Lingering Garden (Liuyuan)
Covering about 2.3 hectares, the Lingering Garden—or Liuyuan in Chinese—is the best preserved among all the Suzhou gardens. It’s also one of the four classic Chinese gardens, standing proudly alongside Beijing’s Summer Palace, Chengde’s Mountain Resort, and Suzhou’s Humble Administrator’s Garden. Unlike some scenic spots that feel overly commercial, this garden still carries that gentle, poetic charm that has defined Jiangnan aesthetics for centuries.
Listed as a national cultural relic in 1961, the Lingering Garden in Suzhou, China feels like walking through a living scroll of ink-and-wash landscapes. If you're planning a trip to China and love classic gardens, this one is a must-add to your list.
Lingering Garden Facts
Why Visit Lingering Garden?
1. Living History
Lingering Garden has been around for 400+ years, and you can really feel that old-school Jiangnan charm the moment you step inside. It’s the kind of place where the past doesn’t feel distant—it just quietly sits beside you while you wander.
2. Culture Everywhere
Stone carvings, old plaques, poetic couplets… they pop up in corners as if Liuyuan wants you to slow down and look a little closer. Even if you don’t read Chinese, the atmosphere alone makes you feel wrapped in layers of culture.
3. Scenery with Every Step
A long, winding corridor links the whole garden’s layout, so every few steps you’re suddenly looking at a brand-new view. It’s clever, playful design—the sort that keeps you wandering without checking the time.
4. Four Seasons, Four Moods
Spring wisteria, summer lotus, autumn osmanthus, and winter snow, the Lingering Garden never repeats itself. No matter when you visit during your Suzhou tours, there’s always a little moment that makes you stop and go.
5.Photo Paradise
Lattice windows, framed views, pavilions, reflections—Liuyuan is ridiculously photogenic. Whether you’re into Chinese Hanfu shots or just casual travel snaps, it’s almost impossible to leave without a few favorites.
>> Recommended 2-day Suzhou culture tour with Lingering Garden
Lingering Garden History
Situated outside the Cang Gate of Suzhou, Lingering Garden was built in 1583 by Xu Taishi, a bureaucrat of the Ming court, as his private residence. Named East Garden, it is recorded to have magnificent multi-storey houses in the front and halls in the rear, and a range of awe-inspiring stone mountains built by the well-known master Zhou Bingzhong, resembling a long scroll of landscape painting.
Later, in 1794, the garden became a property of the Liu family. After being expanded and renovated, it was renamed "Hanbi Villa", which was popularly known as "Liuyuan". In 1873, it was purchased by the Shengs and again renamed as "Lingering Garden," since "lingering" in Chinese sounds the same as "Liu", the surname of the former owner.
Humble Administrator’s Garden vs. Lingering Garden
If you only have time for two gardens on your Suzhou travel, make it these two. Humble Administrator’s Garden feels spacious and breezy, with big ponds, wider views, and that gentle “traditional Suzhou” vibe you imagine before you even land in the city. Lingering Garden is the opposite mood—tighter, quieter, full of clever corners, framed windows, and little surprises that pop up as you wander through its courtyards.
Humble Administrator’s Garden is the kind of place that impresses you the moment you walk in, while Lingering Garden grows on you the longer you explore. Both are gorgeous, just different energies—go for the one that matches your travel style, or do both and get the full Suzhou garden experience.
>> Recommended 1-day Suzhou highlight tour
Layout of Lingering Garden
Today, the Lingering Garden is separated into the eastern, central, northern, and western parts. Wander slowly, and you’ll notice how the scenery shifts like turning pages in a hand-painted album.
Eastern Section
The east side of Lingering Garden is full of life and charm, with halls, courtyards, and those classic touches like moon gates, leak windows, and winding doors. The long corridor catches the light in all kinds of ways as the day goes by, making the whole space feel alive. Buildings are grouped together, but you never feel boxed in—every window, every doorway frames a little surprise, leading your eyes to a scene you didn’t expect. It’s a spot made for wandering and just soaking in the details.
Central Section
The central part of Suzhou’s Lingering Garden features a man-made mountain and lakeside scenes, resembling a long scroll of traditional Chinese painting. There’s a little mountain, a calm pond, and all those classic Suzhou vibes happening at once. Stroll along the bridges and corridors, and you’ll notice how the whole area feels bigger than it actually is. It’s all about smart angles, layered views, and that perfect mix of stone, water, and pavilions that Suzhou does so effortlessly.
Western Section
The western part of the Lingering Garden is wilder, dominated by a large artificial rock mountain and forests of maple trees. This is the best place to enjoy the feeling of “mountain hiking without leaving the city.” The corridor winds through the hillside, offering a new view every few steps—one of the most satisfying experiences in the whole garden. Climb to the higher points, and you’ll have sweeping views of rooftops, ponds, and pavilions layered together like a 3D ink painting.
