As one of the four great gardens of Suzhou, the Humble Administrator’s Garden truly showcases exquisite landscape design. Its pavilions, towers, water features, and architectural details all reflect the beauty of classical elegance. Visiting here offers an experience of the refined Jiangnan-style architecture, garden layout, and landscaping. The overall atmosphere is poetic and picturesque, making one feel completely immersed in its aesthetic charm. Even on hot and crowded days, taking the time to appreciate the surroundings allows one to sense the classical spirit and millennia of cultural heritage. It is well worth exploring. Standing before ancient calligraphy, paintings, or thousand-year-old structures, one can almost imagine scholars of the past composing poetry and couplets in this very environment, reflecting on the future. The trip is both moving and inspiring, and I highly recommend it. This is my travel review of the Humble Administrator’s Garden.

The Humble Administrator's Garden (Zhuozheng Yuan) 拙政園 is a renowned classical Chinese garden located in Suzhou, China. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and considered one of the finest and largest gardens in all of southern China. The garden is a masterpiece of Ming Dynasty landscape design, known for its elegant water features, winding paths, and traditional architecture that creates a serene and picturesque environment. It is primarily designed around water, with a maze of connected pools, islands, pavilions, and bridges. The design is meant to create the effect of a wild, natural landscape within a city setting. The garden was originally built in 1509 by Wang Xianchen 王顯辰 a frustrated imperial censor who retired to a simple life of gardening after his official career. He named it the "Humble Administrator's Garden" to reflect his quiet, simple aspirations. Over the centuries, the garden changed hands many times and was divided into separate private estates. It served various purposes, including a government office and a prince's residence during the Taiping Rebellion. The current appearance of the garden largely reflects the late Qing Dynasty style, and the three main sections were finally reunited by the Chinese government in 1949 and subsequently opened to the public.

One of the 4 amazing gardens in Suzhou. This is a famous unesco heritage site with amazing gardens and architecture. A guide would be recommended for you to understand the history of the buildings. Avoid the weekends as it can get really crowded and do expect traffic jams in your car ride there. Highly recommend !

An absolute masterpiece and the pinnacle of Chinese classical garden design. It's vast, serene, and incredibly beautiful, with a harmonious layout of ponds, pavilions, bridges, and rockeries. It can get crowded, but its status as a UNESCO World Heritage site is well-deserved. Go early to enjoy its tranquility.

I find park and historical places more fascinating after dark so if you are into that then book a night tour from the west gate which starts around 7:30. It was slow paced and a fun experience (by fun i mean if you enjoy silence, sounds of insects after dark and warm lights) There is a short opera styled musical with a light show (8/10) The guide was friendly and spoke enough english to enquire deeply about the history and significance of the space.

This is right in the centre of the city. You can take line 6 to the stop named after the garden and the Suzhou Museum. Be careful — as you emerge from the metro, the first long queue is likely for the museum. You need to walk further down the alley and find the Ticket Office, where, to my surprise, they took cards, even foreign ones. This garden isn’t very big, and so it easily gets overcrowded during the weekends and especially during the summer holidays (even on weekdays). The garden itself loses novelty if you have seen Liu Yuan (Lingering Garden), which feels less crowded and hence more relaxed. My four star review could have been 5 had the environment been more relaxed like a Suzhou garden, and had I not seen Lingering Garden. But this is still a very fine specimen.

Suzhou has many decorated gardens. The Humble administrators is one the most beautiful ones. Best visit during the week to avoid being stuck in the crowd. There are small souvenir shops inside.

Great place to visit in nanjing. Tickets for foreignerd can be purchased at the tourist information center near KFC. Food stores are available before the entrance of mausoleum. The walk upward is tiring, the stairs does not look steep due to multiple landings but I got tired walking upward. Beautiful view of the city from the top. The mausoleum is beautifully designed but picture taking is not allowed inside.

Nice to visit in late Oct where the weather is just below 20C, the Mausoleum is majestically huge and has a very view at the top, you will need to pre book for free using wechat app.

