties account for about 40% of all the buildings in the town. Many of them are large residences. The town also abounds in rivers and canals, by which houses of Ming and Qing Dynasties are lined up one after another. Highlights include Tuisi Garden, a classical garden built in the Qing Dynasty, Chongben Hall and Jiayin Hall, the bridges of Peace, Auspiciousness and Longevity. 　　

The profound cultural background of Tongli makes possible the great number of residential houses and gardens. With more than 30 gardens and over 10 buildings dating back to the Ming Dynasty, it boasts a “museum of ancient architectures” in China.

Zhouzhuang

Zhouzhuang

Situated in the south of the Yangtze and between Shanghai and Suzhou, Zhouzhuang is an ancient town under Kunshan City, Jiangsu Province, which abounds with rivers and lakes. The town is over 900 years old, yet the typical style and features of this water country and the way of its inhabitants' life remain unchanged. All the houses in the town, built with sidewalks along canals have formed a web of water lanes. Stone bridges and overhanging towers span the waterways to provide free passage for the local people. The murmuring streams under small bridges and dwelling quarters with delicate courtyards are the distinct features of Zhouzhuang, now rarely seen in the whole of East China. Just as Huangshan Mountains boast all the beauties of the mountains in China, the township of Zhouzhuang possesses all the charms of water counties.

The Ancient Towns of Water Country

The Ancient Towns of Water Country

The ancient towns in the suburban water country of Suzhou are vibrant spots of great appeal like the old city itself. Among the things of tourist interest are the waterways, bridges, and traditional houses with white walls and dark roof-tiles in the towns of Luzhi, Tongli, and Zhouzhuang, the picturesque scenes of Lake Tai and hills, and historical relics in the East Hill and the West Hill, the gardens of distinct features in Mudu, Shaxi, Qiandeng, and Jinxi, and their rich collections folk cultural relics, etc. 　　
Since initial development of tourism industry, these ancient towns have been under planned protection with emphasis laid on preserving the traditional outlook of the towns. The houses of simplicity and quaintness, serene scenes of waterways and bridges, the down-to-earth town folks, are combined to present a picture of typical folk customs of the water country in the southern Yangtze delta. 　　
The water-bound ancient towns in Suzhou, nurtured and adorned by the crystal waters, impart an air of quiet serenity and ease, which attract the attention of tourists from China and abroad.

The Classical Gardens

The Classical Gardens

Grounded on the tradition of Wu Culture, the classical gardens of Suzhou have a special appeal to visitors. Up to now, 9 of the classical gardens have been registered by UNESCO as World Cultural Heritage. As early as the Spring and Autumn Period, there appeared a royal garden, “the resort palace of Wu”, its remnant site still being kept on Lingyan Hill. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, when the art of classical gardens reached its zenith, there were 280 gardens in the city. Suzhou has been acknowledged worldwide as “a city of garden”. 　　
Most of Suzhou gardens used to be privately owned, and unlike the stately and ornate imperial gardens, they are intended to achieve an artistic atmosphere of elegance and ease. In creating the gardens, priority is given to recapture the essence of nature by poetic implications techniques of painting, to fulfill the artistic concept that “man made as they are, the gardens appear like the work of nature.” 　　
Suzhou gardens occupy only limited areas, and they are generally combined with residential quarters for the purpose of living and entertainment. Their general feature is that they reflect a much bigger world through a small one by masterly alterations of the solid and the void, the technique of concealment, and perspectives of depth.

The Garden of Cultivation

The Garden of Cultivation

Situated in the northwest of the ancient city of Suzhou, it was laid out by the Ming Royal Academician Wen Zhenmeng, great grandson of Wen Zhengming and the most successful candidate in the climactic palace examination during Tianqi reign under the Ming Dynasty. To the north of a pond in the middle of the garden is the water-side pavilion, the Hall the Erudition and Elegance. To the south of the pond is an impressive range of mountains made from a mixture of limestone and earth, dotted here and there with small pavilions and age-old trees. At the foot of the mountains there are coves at the southeast and southwest corners, which are spanned by low and flat bridges of antiquity. At the southeast corner of the pond is the Fry Pavilion dating from the Ming Dynasty. To the southwest of the pond is an elegant mini-garden. The Garden of Cultivation, affording pleasant, extensive and natural perspectives, still keeps the style of the Ming gardens popular then in the area south of the Lower Yangtze.