Northern Section
The north side of the Lingering Garden has this laid-back, countryside charm—you’ll see bonsai lined up like tiny worlds, bamboo fences, and pockets of fruit trees and flowers. It’s where Suzhou’s mini-landscape art really shines, with little mountains and streams shaped into living sculptures. In summer, the grapevines, bamboo, and wisteria form a cool green canopy, making it one of the calmest spots in the whole Liuyuan.
Must-See Attractions in Lingering Garden
1. Three Wonders of Lingering Garden
Cloud-Capped Peak
If you love classic Suzhou gardens, you’ll notice Taihu rock hills everywhere, and Lingering Garden has one of the best. The Cloud-Capped Peak here soars 6.5 meters, making it the tallest in any Suzhou garden. It’s said the limestone came all the way from Taihu Lake, a famous lake in China, about 40 km away, and some of the stones might even date back to the Northern Song Dynasty. Standing next to it, you can’t help but marvel at how something so heavy and ancient ended up looking so effortless and sculptural.
Celestial Hall of Five Peaks
Also called Nanmu Hall, it is the kind of place you walk into and instantly slow down. It’s the biggest nanmu-wood building in the whole Jiangnan area, and you really feel it—the warm, honey-colored wood Chinese architecture has this soft glow when the light hits. The ten lattice windows are the real showstoppers. Each one holds a feather-light silk painting of birds and flowers, almost see-through, so the Lingering Garden outside shows up like a watercolor backdrop.
Natural Picture of Sunshine after Rain
Mounted on the Nanmu Hall’s main wall in Liuyuan, this giant round marble panel looks like a misty ink landscape. The stone comes from Yunnan’s Cangshan Mountain, and its natural veins form mountains, rivers, waterfalls, and even a pale moon. Locals say the stone “changes weather”—growing darker or lighter depending on humidity. It’s mesmerizing and feels like a living painting.
2. Hanbi Shanfang
This lakeside building is one of the best places in Lingering Garden to enjoy summer scenery. With open long windows on both sides and reflections dancing on the lake, it’s a cool, breezy pavilion that invites you to sit down and do absolutely nothing. In lotus season, the entire view turns into a watercolor painting of pink blossoms and green leaves. The wide interior makes it perfect for resting, sketching, or simply soaking in the slow charm of Suzhou.
3. Mingse Tower
Located near the center of Liuyuan, this small two-story pavilion stands quietly but commands an impressive view. Its double-eave roof and open layout make it ideal for taking in the broad water surface to the northeast. Historically, performances and gatherings were held here, and the terrace outside still feels like a stage waiting for music. If you travel to Suzhou and visit this garden on a quiet weekday morning, the reflections here are especially stunning.
4. The 700-Meter Long Corridor
This is one of the most iconic features of the Lingering Garden, celebrated alongside similar corridors in the Humble Administrator’s Garden and the Canglang Pavilion. Embedded along the corridor walls are 379 stone calligraphy steles—no other Suzhou garden has more. As you walk, you’re basically walking through 1,000 years of Chinese calligraphy history, written by masters from the Jin to Qing dynasties. The corridor’s gentle turns and varying heights make every few steps feel like entering a new painting.
>> Recommended 3-day Suzhou Tongli Water Town tour with Lingering Garden
Best Time to Visit Lingering Garden
The best seasons to visit the Lingering Garden in Suzhou are spring and autumn—comfortable weather, better lighting, and more vibrant scenery. Summer can be lovely if you love lotus flowers, but the heat and crowds can be overwhelming, especially on weekends. Winter has fewer flowers, but if you’re lucky enough to catch snow, the entire garden turns into a monochrome dreamscape. Whenever possible, avoid peak holidays and weekends to fully enjoy the quiet charm of Liuyuan.
How to Get to Lingering Garden
By Metro
Take Metro Line 2 to Shilu Station, Exit 1. Walk north 50m along Guangji South Road, then west 300m on Liuyuan Road, and you’ll be there.
By Bus
Multiple buses stop directly at Liuyuan Station. You can take Bus No. 85, 317, 933, and Tourist Line 1 to get to the Lingering Garden.
Explore Lingering Garden with Easy Tour China
Easy Tour China has been crafting tailor-made China tours for over 20 years, so planning a Suzhou tour with us is genuinely hassle-free. We can customize a private Lingering Garden experience that fits your pace and interests, whether you want history, photography spots, or a relaxed cultural walk. Or, if you prefer something ready to go, check out our existing China tour packages that already include Suzhou highlights.