A beautiful scenic view. The stairs aren’t so bad as they look initially. The actual mausoleum was closed for conservation or something when I visited but it’s still a good place to go. At the base there are drink vending machines, coffee shops and tourist shops. It’s extremely busy even on a week day so I recommend to book in advance online on the WeChat mini program - you can scan a QR code at the main park entrance before you get there.

great historical monument to visit. learn about the founder of modern china. 10 yuan

Really beautiful place in a rather large park. Read up on the history in advance. Take a shuttle to the entrance for 10rmb.

Went here during Autumn. Weather is good, not too crowded and clean :)

Historical landmark with lots of stairs. Building was undergoing restoration January 2025, so was unfortunately covered by scaffolding, but could still enter the Memorial Hall with Sun Yat Sen's statue. Bit of a rigorous climb, with very nice views at the top...saw some kids slide down the slopes beside the stairs on the way back down!

Beautiful location beside the river. Looks amazing specially at twilight

This is good to visit at night

Good place, fully culture place.

(Translated by Google) This is where the tombs of Confucius and his father are located. It is a famous tourist destination in Nanjing, so it is recommended as a must-visit place if you come to Nanjing. It would be nice to look around along the stream in the center, and if you didn't eat, it wouldn't be a bad idea to have a leisurely meal at a restaurant adjacent to the stream and enjoy the atmosphere. Most of the shops around sell tourist products, so I didn't have any unusual experiences. There is also a tourist course where you can take a boat along the nearby stream, but I recommend taking it in the evening rather than during the day. It was nice to have a bit of a Hoi An feel in Da Nang, Vietnam. (Original) 공자 부자묘가 같이 있는곳입니다. 난징에서 유명한 관광지여서 남경에 온다면 필수로 가야될 곳으로 추천할만 합니다. 중앙에 있는 냇가를 따라 주위를 둘러보면 좋을것 같고, 식사를 하지 않았다면 냇가에 인접한 식당에서 여유롭게 식사를 하면서 분위기를 느껴보는것도 나쁘지 않았습니다. 주위에 있는 상점들은 대부분 관광상품을 파는 곳이라 특이한 경험은 없었고, 주위에 냇가를 따라 배를 타는 관광코스도 있는데, 낮 보다는 저녁에 타는것을 추천합니다. 베트남의 다낭에 있는 호이안 느낌도 살짝 나서 좋았습니다.

(Translated by Google) Tenka Bunsu... A phrase that Nanjing was historically the center of culture and education. At night, the neon lights of the Dragon Wall reflected in the background are beautiful, and this gate was crowded with many people wanting to take photos☺︎ In front of the gate is a temple where Confucius is enshrined. (Original) 天下文樞(てんかぶんすう)... 南京が歴史的に文化・教育の中心だったという言葉。夜は背景に映り込む龍壁のネオンが綺麗で、この門の前で写真を撮ろうとたくさんの人で賑わっていました☺︎ 門の前には孔子が祀られている寺院があります。

(Translated by Google) A beautiful wooden arch at the entrance to the river pier at the Temple of Confucius. An interesting place, but there are always a lot of tourists here, you can’t get through... (Original) Красивая деревянная арка на входе в речной причал у храма Конфуция. Интересное место, но тут всегда очень много туристов, не пройти...

(Translated by Google) The square is very large and it doesn't feel crowded even on Sunday mornings. (Original) 廣場很大，即使週日上午也不會感覺人潮擁擠

Amazing place

The Nanjing Massacre is a historical event that is not as well-known in the West as the atrocities committed by Nazi Germany, and in my opinion, it tends to be overlooked. ​The Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall is a must-see when you are in Nanjing. The only downside is how crowded it can get, which can make it hard to fully immerse yourself in the exhibits as you follow the constant flow of people. Admission is free, but foreign visitors should remember to bring their passport, as it's required for entry.

A place to remember how cruel the war was, is probably the only place in China where you have thousands of visitors and yet the atmosphere remains heavy and silent. The hall exhibits why Japanese attacked China, the local life back then, how brutatlly thousands and thousands of Nanjing citizens were killed, how the local and foreigners survived in Nanjing, leaft the place with a heavy heart. Do book in advance on Wechat, the open slot easily get fill up.

