Humble Administrator’s Garden

Introducing Humble Administrator’s Garden
Suzhou Humble Administrator’s Garden was first built in the fourth year of the reign of Emperor Zhengde of Ming Dynasty in 1509. Suzhou Humble Administrator’s Garden covers an area of 52,000 square meters. Suzhou Humble Administrator’s Garden is the best representation of Chinese classical gardens of the Ming Dynasty. Its design is duplicated in many places throughout China, and there is even a replica in the New York Metropolitan Museum.

Humble Administrator’s Garden Fast Facts
• Chinese Name: Zhuozhengyuan 拙政园
• Best Time to Visit: April to October
• Recommended Visiting Hours: About 2 to 3 hours
• Things to Do: Photography, Architecture, History and Culture
• Opening Hours: 07:30-17:30 from Mar 01 to Nov 15; 07:30-17:00 from Nov 16 to Feb 29
• Entrance Fee: ¥80 (Apr to May, Jul to Oct); ¥70 (Jan to Mar, Jun, Nov and Dec)
• Address: No.178 Northeast Road, Gusu District, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province

What to expect at Humble Administrator’s Garden

Suzhou Humble Administrator’s Garden is divided into three parts — the Eastern Garden, the Western Garden and the Central Garden – with different characteristics. Beautiful pavilions, crystal-clear pools, elegant corridors and bridges form wonderful and harmonious scenery in Suzhou Humble Administrator’s Garden. The houses in the residential area are of the typical Suzhou style and now used as exhibition rooms.

Eastern Garden
Covers an area of 21, 000 square meters, the Eastern Garden features in wild and idyllic scenery. It consists of hills, grass land, bamboo and pine forests, as well as stylistic pavilions. The main attractions include: Orchid and Snow Hall, Heavenly Spring Pavilion, Lotus Pavilion and Could-capped Peak, etc.

Central Garden
The middle section is the gem of the whole garden. Of its area one-third is covered by water. The pond surrounded with exuberant trees and elegant parlors. The overall pattern still retains the simple and vigorous style of Ming Dynasty. The Hall of Distant Fragrance, named after a lotus pool nearby, is the highlight of the whole garden. When the summer comes the pool is filled with lotuses and the heady fragrance wafts into the building. Other main attractions including Small Flying Rainbow Bridge, the Magnolia Hall, Pavilion in Lotus Breezes, etc.

Western Garden
The Western section is famed for the Mandarin Duck Hall. It is the main building of West Garden, exquisite and luxuriant. Its southern part is called the 18 Camellias Hall and its northern part is known as the 36 Pairs of Mandarin Duck Hall. The 18 Camellias Hall is appropriate for winter and spring. The 36 Pairs of Mandarin Duck Hall is excellent for enjoying music and relax. In a nearby pool where the ducks were fed, stands an octagonal Pagoda Reflection Pavilion; there is an optical illusion here – it appears as if a pagoda was lifting when all we actually see is the reflection of the pavilion.

Garden Museum
Founded in 1992, Suzhou Garden Museum is China’s first garden theme museum. The new museum was completed and opened to visitors in 2007. The new museum is close to the Humble Administrator’s Garden, covering an area of 3,205 square meters. It consists of five exhibition halls, including Preface Hall, Garden History Hall, Garden Art Hall, Garden Culture Hall, and Garden Heritage Hall, taking the famous Suzhou gardens in all ages as examples to show visitors the rich connotation and artistic charm of the classical gardens of Suzhou. The museum mainly uses the gardening tools, furniture, building components and so on to display the traditional gardening process and modern technology to open out the artistic charm of the classical gardens.

How to get to Humble Administrator’s Garden
• Take bus No. 40 or 313 and get off at Beiyuanlu Station.
• Take bus No. 50, 55, 112, 178, 202, 262, 309, 518, 529, 811, 923, or tourist bus Line 1, Line 2 or Line 5, and get off at Suzhou Museum Station.

Additional travel advice on Humble Administrator’s Garden
• The Garden offers baby stroller and wheelchair lending and phone charger service.
• Visitors can walk to explore some nearby sites: Suzhou Museum, Lion Grove Garden and Pingjiang Road.