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

📍 Address No. 18, Huanhu Road, Binhu District, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, adjacent to Lihu Lake (an inner lake of Taihu Lake), it is a core scenic spot of the national-level Taihu Lake Scenic Area. 🚌 Transportation - Subway: Take Line 4 to Lihu Bridge Station, exit from Exit 1 and walk 900 meters (about 15 minutes). - Bus: Take routes 20, 211, 1, 82, or Leyou Line 1 directly to "Liyuan Station," and the garden entrance is right there. - Driving: Navigate to "Liyuan Park." There are over 3,000 parking spaces in Parking Lots 1, 2, and Changqiao, just a 2-minute walk to the entrance. - Taxi: About 35 CNY from Wuxi Railway Station or 85 CNY from Shuofang Airport. 🌸 Introduction Liyuan Garden is themed around the romantic legend of Fan Li and Xi Shi. Built in 1927, it combines the essence of Jiangnan gardens with the landscape of Taihu Lake, earning the reputation of "artificial mountains and real waters." The garden covers 43% water area (35,000 square meters), with core attractions including: - Thousand-Step Corridor: A 289-meter lakeside corridor with 89 types of hollowed-out lattice windows, resembling a flowing scroll, embedded with Su Shi's poetry brick carvings. - Four Seasons Pavilions: Four pavilions planted with plum, bamboo, osmanthus, and wintersweet, symbolizing the cycle of seasons. - Xi Shi Island: Accessible by boat, featuring restored scenes like Fan Li's Merchant Sage Hall and Xi Shi Garden, showcasing Wuxi embroidery intangible cultural heritage. - Hydrangea Exhibition (Summer Exclusive): Nearly 20,000 hydrangeas in blue, purple, pink, and white create a "Monet Garden," divided into five themed areas, with floating islands being particularly dreamy. 🗺️ Travel Guide ✅ Classic Route (2-3 hours) Main Gate → Baihua Mountain Villa (ancient architecture and flowers) → Four Seasons Pavilions → Spring Dawn on the South Embankment (peach and willow banks) → Boat ride to Xi Shi Island (hourly departures, 9:00-15:45) → Thousand-Step Corridor → Spring and Autumn Pavilion (overlooking Lihu Lake from the top) → Rockery Maze (fun exploration). 📸 Must-Visit Spots 1. Spring Dawn on the South Embankment: Peach blossoms and willow greens in spring reflect on the lake like a Monet painting. 2. Mid-Lake Pavilion and Ningchun Pagoda: The red-brick pagoda and golden glazed roof form an iconic duo. 3. Hydrangea Waterfall: A blue-purple flower waterfall at the entrance, like a fairy-tale wonderland. ⚠️ Tips 1. Timing: - Peak seasons (March-May for peach blossoms, July-August for lotus, September-October for golden sunflowers): Enter at 7:00 AM to avoid crowds. - One hour before closing (last entry at 16:30) for a private Taihu Lake sunset. 2. Outfits: Light-colored Hanfu or horse-face skirts perfectly match the lattice windows and corridors. 3. Tickets: - Adults 45 CNY, students half-price with ID, children under 1.4m free. - Combo ticket 80 CNY includes boat ride to Xi Shi Island (worth it!). 🍜 Food Recommendations - Wuxi Soup Dumplings: Thin skin, rich broth, sweet but not greasy, available at garden restaurants. - Braised Spare Ribs: Thick sauce, tender meat, recommended at "Sanfengqiao" (3 km from the garden). - Lakeside Afternoon Tea: Sip tea with Jiangnan snacks while boating on the lake. 🛏️ Accommodation Recommendations - Taihu Hotel (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️): Five-star by Lihu Lake, lake-view rooms face the garden, 10-minute walk to the garden. - Junlai Hubin Hotel: High-end hotel near Liyuan Garden and Turtle Head Isle, with Chinese and Western restaurants. - Blossom Hill Inn·Yangshan Wuxi (25-minute drive): Artistic homestay hidden in peach forests, ideal for families. 🌊 Nearby Attractions 1. Turtle Head Isle (3 km away): The best spot of Taihu Lake, famous nationwide for cherry blossoms, accessible by boat from Liyuan Garden's hexagonal pier. 2. Lihu Central Park (free): European-style castles and green squares, romantic for night tours with lights. 3. Jiulongwan Flower Planet (8 km away): Night light shows (open until 21:30), blending flower fields and starry skies. 4. Huishan Ancient Town (30 minutes by subway): Thousand-year-old ancestral halls and clay figurine culture, try tofu pudding and crispy cakes. 💡 Four-time experience summary: The beauty of Liyuan Garden lies in "slow travel!" Morning boating, afternoon tea, and chasing the sunset—only then will you understand why Fan Li and Xi Shi chose to retire here.