Master-of-Nets Garden

Master-of-Nets Garden

The Master-of-Nets Garden is a National AAAA-level Tourist Attraction and a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Master-of-Nets Garden is located on Hujiaotou Lane, along Dai Chengqiao Road. It was designated as a Suzhou Municipal Cultural Relics Protection Unit in 1963 and as a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit in 1982.

The Master-of-Nets Garden is one of the Four Famous Gardens of Suzhou and a representative work that showcases exceptional artistic character and cultural value among Suzhou’s classical gardens.

The Master-of-Nets Garden was originally the site of the "Wanjuan Hall" built during the Chunxi era of the Southern Song Dynasty by Shi Zhengzhi, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. There used to be a garden in front of the hall called "Fishing Retreat." Later, the garden came into the possession of the Ding family but gradually fell into disrepair. During the Qing Dynasty’s Qianlong era, Song Zongyuan, a retired Minor Minister of the Imperial Kitchen, settled in Suzhou and built a private residence on the former site of Wanjuan Hall. He adopted the alias “Master of Nets,” also referencing the original meaning of “Fishing Retreat” from Shi Zhengzhi, and playing on the homophonic similarity to Wangsi Lane, naming it the “Master-of-Nets Garden.” Shen Fu mentioned it in his book "Six Records of a Floating Life." In 1758, Peng Qifeng attended the Lantern Festival banquets here. After Song’s death, the garden gradually declined. By the end of Qianlong’s reign, it was purchased by Qu Yuan, a wealthy merchant from Taicang, who added pavilions, terraces, bamboo, and trees, altering much of the original appearance of the Master-of-Nets Garden. It became known as “Qu Garden” or “Peng Garden,” and Qian Daxin wrote the "Record of the Master-of-Nets Garden." In the early years of the Tongzhi era, it came under Li Hongyi, the Jiangsu Provincial Surveillance Commissioner. Because it was near the Surging Waves Pavilion built by Su Shunqin, Li styled himself “Su’s Neighbor” and renamed the garden “Su Lin Cottage.” In 1896, during the 22nd year of the Guangxu reign, Li Shaomei, Li Hongyi’s adopted son, added the Xiejie Tower. In 1907, Dalai, the General of Jilin, brought his family to live in the garden in Suzhou and authored the "Record of the Master-of-Nets Garden" to document the experience. In 1917, Zhang Zuolin bought the garden for 300,000 silver dollars and gifted it to his teacher Zhang Xiluan, renaming it “Idle Garden.” Ye Gongchuo, Zhang Shanzi, and Zhang Daqian once stayed here temporarily. In 1940, He Yanong purchased the garden and spent three years extensively renovating it and enriching it with antiques and calligraphy. In 1950, He’s children donated the garden to the state. After renovation, it opened to the public in September 1959.

The Master-of-Nets Garden is a typical example of a classical Chinese garden that integrates residence and garden. The residential section has three courtyards, extending along the central axis from the main gate to the sedan-chair hall, Wanjuan Hall, and Xiejie Tower. The main hall, “Wanjuan Hall,” features lofty architecture and elegant decorations. The brick gate tower in front of the hall is exquisitely carved and meticulously crafted, representing the finest of Jiangnan craftsmanship, and holds high cultural and artistic value. The entire residential area is rigorously structured, not large in space but impressive in scale, forming a contrast with the tranquil and reserved ambiance of the garden section.

The garden section of the Master-of-Nets Garden is not large, covering approximately 0.47 hectares (including the residence), and consists of a main scenic area and auxiliary scenic areas. The main scenic area centers around a body of water, with various attractions arranged around the pond. To the south of the pond are attractions such as the “Little Hill and Osmanthus Pavilion,” “Feathered-Ribbon Water Pavilion,” and “Cloud Ridge.” To the north are the “Pine-Watching and Painting-Reading Pavilion” and “Bamboo-Outside-a-Branch Pavilion,” with the “Duck-Shooting Corridor” to the east and the “Moon-Arrives-and-Breeze-Comes Pavilion” to the west. The entire main scenic area masterfully manipulates proportions and spatial dynamics—alternatively restraining and expanding, concealing and revealing—to create a layered effect reminiscent of a poetic suite, where there is a garden within a garden and scenery within scenery, offering endless charm.

In terms of layout and spatial composition, to make the main scenic area appear more open and airy, larger main structures are set back from the water’s edge and treated with various techniques to soften and veil their presence. Both the “Little Hill and Osmanthus Pavilion” to the south and the “Pine-Watching and Painting-Reading Pavilion” to the north are positioned away from the pond to reduce their visual mass. The “Little Hill and Osmanthus Pavilion” is fronted with stacked rock flower stands, ancient pines, and old trees, creating a subtle and elusive effect that enhances the sense of space and enriches the landscape.

Smaller structures are built close to the water, using scale contrast to highlight the vastness of the pond. The largest waterside structure is the “Feathered-Ribbon Water Pavilion,” which is only slightly larger than a waterside pavilion and much smaller than the main halls typically found in gardens. The “Bamboo-Outside-a-Branch Pavilion” and “Duck-Shooting Corridor” form a dynamic group of small garden structures, showcasing a variety of forms. The extended open corridor, with its interplay of solid and void, is called the “Bamboo-Outside-a-Branch Pavilion,” while the recessed half-pavilion is named the “Duck-Shooting Corridor.” Together with the surrounding rocks and trees, they form the mid-ground waterside scene while screening the taller two-story buildings such as the “Five Peaks Study” and “Gathering-Void Studio,” creating a layered and well-balanced ensemble of garden architecture. The “Moon-Arrives-and-Breeze-Comes Pavilion” stands tall above the water, branching off from the connecting corridor behind it, forming a focal point on the western side of the pond. Its seemingly floating and lofty placement creates a strong visual attraction, almost detached from the corridor, as if standing independently in the water—reminiscent of a lakeside pavilion—and is one of the most outstanding highlights of the garden.

