The Lion Grove Garden

 

Essentials of the Lion Grove Garden

Chinese Name: 苏州狮子林 Pronunciation: sū zhōu shī zǐ lín

Building Time: 1342

Suggested Visiting Hours: 1-2 Hours

Area: About 11,000 square meters

Best Visiting Season: Spring and Summer (March to May, June to August)

Address: Northeast Street, Gusu District, Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province

 

Admission Ticket Fee

Peak Season  (April1st to October 31st)	Low Season  (November 1st to March 31st next year)
40 yuan	30 yuan

• Ticket Half of Charge Policy

The seniors between 60 and 70 (with valid certificates) are half of charge.

Full-time undergraduate students (with student ID card) are half of charge.

 

• Ticket Free of Charge Policy

Children under 1.4 meters(including 1.4 meters) are free of charge.

The senior over 70 (including 70) with valid certificates are free of charge.

Active servicemen (with valid certificates) are free of charge.

 

Opening Time

	Peak Season (March 1st to October 15th)	Low Season (October 16th to February 28th)
Opening Hours	7:30-17:30	7:30-17:00
Ticket Office Closing Time	17:00	16:30

 

Brief Introduction of Lion Grove Garden

As one of the four famous gardens in Suzhou, the Lion Grove Garden is the representative garden of the Yuan dynasty, with a history of more than 600 years. It covers an area of 1.1 hectares and has an open area of 0.88 hectares. The Lion Grove Garden was designated as a cultural relic conservation unit in Jiangsu province in 1982.
 

With mountains in southeast, lake in northwest, high walls around and a pool in the center, the garden has a compact layout. The transplanted flowers and trees, erected bridges and pavilions as well as stacked rockery are well-proportioned arranged in the garden.
 

The tablets in it are inscribed the calligraphy of Su Shi, Mi Fu, Huang Tingjian and Cai Xiang-the four famous masters in Song Dynasty. Such an ancient and cultural spot is worth visiting.

 

History of the Lion Grove Garden

In 1341, the eminent monk Tianru came to Suzhou and expounded Buddhist sutra.
 

In 1342, his disciples bought the land and built a temple for him.
 

In 1373, Ni Zan, a great calligrapher, came to Suzhou and joined the garden building. He wrote poems for the garden, which made the Lion Grove Garden become popular.
 

In 1589, a Buddhist monk rebuilt the garden and a scene of prosperity appeared once again.

In 1703, the Qing Emperor Kangxi toured here, granting the title of the garden-“Lion Grove Garden”.
 

In 1917, Shanghai pigment giant Bei Runsheng (uncle of the world celebrated architect I.M. Pei) bought the garden and spent seven years renovating it. After liberation in 1949, the descendants of Bei Runsheng donated the garden to the nation and it was open to the public in 1954.

 

Lion Grove Garden Highlighted Tourist Spots

 Yanyu Hall

The name of the hall is from The Book of Songs, which refers to someone well-respected by others. Yanyu Hall is the major hall as well as a well-known mandarin duck hall of the garden. On the beam, there are three fairies and one child, giving bright for the people.
 

 Hualan Hall

Hualan Hall faces a pool. In the south of the Hualan Hall, there are 16 French windows inscribed with poetry of the Tang Dynasty respectively. In the north of the Hualan Hall, there are 6 French windows carved with stories about mountains, water or people.
 

 Marble Boat

The Marble Boat was established during the early Republic of China. The whole Marble Boat is in the water. The middle and rear cabins of the boat are two stories.
 

 Wenmei Pavilion (Greeting the Plum Blossoms Pavilion)

The name indicates that plum blossoms is the topic in the pavilion. There are many plum blossoms around. The desks and chairs are all plum blossom shape. Additionally, exquisite plum blossom carving is under the desks. Plum blossom also appears on the floor and windows of the Wenmei Pavilion.

 

One Day Travel Route

Enter from Yanyu Room → Xiaofang Hall →Zhibai Xuan→ the Ancient Five Pines Garden → Hushan Pavilion→ Hualan Hall → Zhenqu Pavilion → Marble Boat → Faint Fragrance Dim Shadow Mansion → Feipu Pavilion → Wenmei Pavilion → the Double Fragrance Hall of the Immortals → Shan Pavilion → Wen Tianxiang Poem Stele Pavilion → Yubei Pavilion → Xiuzhu Pavilion → Lixue Hall→ exit.

 

Ways to Get to the Lion Grove Garden

 By Bus

Take bus No.1,5,8,33, and get off at Beisita bus stop.

Take bus No.301,305, and get off at the Lion Grove Garden south bus stop.

Take bus 202 Summit Branch Line, and get off at Suzhou Museum bus stop.
 

By Subway

Take Metro Line 4 and get off at the Beisita Station
 

By Taxi

Chinese: 请带我去苏州狮子林。English: Please take me to the Lion Grove Garden.

If you go to the Lion Grove Garden from Suzhou Railway Station, it takes about 20 minutes (about 15 yuan).

If you go to the Lion Grove Garden from Suzhou Yuanqu Railway Station, it takes about 20 minutes (about 23 yuan).

If you go to the Lion Grove Garden from Suzhoubei Railway Station, it takes about 28 minutes (about 43 yuan).

If you go to the Lion Grove Garden from Suzhou Xinqu Railway Station, it takes about 40 minutes (about 44 yuan).

If you go to the Lion Grove Garden from Sunan Shuofang International Airport, it takes about 60 minutes (about 120 yuan).