Must visit this memorial hall if you are visiting Nanjing. No entry tickets needed but you need to make an online booking via WeChat - It can be tricky to make a reservation for foreigners. Alternatively, you can try walk-in and show your passports to the manual counter. We were allowed to enter without reservation.

The statues outside at the beginning are just grotesque. I get that's the point but I found them to be in poor taste in my opinion. However the inside is very well done and powerful, especially the first room with portraits of the victims. The museum emphasizes peace, which is good as it easily could have fallen into anti-Japanese fervor. I'm relieved to report it is a mostly objective museum about a very dark period of modern history. If we don't learn about the atrocities of the past, we're doomed to repeat them. Unfortunately these kind of atrocities are not confined to the past. Horrific events like the Nanjing Massacre are still happening today in places like Gaza, Darfur, Ukraine, etc. It is up to us to stop war crimes and genocides from continuing to happen.

The Memorial Hall is a must visit in Nanjing, but we were disappointed to learn that entry requires advance booking via WeChat—which isn’t accessible for international visitors without WeChat Pay. A heads-up for fellow travelers: arrange tickets beforehand or check alternative options to avoid missing out.

A must visit Museum when you visit Nanjing, a recent memory shared amongst the people in remembrance of atrocities committed to the people of Nanjing. As you walk in you can see the frames of most victims of the Nanjing Massacre and also those whom had survived and still live on with the memories. You need to book in advance (Free) but recommend to donate some money when you enter. *Foreigners will require a Passport to enter*. It is truly a sad place, the museum is very detailed with many monuments, pictures and archives exhibited for people to see. “remember history and cherish peace, so as to create a better future”

Very good museum if you want to find out more about war history of Nanjing. Very crowded too. Pro-tip for foreigners - you do not need to reserve tickets on wechat since you may not be able to. Just go to the counter in-between gates 1 and 7 by the main road and talk to the counter personel and produce your passport. They will give you a printed QR code ticket for entry.

It was a great experience, the botanical garden and the great view made the visit very magical. One of the best places I have visited up until now.

A must visit place in old Suzhou city. The park is pretty big, with lots of gardens and attractions placed all around. It cost only 70 yuan to enter the Tiger Hill area. The leaning tower of Suzhou is just as cool as the tower of Pisa.

Tiger Hill is one of Suzhou’s oldest historical sites, with over 2,500 years of history. Legend says that after King Helü was buried here, a white tiger appeared and guarded his tomb for three days, giving the hill its name. At the heart of the lush, peaceful complex stands the Huqiu Pagoda, a thousand-year-old tower from the Northern Song Dynasty, famously leaning about 2.3 degrees—often called the “Leaning Tower of China.” This seven-story pagoda, rising through the trees, perfectly blends ancient architecture, legends, and the timeless atmosphere that makes Suzhou so unique.

Came especially to see cherry blossoms. It does not fail! So beautiful, abeit crowded. Entrance fee rmb60. Could spend 1 to 2 hours. The leaning Pagoda was quite interesting but not allowed to enter as it's seems unsafe. One of the nicer gardens to visit in Suzhou.

Beautiful park area with traditional monuments. I enjoyed walking around and having a tea somewhere in the middle of the park. Most beautiful was the garden close to exit with ponds.

Went here on june. Super hot but worth it, it was beautiful and the pagoda looks aesthetically pleasing

This place have less tourists so you can enjoy your walk

(Translated by Google) The largest river in the middle of Chongqing city. (Original) Sungai terbesar di tengah kota Chongqing.

Nnnm mn cx ,nn v, N VT n g n x b b MMB, b h. N bn g hbj bcm b n bbn n 6 by n n bn b nnj

We came here around 6pm, no one asked for the tickets. Good place to spend some time. Many ancient structures are present here. Ladies are wearing ancient dress and make up and doing photography adding some ancient vibes. KFC and McDonald is also there.

Beautiful water town, not crowded at all in August! It’s better to stay one night inside the scenic area to really appreciate it.

Extraordinary location near Suzhou. The town is very alive, with many stalls, markets and shops ensuring a vibrant environment. The many bridges connecting the sides of the town are stunning works of fine stone masonry. One could only imagine how it would have been in the 19th century. Truly deserving of the title, “Venice of the East”.