Mountain Villa with Embracing Beauty

Mountain Villa with Embracing Beauty

Celebrated for its wonderful limestone mountain, the Mountain Villa with Embracing Beauty,covering only 2,180 sq.m.,enjoys the same reputation as other famous garden in China. According to the historical records,the limestone mountain was designed and piled up by the great Qing master GuYuliang (1764 A.D--1830 A.D). Within an area of less than 500 sq.m.,the man-made mountain seems to be spontaneous an uncontrived ,possessing high peaks (about 7M),dells,pathways,carverns,stone houses,stone steps,ravines,precipices,gullies,bridges and cliffs.Like a free hand brushwork in Chinese painting characterized by vivid expression and bold outline,it ranks first among all existing man-made mountains in Chinese gardens.

The Garden of Retreat and Reflection

The Garden of Retreat and Reflection

It was first built in Qing dynasty. The owner of the garden was dismissed from post, thus returned to his native town. A saying goes like this: "Loyal to the emperor when one is at post; Review one's past errors when one retreats." The owner took the meaning from this saying and named the garden Tuisi, meaning "retreat to review". The constructions in the garden are in harmony with the name, featuring simplicity and elegance. 　

　The Garden of Retreat and Reflection is full of changing vistas. There're gardens within the garden, principal and subordinate scenes. Space, including water space, has been ingeniously handled to suggest more space. Endless scenes have been created within limits. It boasts the cream of the gardens in China.

The Couple's Garden Retreat

The Couple's Garden Retreat

Located near the eastern city wall of Suzhou at Xiao Xin Qiao Lane and surrounded by the moat and canals from three sides, it has a housing complex in the middle, flanked by the East and West Gardens, containing an allusion to "Couple’s Garden Retreat". Hence the name. Mirrored in the clear water of a pond at the East Garden is a magnificent range of realistic yellowstone mountains believed to be piled up during the Ming Dynasty. Made of ormosia wood, the circular door frame of the Amongst Mountains and Water Pavilion was carved with an open-work picture of "three Friends in the Dead of Winter", namely pine, bamboo, and plum, instinct with life, an art treasure of this sort in the classical gardens of Suzhou. The West Garden also contains a number of fascinating mini-gardens decorated with limestone peaks and flowering shrubs.

The Lingering Garden

The Lingering Garden

Covering 2.3 hectares, the Lingering Garden, one of the four most famous gardens in China, was constructed in the 11th year of Wanli reign under the Ming Dynasty (1593 AD). It is divided into the central, eastern, northern, and western sections. The eastern part features a delightful group of elaborate buildings and garden courts, the central part the marvelous landscape garden with age-old trees, the western part the natural wilderness of a woody hill, and the northern part idyllic scenes of humble huts enclosed with bamboo fences. The lingering Garden is celebrated for its artistic way of handling the spaces between various architectural forms and garden courts, which have successfully created the feeling of depth. It boasts a good number of very attractive limestone peaks from Lake Tai with imposing shapes.

The Surging Wave Pavilion

The Surging Wave Pavilion

Celebrated for the delights of the wilderness of mountain and forest scenery, the Surging Wave Pavilion is the oldest among the existing classical gardens of Suzhou. The exact location of the Surging Wave Pavilion can be found in the Song Dynasty map of Pingjiang (Suzhou, A.D.1229) inscribed on the stele. On the whole the present garden of the Surging Wave Pavilion still keeps the style of the Song. It features a range of man-made mountains inside the garden and waterscapes outside. Proceeding past the pure expanse of water over a zigzag bridge of stone and through the entrance, one comes to the garden and catches sight of man-made mountain covered with age-old trees and bamboo, running from east to west. The Surging Wave Pavilion in the shape of a square stands at the top of the mountain and has a parallel couplet from the Song poets on the stone pillars to heighten artistic conception. Most of the garden buildings, simple and plain, were rebuilt in the Qing Dynasty, carefully arranged around the mountains and connected by a long roofed walkway. A double-corridor built by the canal lies to the north of the garden, unifying waterscapes outside the garden and "mountain scenery" inside in one breath through its latticed windows, one of incredible examples of borrowed scenes in the classical gardens of Suzhou. Compared with other classical gardens of Suzhou, the Surging Wave Pavilion is simply unrivaled in terms of "urban scenery".

