Also known as ‘Near the Mountain Forest’ and ‘Paradise Garden’, it is located at Sanyuanfang (No. 48 Renmin Road), south of Suzhou City. It is only separated by an alley from the Canglang Pavilion. The garden gate faces south and overlooks the Canglang Pavilion across the water. In 1963, it was listed as a cultural relic protection unit in Suzhou City. The existing area of Keyuan Garden is 5,000 square meters.
The pool is in the center. The buildings are sparse and bright. The corridors are winding and the waters and trees are clear and serene. The courtyard is clear and spacious. In the past few decades, it has been repaired several times. The site of Keyuan Garden belonged to the villa of Sun Chengyou, the Jiedushi of Zhongwu Army of Wuyue in the Five Dynasties. In the Northern Song Dynasty, it was a part of the Canglang Pavilion. In the Southern Song Dynasty, it was the residence of ‘Han Garden’. In the Yuan and Ming Dynasties, the land belonged to Dayun Nunnery. In 1767 (the 32nd year of Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty), a garden was built here. Taking the meaning of Confucius’ ‘The benevolent find pleasure in mountains, and the wise find pleasure in waters’, it was named ‘Paradise Garden’. Later, it was renamed ‘Keyuan’ because ‘pleasure-seeking cannot be taught’. In 1827 (the seventh year of Daoguang in the late Qing Dynasty), Liang Zhangju, the governor of Jiangsu Province, renovated it again and named it Cungu School. In 1914, the Jiangsu Provincial Suzhou Library (initially named the Second Library) was set up here. In 1963, it was listed as a cultural relic protection unit in Suzhou City. Opening hours: Open from 07:30 to 17:00 from November 1st to February 28th; Open from 07:30 to 17:30 from March 1st to October 31st. Preferential policies: Children: Children under 6 years old (inclusive) or under 1.4 meters in height (inclusive) can enter for free with valid identification documents. Free; Minors aged 6 (excluding) to 18 (inclusive) years old enjoy half-price tickets. Half price. Seniors: Seniors aged 70 years old (inclusive) and above can enter for free with valid identification documents. Free; Elderly people aged 60 (inclusive) to 70 (excluding) years old enjoy half-price tickets with valid identification documents. Half price. Students: Full-time undergraduate and below students can enjoy half-price tickets with valid identification documents. Half price. Military personnel: Active-duty military personnel of the People’s Republic of China can enter for free with military ID cards. Retired military cadres can enter for free with retirement ID cards. Free. Disabled people: Disabled people and one accompanying person of severely disabled people can enter for free with valid identification documents. Free. Preferential objects: Preferential objects with the ‘Preferential Certificate for Veterans of the People’s Republic of China’ and the ‘Preferential Certificate for Relatives of Martyrs, Military Personnel Died in Line of Duty, and Military Personnel Died of Illnesses of the People’s Republic of China’ (excluding gardens within gardens, paid items in the park and night tour projects) can enter for free. Suzhou medical staff: Within seven days (from May 12th to 18th and from August 19th to 25th) starting from International Nurses Day on May 12th and Chinese Doctors’ Day on August 19th every year, Suzhou medical staff can visit scenic spots for free. When Suzhou medical staff visit scenic spots, please show ‘personal ID card’ + ‘Suzhou medical staff free park card (electronic card)’ and can enter the park directly without reservation and the first entrance ticket fee is waived.Free.