The most beautiful place in the world ❤️❤️❤️ Classical gardens are 2000 years old! Live pictures! And the windows on the walls are their frames! So much beauty in every millimeter! Very shocking place! I wanted to die there and stay forever!!! I felt happiness, and all my senses were overflowing with impressions! Something that I wish every person to see in their lifetime - this is the ancient city of Tongli ❤️❤️❤️

Lots of walking, sorry to said not much things worth buying & the cafe we visited are so pricey. And need to pay RMB100 per person to enter the town.

Visited in Apr. This is the perfect relaxing water town to explore leisurely - beautiful, serene, retains a sense of authenticity, lively yet not overwhelmingly crowded (unlike Suzhou’s famous waterside streets which are so crowded it’s impossible to enjoy). Tongli Town is compact and extremely conducive for exploration on foot. Allocated a full day for day trip from Shanghai. Explore and soak in the atmosphere leisurely (rather than squeezing in whirlwind stop) especially for families with small kids. Took an excellent boat ride, explored a old buildings/gardens, the famous bridges and take a simple but relaxing, pleasant lunch stop at one of the canal side restaurants to sample local cuisine and chat with friendly locals. Lots of quaint coffee shops around town. Ticket buying at tourist centre was quick and hassle free (free for seniors and kids below 1.4m) - tickets for accessing buildings / gardens. 25 min boat ride recommended - clean, well maintained boats, relaxing and nice way to see the town.

Rmb150 per boat. Nice view. Do not let her sing for you. Its RMB 20 per song. She will sing 5.

It is a large, beautiful and well-maintained park. However it gets insanely crowded on the weekend and on public holidays so try to go on a weekday. I'm sure it's serene and calming when not mobbed with people (including the infamous Chinese tour groups, complete with tour guides blasting their voices over loudspeakers). I really liked the bonsai garden. It costs 100 RMB.

We started from South Gate which is best option to take and exit from the North gate. The ticket fee is ¥100 but it's totally worth and you have to pay a bit for boat and electric car inside. The garden and lake are beautiful, the classic architecture are exceptional. The foods bit expensive but you can find more affordable choices around the white temple. However, the bracelet souvenirs are very expensive there.

Honestly, from a local, since every free public city park in this city is modelled after the slender west lake 瘦西湖, you won’t miss much by skipping this one and just go to any free park nearby instead. Well, supposedly there’s some bridge 五亭桥 with some bit of history, but it’s laughable in comparison with what history this city actually offers (but sadly doesn’t have too many sites to attest to due to wars and Chinese habit of building things in flammable wood) and it’s not historically important in anyway just relatively old(er).

A beautiful complex of traditional Chinese architecture and gardening, it's obviously artificial but still worth a go. Soothing and refreshing to walk with family and friends.

I visited this place during the tsingming festival. It was filled with tourists and feeling very crowded. But the view is fantastic. The lake is not huge, even walking will onky take around 90 minutes. But there concentrates trenmendos of cultural stories, please do invite a guide accompany with the tour. Guided tour worth the cost.

nice place to handout

A huge gardens with lake and beautiful scenery. You can walk near the lake to enjoy the fresh air and watch ducks in the lake.

Stunning architectural and artwork in a single venue. Has a bit of similarities to Miho Museum, which was also by I.M. Pei. It's really crowded even on a weekday. Plan a week prior and register before going.

A Must-Visit Cultural Gem in Suzhou. Visited Suzhou Museum and was genuinely impressed! The museum beautifully blends modern minimalist architecture with traditional Chinese elements. It’s not just a museum, it’s a visual and cultural experience. The exhibits showcase Suzhou’s rich history, including intricate jade carvings, ancient calligraphy, and Ming/Qing dynasty relics. The flow of the layout makes it easy to navigate even for first-timers. The architecture and interior design are photogenic from every angle, definitely a must-visit photo spot. The tranquil garden inside offers a peaceful escape and is very “zen”, perfect to just sit and relax. It’s FREE to enter, but you may need to book a slot online a week before via WeChat app. I’d recommend coming early to avoid the crowd and to enjoy the calmness of the space. The crowd control could be better during weekends, and the museum café was a bit underwhelming. Still, Suzhou Museum is totally worth a visit if you're in town, especially for those who enjoy culture, design, and photography. You can combine your visit with nearby Humble Administrator's Garden where both are within walking distance!