The main peak of the rockery group to the south of the pond is called “Cloud Ridge,” and it is one of the finest examples of yellow-stone rockeries in Suzhou gardens. With a solemn presence, clear hierarchy, balanced voids and solids, and varied layers, it blends naturally with the pond to form a landscape dominated by mountain and water elements.

The layout of the pond harmonizes with the overall spatial scale of the garden. The water surface is primarily unified, reflecting the sky, clouds, pavilions, and towers, while the pond edges are adorned with colorful flowers, green grass, and ancient pines, evoking a vivid impression of lake and mountain scenery. At the southeast and northwest corners of the pond are two bridges, symbolizing the flow and origin of the water. A very small stone arch bridge at the southeast corner is the smallest in Suzhou gardens, using scale contrast to emphasize the breadth of the pond, with a small stream beneath it suggesting the source of the water, gently flowing in. At the northwest corner is a winding zigzag bridge, gracefully extending over the water, as if leading the water away smoothly. The coming and going of water instantly brings a lively vitality to the entire pond.

The auxiliary scenic area complements and extends the main scenic area, adding depth and layers to the landscape, giving visitors a feeling of “courtyards within courtyards.” The “Dianchun Studio Courtyard” in the west is a masterpiece among the smaller courtyards in Suzhou gardens. The courtyard layout is simple yet refined, quietly conveying a sense of solemnity and depth. It was once used as a medicinal herb garden, filled with peonies, and in late spring, “peonies still linger in the spring breeze.” To the north of the courtyard is a three-room study facing south.

In front is a terrace, and the eastern winding corridor connects to the main scenic area. On the western wall is a semi-open pavilion called the “Cold Spring Pavilion,” and at the southeastern corner is a spring called “Hanbi,” surrounded by unusual rocks and a pool of clear spring water. The entire courtyard is subtly elegant and leaves a lasting impression.

In front of structures such as the Gathering-Void Studio, Ladder-to-the-Clouds Room, Music Room, and Five Peaks Study are various small courtyards, some hidden, some exposed, some secluded, some open, each forming distinct landscapes that complement and enhance the main scenic area.

In terms of plant arrangement, due to limited space, the main scenic area mainly features solitary planting, with a few ancient pines and cypresses along the pond, each with unique shapes—some towering straight, others twisting gracefully, their bases hidden among rock and flower stands. In front of the Duck-Shooting Corridor, black pines and green maples rise diagonally over the pond. Within the smaller courtyards, one or two standout trees serve as focal points, such as boxwood, crape myrtle, podocarpus, and white pine. Plants used as accents with the rocks include purple bamboo, filial piety bamboo, nandina, banana plants, winter jasmine, and peonies. The combination of high and low, near and far, focal points and expanses, shapes and colors creates a uniquely distinctive plant landscape.

Overall, the Master-of-Nets Garden is characterized by its water features, with a compact and prominent theme, appropriately scaled spaces, and excelling in its delicate, refined, and simple design. It is a representative work of medium-sized classical gardens in Suzhou.

Featured Activities

The Classical Night Garden event at the Master-of-Nets Garden was jointly launched in 1990 by the garden and the city’s cultural authorities. It has welcomed over 200,000 domestic and international guests and is highly popular with tourists from around the world. It has been recommended by the National Tourism Administration as a featured tourism program.

The Classical Night Garden is open from March to November each year, from 19:30 to 22:00 nightly. For groups arriving just before closing, the closing time may be extended. Each performance lasts about 10 minutes on average. Guests can enjoy performances as they arrive, with actors and audiences sharing the same space, allowing for close-up appreciation and a delightful aesthetic experience.

Ticket Prices: Off-season 20 RMB, Peak season 30 RMB, Night Garden 80 RMB

Peak Season: April 16 – October 30

Off-season: October 31 – April 15

Address: No. 11, Kuojiaotou Lane

Phone: 65293190

Accessible via Bus Routes: Tourist Line 2, 202, 204, 529, 931, 47, 501, 55

Address: No. 11, Kuojiaotou Lane, Dai Chengqiao Road, Gusu District, Suzhou

Type: Garden/Historic Building/World Cultural Heritage

Rating: AAAA

Recommended visiting time: 2 hours

Phone: 0512-65293190

Official website: http://www.szwsy.com/

Opening hours:

7:30-17:00

Wangshi Lane Community: Wangshi Lane Community stretches from Xiangwang Road in the east to Dai Chengqiao Road in the west, from Zhuhui Road in the south to Shiquan River in the north. It covers an area of 0.665 square kilometers, with a population of 9,039 and 3,201 households. Key institutions in the area include: the Master-of-Nets Garden, Suzhou TV Station, etc. …… More details about Wangshi Lane Community++

Further reading:

· Third Batch of Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· 2020 Top 100 Historical Site-type Scenic Spots Brand List