Dongyuan Garden

Dongyuan Garden

Dongyuan Garden is situated to the east of Suzhou city, bordered by the outer city moat. With a total area of 270 mu (18 hectares), it was preliminarily completed in 1979 and officially opened to the public on June 10 of that year. The garden was formed by transforming the ruins of Jiang Garden, the remains of the ancient city wall, and the inner city moat through human effort. The original inner city moat was dug out to create a vast water surface, and lush flowers and trees were extensively planted across the long stretches of ancient city ruins, resulting in a new-style modern garden dominated by landscapes. Today, the open riverside houses Suzhou’s largest yacht dock, featuring more than 60 boats. Cruising on the water is a delightful and relaxing experience. The southern section includes a recreation area with over ten amusement rides such as bumper cars, roller coasters, fighter planes, and merry-go-rounds.

The architecture and landscapes of Dongyuan Garden can be roughly divided into eastern and western sections. The western part is mainly dominated by the “Hanbi Tower.” This two-story building with a hanging mountain-style roof features gray tiles and white walls, a spacious front terrace facing the hill and water, and a winding corridor at the back that connects and separates small courtyards. With varying heights and diverse scenery, it is an ideal spot for tea tasting and sightseeing. There is also the “Ming Xuan,” an authentic replica of a Chinese-style courtyard built in 1979 by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. It was modeled after the “Dianchunyi” (Hall of Late Spring) in the Master-of-Nets Garden and designed based on the architectural style and structure of Ming Dynasty buildings in Suzhou. Spanning 31 meters in length and 13.5 meters in width, it is surrounded by over 7-meter-high fire-prevention walls. The courtyard includes structures such as the Cold Spring Pavilion, winding corridors, and rockeries, along with plants like wild roses, hydrangeas, canna lilies, bamboo, red maples, and boxwoods. The entire layout is airy and elegant, with a meticulous structure that embodies the characteristics of Ming Dynasty architecture: neat yet soft, simple yet refined, and uncluttered.

The eastern part is dominated by earthen mounds remaining from the ancient city wall, covered with lush trees stretching hundreds of meters, evoking the feel of a mountain forest. On the western side, the river widens in the south and narrows in the north, twisting and turning gracefully. The reflection of Hanbi Tower and the three-arch bridge in the water creates a beautiful ink-wash painting. To the east end of the three-arch bridge lies a pool called the “Fish Viewing Area.” The pool is adorned with pavilions, winding bridges, and numerous ornamental fish. Visitors can enjoy feeding fish from the railings or try their hand at fishing.

Dongyuan Garden is richly shaded by trees, offering a cool and pleasant atmosphere. It currently hosts over 100 species of trees, including 57.2% trees, 36.1% shrubs, and 6.1% vines, totaling approximately 3,500 plants. Notable species include cedar, black pine, camphor tree, Chinese wingnut, and camellia. Major scenic areas include the “Spring Scenic Area” and the “Summer Scenic Area.” The “Spring Scenic Area,” located at the southern end of the ancient city wall, is planted with seasonal flowers. At the highest point of the city wall stands the “Spring Scenery Pavilion.” In spring, crabapple and cherry blossoms bloom in vibrant layers, filling the air with the essence of spring. Most of these flowering shrubs were planted in 1991. The “Summer Scenic Area” is located to the north of the “Spring Scenic Area,” where a “Summer Scenery Pavilion” on the hill echoes the one in the spring area. Below the hill lies a lush green lawn, adjacent to a pool called the “Lotus Pond.” The northern part of the pond is densely planted with lotus flowers, and a winding bridge spans the water. Nearby, a waterside pavilion is built over the water, backed by the expansive Lou River. Visiting in summer brings cool breezes and the fragrance of lotuses, creating a refreshing paradise.

Dongyuan Garden also features 10 friendship-themed facilities, serving as symbols of the bond between Suzhou and its sister cities around the world. Most of these are located in the western section. The earliest is the 1980 tree-planting memorial marking the establishment of a sister-city relationship between Suzhou and Victoria, Canada, which includes a totem pole located on the east side inside the main gate of Dongyuan Garden. Near Hanbi Tower, there are friendship monuments from Japan’s Ikeda City and Kanazawa City, as well as from Italy’s Venice. Near the bridge are small friendship installations from Japan’s Kanazawa, Toshima, and Otsu Cities. To the north of the “Summer Scenic Area” lies a Japanese “Kanazawa Garden,” covering about 1,500 square meters, built in 1999. It features typical Japanese structures such as stone lanterns, stone basins, and a hat-shaped pavilion. The garden is planted with Japanese cherry blossoms, black pines, and red maples, and is designed using the traditional Japanese “karesansui” (dry landscape) gardening technique, showcasing the unique characteristics of Japanese garden architecture. North of the Japanese Garden is the “—,” a friendship garden from the American city of 0lan, built in 1995. It is a classic Western-style garden planted with American roses. On the western side within the camellia garden stands a friendship monument from South Korea’s Jeonju City, established in 1996, along with two friendship trees: a ginkgo and an osmanthus.

Dongyuan Garden boasts beautiful scenery and lush greenery, serving as an urban natural oxygen bar and a popular leisure destination for Suzhou residents.