Shangfangshan National Forest Park is located about 5 kilometers southwest of Suzhou urban area and is the core scenic group of Shihu Scenic Area. Here, there are beautiful green mountains and clear waters, presenting a pastoral scenery of the south of the Yangtze River. You can go for an outing and enjoy cherry blossoms. There are also many historical sites worth seeing. From late March to early May every year, there will be a flower festival here, with various flowers and birds on display.
In early spring, Shangfangshan is even more a sea of cherry blossoms. At this time, local citizens often set up tents on the large lawn in the park to enjoy flowers and play, or enjoy fun and delicious food in the barbecue area. However, by late April, the cherry blossoms will basically wither. The entire scenic area is mainly composed of Shangfangshan Mountain, the sightseeing orchard area and the forest recreation area. The open-air ‘Golden Buddha’ on Shangfangshan Mountain is very eye-catching. However, the cableway to the Golden Buddha has been suspended. Tourists can climb up step by step along the footpath. The altitude of Shangfangshan Mountain is only 92 meters. Hiking up the mountain is considered as physical exercise. The Lengjia Pagoda of the Song Dynasty is the landmark and highest point of Shangfangshan Mountain. There are also historical sites such as Zhiping Temple and Shihu Thatched Cottage, as well as the imperial road of Emperor Qianlong. In addition, there is also a peacock garden and various botanical gardens here, and there are special expansion and barbecue venues. Guide: Enter the park from the main entrance at the northern section of Wuyue Road. On the right front are the historical sites Zhiping Temple and Shihu Thatched Cottage. If you go straight to the right, you can reach Shifo Temple, Fan Chengda’s Memorial Temple and the north entrance. If you go left from the main entrance, you can reach the Golden Buddha, peacock garden and expansion base in turn. Along the way, you will pass several large lawns and botanical gardens. If you continue to move forward, you can climb Shangfangshan Mountain to visit Lengjia Pagoda. Opening hours: Open all year round from 07:30 to 17:00. Preferential policies: Children: Children under 1.4 meters (inclusive) in height can enter the park for free when accompanied by adults; children under 6 years old (inclusive), with valid certificates, can enter the park for free when accompanied by adults. Free. Children between 6 years old (exclusive) and 18 years old (inclusive) enjoy half-price tickets. Elderly: Elderly people over 60 years old (inclusive) in Jiangsu Province can enter the park for free with valid identity cards and other valid certificates (except during large-scale garden events held in scenic spots, when they enjoy half-price discounts). Elderly people over 70 years old can enter the park for free with the ‘Senior Citizen Card’ or resident identity card. Free. Elderly people from outside Jiangsu Province between 60 years old (inclusive) and 70 years old (exclusive) enjoy half-price tickets with valid identity cards and other valid certificates. Half-price. Students: Full-time undergraduate and below students enjoy half-price tickets with valid resident identity cards or student ID cards and other valid certificates. Half-price. Military personnel: Active-duty military personnel can enter the park for free with military certificates. Disabled military personnel for revolutionary causes can enter the park for free with disabled military personnel certificates (military certificates include military officer certificates, armed police officer certificates, soldier certificates, military student certificates, military civilian cadre certificates, etc. ). Free. Disabled people: Disabled people can enter the park for free with the ‘Disability Certificate’. For severely disabled people who need accompaniment, one accompanying person (with valid identity documents) can accompany them into the park for free. Free. Preferential objects: Preferential objects with the ‘Preferential Certificate for Veterans of the People’s Republic of China’ and the ‘Preferential Certificate for Martyrs, Military Personnel Who Died on Duty, and Surviving Family Members of Military Personnel Who Died of Illnesses’ (except for middle gardens, charged items in the park and night tour projects). Free. Medical personnel in Suzhou: Within 7 days from International Nurses Day on May 12 and Chinese Doctors’ Day on August 19 every year (from May 12 to 18 and from August 19 to 25), medical personnel in Suzhou can visit the scenic area for free.Medical staff in Suzhou are required to present their ‘Personal ID’ and ‘Free Park Entry Card for Suzhou Medical Staff (electronic card)’ when visiting the scenic area, allowing them to enter without reservation and waive the first admission fee.
Additional free information: Other ticket price preferential policies stipulated by laws and regulations. The above information is for reference only, and the specific details are subject to the public notice at the scenic area. Service facilities include: Parking lot: [Botanical Garden Main Entrance Parking Lot] Reference price: ¥5 per entry; Address: Wu Yue Road, Xing Chun Bridge Entrance, Heng Tang Town, Suzhou New District, Jiangsu Province; Spaces: 80.