I was attracted to The Suzhou Museum, because it was designed by the celebrated Chinese-American architect I.M. Pei (a native of Suzhou). The museum is more than just a repository of historical artifacts—it is a stunning work of art that seamlessly marries modernist architectural principles with the soul of classical Chinese gardens. It is an immersive experience where i find the building itself is as captivating as the collections. What immediately strikes me is the brilliant use of the local Jiangnan vernacular: white walls, dark gray roofs, and an intimate relationship with water and rock. Pei translated these traditional elements into a contemporary language of stark white stucco and geometrical gray granite tiles. The result is pure visual poetry. Inside, the use of natural light is masterful, creating a contemplative atmosphere that highlights the exquisite collection of paintings, calligraphy, porcelain, and jade. Though the collections are wonderful—showcasing the rich history of the Wu region—it is the architecture that truly preserves the "touch of ancient China" while feeling utterly joyful, modern and fresh. During my visiting in mid-September it offered a quiet moment to appreciate this tranquillity, as I appreciate this piece of a true testament to the timeless elegance of Chinese aesthetics.

So hard to get tickets for this museum. You have to pre-book via their Mini Prog, opens 7 days prior at 8am. Tickets are snapped up in a few minutes! I tried for 19 Aug initially but didn't get it, made the mistake of not setting up my profile in advance so by the time I created my profile, the tickets are all gone. Learnt my mistake and managed to secure a ticket for 24 Aug morning. The entrance is conveniently located at Metro Line 6, Exit 2. Here, you can only enter during your ticket time slot, 11am to 12nn in my case. Got an audio guide for ¥30 (one of the last few as they have limited pieces). The main exhibit is just a small section on the 1st floor while there are other special exhibits within the building at additional cost. This is the most scenic museum I've been to in China. Truly 园林中的博物馆, very Suzhou. The exhibits however are nothing outstanding, perhaps just the 苏绣 section, a heritage, skillful, unique embroidery style founded here. The building itself is the highlight here. This is the work of the famous architect, 贝聿铭, the same man behind the glass pyramid of the Louvre Museum in Paris. The hexagonal windows throughout create such beautiful photos effortlessly. The outdoor garden area is where most gather and probably spent more time than in the museum itself. The route ends at the 太平天国忠王府. From the exit, one can walk to the Humble Administrator Garden and/or Ping Jiang Road. Overall, a good 2.5 hrs spent here. Not much in terms of artefacts but still worth a visit to see the beauty of this museum.

The museum itself is an masterpiece, which is designed by I.M. Pei, the world famous designer that also designed the crystal pyramid for the Louvre. Over 40,000 artifacts with over 250 national first-class relics should keep you busy for at least 2 hours. Purchase your ticket beforehand

A must! A must! The ancient Chinese art, paintings, calligraphy and handmade crafts in Suzhou, Jiangsu. The museum was designed by renowned architect I.M. Pei

Have to book the place in advance else there will be no entry allow. Amazing place that summarised the main highlights the architecture of gardens in Suzhou. There are free official tour guide (free of charge) in once we enter, good to follow if it is your first visit. She gave comprehensive explanations of the main attraction of the museum.

Affordable tickets with the standard available discounts as everywhere in China. Can buy online in advance to save time. Definitely can’t miss a visit to this place when you’re in Nanjing. Very interesting history spanning ancient China, the taping rebellion, WW1/2, the ROC and the PRC years. Very beautiful blend of old and modern architecture. Probably worth 2-3 hours here to walk around the various buildings, gardens, etc. Many of the signs are only in Chinese at the various exhibitions around the palace.

So many people visit this very historical place, took awhile to get in thou - the first government of China (Republic of China) after the Qing dynasty. The president’s office looks clean and tidy n very very old looking... The garden is very beautiful, and lots of people are chilling here. There is also a souvenir shop in this place n a book store n some eatery...

