Suzhou Qiyuan Garden

Suzhou Qiyuan Garden

Suzhou Qiyuan Garden is a cultural heritage conservation unit of Suzhou City.

The site of Qiyuan Garden was originally called Yejiabang, a low-lying area of over ten acres by Taihu Lake used for growing rice and raising fish. In the 1930s, Xi Qishen, a native of Dongshan, purchased the land, excavated the lakeside area to expand it to more than 40 acres, and spent 100,000 (then current currency value) over three years to build this private garden, hence it is also known as the Xi Family Garden.

During its construction, renowned painters such as Cai Xian, Fan Shaoyun, and Zhu Zhuyun designed the garden based on the artistic concept of the “Zhaooyin Garden · Jingguan Tower” built by Ming Dynasty’s Wang Ao, capturing the profound meaning of “facing thirty-six thousand square kilometers of waves and seventy-two peaks of lush greenery,” fully embodying the beauty of lake and mountain scenery.

The main structure in the garden, the Jinghu Hall, is a square hall situated among layered mountains and waters, a two-story building that is dignified and elegant. The hall is open on all four sides: the east side features the “Five Elders Peaks” and “Real Bamboo and Fake Bamboo Shoots,” with the ground paved in small stone patterns, surrounded by lush flowers and plants including yulan magnolia, camellia, peony, osmanthus, red maple, wintersweet, and ironwood pine—tranquil and pleasing to the eye. Especially enchanting on moonlit nights. The garden’s winding corridor is lined with patterned lattice windows on the other side, offering glimpses of the segmented garden scenery, sparking imagination and a sense of endless exploration. At the end and sides of the corridor are pavilions and towers, adding to its quaint and refined charm.

The expansive pool surrounding most of the Jinghu Hall is called “Zhuan Lake.” The pool is edged with irregularly arranged Taihu rocks forming a rippled shoreline, adorned with small rockeries that mimic natural forms. Rather than showcasing towering peaks or deep valleys, the rockeries excel in their balanced density, imitating animal shapes such as “Unicorn Bull Head” and “Lion Head.” On the south side of the pool, an arched gate is constructed from Taihu rocks, leading to a waterside fishing platform inside. The lake is surrounded by lush flowers and plants, and the water from Taihu Lake ripples gently. Sunlight filtered through the surrounding mountain shadows creates ever-changing light reflections on the water surface, resembling a living scroll painting, offering a uniquely serene charm. It is pleasantly cool in summer, and in spring, the blooming flowers create a vibrant tapestry over the pool.

Outside “Zhuan Lake” lies a small river bordering Taihu Lake, with a stone bridge crossing it. The riverbank along Taihu Lake is built into a long embankment. At one end of the embankment stands a Taihu rock hill, not very tall but featuring winding peaks, caves, and valleys. The hilltop is a flat platform, offering a clear view of the garden’s scenery, and when looking back eastward, one can see the sparkling expanse of Taihu Lake dotted with fishing boats. A gap is left on the long embankment, connected by a towering stone arch bridge. In the past, the garden owner’s motorboat would come from Taihu Lake, pass through this bridge opening into the garden, and travel along the small river directly to the dock near the new building (a three-room, two-wing house used for lodging). Stone platforms and benches are placed on the bridge, where one can sit leisurely, sip tea, and gaze at the vast, misty Taihu Lake, where water and sky merge into one, evoking a feeling of boundless openness and tranquility.

Throughout the entire garden, the square hall, winding corridor, Zhuan Lake, rockeries, and the new building are composed in a balanced and harmonious layout, complementing each other. Borrowing the majestic silhouette of nearby Moli Peak and the boundless Taihu Lake, along with the islands rising and falling on the lake surface, visitors are left feeling immersed in limitless natural beauty.

In the late 1940s, Qiyuan Garden changed ownership to Xu Zixing from Yangwan. Since Xu was also known as Jieqi, the name Qiyuan Garden was retained.

Ticket: 45 RMB

Phone: 66281236

Transportation: Take bus 502, 62, or 621 to Dongshan Town

Address: No. 39, Qiyuan Road, Dongshan Town, Wuzhong District, Suzhou City

Type: Garden

Recommended visiting time: 1–2 hours

Phone: 0512-66281236

Opening Hours:

8:30–16:30

Ticket Information:

Adult ticket: 45 RMB; children under 1.2 meters and seniors over 70 years old are admitted free; children between 1.2–1.5 meters and seniors aged 60–69 enjoy a 50% discount.

Dongshan Town: Located southwest of Suzhou, about 37 kilometers from the ancient city of Suzhou, Dongshan Town is a radiant pearl by Taihu Lake. Covering a total area of 96.55 square kilometers, it governs 13 villages (communities) with a permanent population of 54,000. Surrounded by water on three sides, Dongshan enjoys a pleasant climate and abundant natural resources. It is famed as a mountain of flowers and fruit, a land of fish and rice, and holds the titles “Hometown of Biluochun Tea in China” and “Hometown of Taihu Crabs in China.” Biluochun tea, White Sand loquats, Black Purple bayberries, Taihu hairy crabs, various premium vegetables, and high-quality Taihu aquatic products are available year-round—"fruit every season, flowers every month"... Dongshan Town detailed information++