The Lion Grove Garden

The Lion Grove Garden

The Lion Grove Garden was originally built in the 2nd year of Zhizheng rein of the Yuan Dynasty (1342 AD), and its name was associated with the idea of Buddhism. The garden layout was based on a scroll painted by the well-known Yuan artist Ni Zan (Yunlin). Emperors Kangxi and Qianlong visited the garden several times and made replicas of the garden in the Yuan Ming Garden and the Summer Mountain Resort respectively. Compactly yet harmoniously spaced, the garden, also called the Kingdom of Rocks, is noted for its labyrinthine man-made limestone mountains with winding pathways and caverns as well as pavilions, terraces and towers. A long roofed walkway going round the garden strings all the major buildings together.

The Master-of-Nets Garden

The Master-of-Nets Garden

Originally known as the Fisherman's Retreat, it was laid out under the southern Song Dynasty, and was renamed the Master-of-Nets Garden in Qianglong reign under the Qing Dynasty. The outstanding feature of this small but elegant garden lies in the harmonious combination of living quarters with the landscape garden. The central pond, along with the surrounding roofed walkways and pavilions decorated with trees, flowers and rockery, is a typical embodiment of the classical idea of "a small world reflecting a bigger one" and "the few surpassing the many". There are scenes beyond scenes, and gardens within the garden. Many buildings are perfectly spaced in good proportion instead of being crammed. Based on illusion, the garden is full of change, achieving a unity of part and whole. The Master-of-Nets Garden serves to illustrate how the few surpasses the many and it has become a masterpiece of classical gardens.

The Humble Administrator’s Garden

The Humble Administrator’s Garden

Built as early as the 4th year of Zhengde reign under the Ming Dynasty (1509 AD), the Humble Administrator's Garden, covering 5.2 hectares, is one of the four most famous gardens in China. It is divided into the eastern, middle and western parts. Part of the building complex has been converted for use as the Suzhou Garden Museum. Centering upon the broad expanse of a lake, the poetic and picturesque garden landscapes and waterscapes with exquisite buildings and luxuriant vegetation, which seem to be changing at every step and awakening reminiscences of the Venetian scenes in the area south of the Lower Yangtze, are archaic, rustic, extensive and naturalistic. On the whole, it has kept the style of the Ming Dynasty and has long been regarded as the finest specimen of the classical garden in the area south of the Lower Yangtze.

The Classical Gardens

The Classical Gardens

Grounded on the tradition of Wu Culture, the classical gardens of Suzhou have a special appeal to visitors. Up to now, 9 of the classical gardens have been registered by UNESCO as World Cultural Heritage. As early as the Spring and Autumn Period, there appeared a royal garden, “the resort palace of Wu”, its remnant site still being kept on Lingyan Hill. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, when the art of classical gardens reached its zenith, there were 280 gardens in the city. Suzhou has been acknowledged worldwide as “a city of garden”. 　　
Most of Suzhou gardens used to be privately owned, and unlike the stately and ornate imperial gardens, they are intended to achieve an artistic atmosphere of elegance and ease. In creating the gardens, priority is given to recapture the essence of nature by poetic implications techniques of painting, to fulfill the artistic concept that “man made as they are, the gardens appear like the work of nature.” 　　
Suzhou gardens occupy only limited areas, and they are generally combined with residential quarters for the purpose of living and entertainment. Their general feature is that they reflect a much bigger world through a small one by masterly alterations of the solid and the void, the technique of concealment, and perspectives of depth.