@President Xi. I am waiting for that apology old friend. It was about time you got a dose of your own medicine that intellectual theft will no longer be tolerated. I WANT MY APOLOGY DIRECTLY FROM YOU PRESIDENT XI! My old friend! You violated the circle of trust between you and I! I can't stand a thief redeem yourself! You can apologize directly on here to me. This is The War Eagle/Judah The Lion King out! 🫵🫡👊✊👍🦅🦁🇺🇲

So many people visit in the weekend, omg lol 😂 This is a very historical place - the first government of China (Republic of China) 🇹🇼 after the Qing dynasty. The president’s office looks clean and tidy. The garden 🪴 is very beautiful, and lots of people are chilling here. There is also a souvenir shop in this place, and a man is writing ✍️ traditional Chinese characters, which is impressive. 🤩

Historical place in Nanjing that's not to be missed. Many parts of the palace ground really present an authentic feel of a era gone-by. Beautiful lake view and long passageways with full canopy tall trees along both sides given good shades.

for 40rmb its Poor, you need a valid ID (passports for foreigners) to buy tickets (Photo of Passports is fine too), Nothing inside screams out presidential Palace to me Just a Large residenctial area. mostly a garden and small gift shops. Its pretty boring and you should spend most of your nanjing time doing other activties or gardens rather than this place. Its basically a Garden with a small museum section. There are baggage storages inside as soon as you enter the gate, incase if your doing this before you leave NKG or dont have much time.

Nanjing Presidential Palace (南京總統府) is an historic site which hugely reflects the modern history of China from Ming Dynasty (明朝) to Republic of China (中華民國). This building was the capital of Taiping Kingdom of Heaven (太平天國) and Republic of China (中華民國) as the most important culture heritage. When I strolled this building, I was encompassed with the beautiful and warm historical poetry. It is very recommended for every history fanatics to mark this place in the itinerary.

Loved this place 😍

Lots of things to do. It could be a disappointment for people under 1.4 meters who want to ride the roller coasters.

Large park with lots of attractions. Good for kids and adults.

Huge place with a lot of fun!

Don't buy anything from the stores around there, it's probably fake, I was at the nike store and was just about to pay then I looked at the shoe and thought it looked a bit weird, so I googled nike stores near me and there were no stores near me, so I asked the staff if it was real and it wasn't. When I went to adidas, they said it was real but obviously it was all fake.

Perfect place for kids, and parents can enjoy too. Except for the entrance fee, 210 CNY, I have nothing to complain.

Very nice 👍

Came on Friday in June. Weather is very hot. The place is about 5-10min walk from Humber Administration Garden and is also less crowded., but is still crowded. Scenery is nice and great for taking pictures. Many local dress in traditional costume and getting photo shots here. Outside of the garden are many shops selling souvenirs and restaurants.

Lion Grove Garden is a masterpiece of traditional Chinese garden design. Its intricate rock formations, winding paths, and elegant pavilions create a sense of wonder and discovery. The garden's unique layout feels like a natural labyrinth, perfect for leisurely exploration. Tip: Visit early in the morning to enjoy the peaceful ambiance before the crowds arrive.

Must visit, you can buy tickets directly at the entrance using Alipay or WeChat. Consider to spend at least 3 hours here, there is also a coffee shop with a view on the garden in case you want to relax a bit.

Beautiful Amazing garden. Slow down, try to enjoy the view through every window. They have their own unique beauty. The bamboo plants are my favourite. I love the stone path. If you look really close, you will find there are bats on the stone, in Chinese, bats had the similar pronunciation like Fu, which means blessing, good fortune.

Great place to visit to see how the rich lived it up in the past. I easily spent at least two hours viewing all the open rooms. Well worth the visit for first timers.

It's incredibly beautiful here. The stones are like a rocky maze and there is so much to see since it is a really big garden. There are lots of people here since it's a popular tourist attraction and only cost 40¥ to come in.

Gorgeous Chinese garden. Monks that visited long ago said that the numerous unique rock sculptures and formations appeared as though there were lions prowling through the garden forest - hence the name. Truly beautiful.