After visiting the Lingering Garden four times, I finally figured it out!

📍Address No. 338, Liuyuan Road, Gusu District, Suzhou. Adjacent to the ancient city, south of Liuyuan Road, north of Banbian Street, east of the city's bus passenger transport group, and west of Xiuhua Lane, the location is convenient and rich in cultural atmosphere. 🚇Transportation - Subway: Take Line 2 to Shilu Station, exit from Exit 1, and walk about 15 minutes. - Bus: Take routes You1, 3, 5, 6, or 7 directly to "Lingering Garden Station," and you'll arrive right after getting off. - Driving: Navigate to "Lingering Garden Parking Lot." Parking spaces are limited, so it's recommended to arrive early on holidays (free parking). 🏯Introduction The Lingering Garden is one of China's four most famous gardens (alongside the Humble Administrator's Garden, the Summer Palace, and the Mountain Resort). It was first built in 1593, initially named "East Garden," later renamed "Cold Green Villa," and finally named "Lingering Garden" during the Guangxu era, symbolizing "lingering between heaven and earth." The garden is primarily in Qing Dynasty style, blending landscapes, fields, forests, and courtyards. A 700-meter winding corridor connects the central, eastern, western, and northern scenic areas, offering a new view at every step and showcasing the garden art of "seeing the grand in the small." Highlights include: - Cloud-Capped Peak: A 6.5-meter-high Taihu Lake stone treasure, a relic from the Song Dynasty's "Flower and Rock Collection," embodying "slenderness, wrinkles, perforations, and transparency." - Five Peaks Immortal Hall: A grand hall with nanmu beams and pillars, featuring a majestic rockery symbolizing the Five Sacred Mountains. - Hanbi Mountain Villa: A perfect spot for waterside views, with lotus flowers filling the pond in summer, creating a poetic atmosphere. - Fish Fossil: A rare treasure, a 140-million-year-old late Jurassic fossil. 📜Travel Guide 📍Two Classic Routes 1. Highlights Tour (2 hours): Entrance → Ancient Trees Intertwined (pink walls and emerald cypresses like a 3D painting) → Mingshi Tower (overlooking the garden from above) → Hanbi Mountain Villa (admiring lotus and water views) → Cloud-Capped Peak (check in at the garden's treasure) → Five Peaks Immortal Hall (experience the nanmu hall) → Exit. 2. In-Depth Tour (3-4 hours): Entrance → Green Shade Pavilion → Hanbi Mountain Villa → Wenmuxi Fragrance Pavilion → Quxi Tower (winding waterways and corridors) → Five Peaks Immortal Hall → Stone Forest Courtyard → Cloud-Capped Peak → Cloud-Capped Tower (tea break) → Bonsai Garden → Shuxiao Pavilion (overlooking the scenery) → Exit. 📸Photography Tips - Framed Shots: Use doors, windows, and corridors as frames to capture silhouettes of the Green Shade Pavilion and Hanbi Mountain Villa. - Light and Shadow: Shoot Cloud-Capped Peak at sunrise or sunset for a more dynamic outline. - Outfit Suggestions: Hanfu or cheongsam perfectly match the garden's ambiance. Rentals are available at the entrance (Hanfu: 129 CNY/day, makeup and styling: 299 CNY). ⚠️Travel Tips 1. Avoid Crowds: Enter at 7:30 AM when the garden opens, especially on holidays. 2. Mosquito and Rain Protection: Bring mosquito repellent in summer; carry light rain gear as Jiangnan is rainy, though corridors provide shelter. 3. Cultural Taboos: Avoid taking photos in the Sheng Family Ancestral Hall (where Sheng Xuanhuai's coffin once rested) and maintain silence. 4. Guided Tours: Rent an audio guide or join a tour group to learn more about the garden's history. 🍜Food Recommendations - Xiyuan Temple Vegetarian Food: A 5-minute walk, featuring sweet and fresh vegetarian noodles with crispy bamboo shoots (recommended: Guanyin Noodles). - Daoshan Village·Suzhou Cuisine: Sweet and sour crispy squirrel-shaped mandarin fish and braised pork belly that's rich but not greasy. - Qiujuan Snack Shop: A 30-year-old shop on Shantang Street, serving meat-filled glutinous rice balls and shepherd's purse dumplings with a lively atmosphere. - Mute Shengjian: Crispy-skinned pan-fried buns with juicy fillings, best paired with Fengzhen braised pork noodles. 🛏️Accommodation Recommendations - Pingjiang Road Homestays: Suzhou-style courtyards with white walls and black tiles, where you can listen to Pingtan at night and stroll the old streets in the morning (about a 20-minute walk to the Lingering Garden). - Suzhou Floating Life Seasons International Youth Hostel: A design-savvy hostel in the city center with convenient transportation and great value. 🌄Nearby Attractions - Xiyuan Temple: Just a wall away from the Lingering Garden, with ancient trees and Buddhist chants, and occasional lazy cats 🐈. - Shantang Street: Take a night cruise on the "Seven-Mile Shantang," enjoying lantern-lit boat rides and snacks like osmanthus sweet porridge and fried glutinous rice balls. - Tiger Hill Scenic Area: Take You1 bus directly to the "First Scenic Spot in Wu," featuring the leaning tower and Sword Pond. After four visits, I finally grasped the Lingering Garden's charm of "finding mountain forests without leaving the city." Enjoy wisteria in spring, lotus in summer, osmanthus in autumn, and snow in winter—this understated garden crown is worth exploring step by step for its poetic beauty 🎑.