Humble Administrator’s Garden
The Humble Administrator's Garden is a very classical prominent garden in Suzhou City. It is one of the four most important classical gardens in China, the other three being the Summer Palace, Chengde Mountain Tourist Center and Lingering Garden.
The garden is located at 178 Dongbei Street. At 51,950 square meters, it is the largest garden in Suzhou and is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful in southern China. In 1997, the Humble Administrator's Garden, along with other classical gardens in Suzhou, was proclaimed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Highlights of Humble Administrator’s Garden
Humble Administrator’s Garden is a classic Chinese garden combining buildings, ponds, bridges, paths and trees arranged in a specific way. The scenery in the garden is peaceful and tranquil, with everything in the garden seems to tell a story of time past. It was initially built in 1509 by a former government official and poet.
As is typical of Ming Dynasty gardens, the Humble Administrator's Garden is home to ancient arched bridges and pavilions and an impressive array of trees and plants, all set among a collection of charming ponds and islands.
The garden is divided into three parts, namely the eastern, western and central parts.
The central part is the main part of the garden, with pavilions and terraces built around a large pond. The overall pattern still retains the simple and vigorous style of the Ming Dynasty. The Hall of Distant Fragrance is the main architecture. As a reception place for guests, the hall has windows in all four directions, so they can see the surrounding scenery in the hall. Other top attractions include Fragrance Island, Lotus Breeze Pavilion, Canglang Small Pavilion, etc.
Most of the architectures in the garden are related to the lotus, a symbol of noble characteristics in China. The western part is centered on a serpentine pond that connects with the large pond in the central part.
The western part is famous for its delicately decorated architecture. The most representative is the Mandarin Duck Room in the southern part. The square room is divided into the northern part and the southern part by partitions and hangings.
The northern part is used to appreciate the lotus in summer. The southern part used to see the artificial hills and camellias in winter. The eastern part is the largest of the three, occupying an area of 21,000 square meters. The style of the oriental one is more lively than the other two, characterized by a wild and idyllic landscape. There is a pond, a hill, two halls and four pavilions here. The pond is extremely large and has a rectangular shape. In the center of the pond is an ear-shaped island, with the pavilion looking far away. The rest of the halls and pavilions extend around the pond and the hill, showing their wild disposition in a pure and simple style.
The Best Time to Visit Humble Administrator’s Garden
Because it is one of the most famous attractions in Suzhou, the Humble Administrator's Garden receives many visitors, including large tour groups during the peak season. Spring is a particularly pleasant time to visit the Humble Administrator's Garden, as this is when the trees bloom. Late summer, although very hot, is the ideal time to appreciate the blooming lotus flowers that adorn the surfaces of the ponds.
