Tuisi Garden, a late Qing Dynasty masterpiece, was built by its owner, Ren Lansheng, as a retreat from the political arena. Despite its modest size, the garden encapsulates the quintessence of classical gardens, featuring the ‘three trees, three uniques, and three treasures.’ It includes a comprehensive array of traditional architectural elements such as pavilions, terraces, towers, chambers, corridors, archways, bridges, arbors, halls, rooms, and verandas.
As a classical garden outside Suzhou that has been listed as a World Cultural Heritage site, it has served as a filming location for numerous movies and TV dramas, making it a must-visit destination in Tongli. Due to the constraints of the terrain and the owner’s desire for discretion, the architectural layout of Tuisi Garden deviates from the norm, changing from vertical to horizontal, with the west being the residential area, the center the courtyard, and the east the garden.
Within Tuisi Garden, the ‘Noisy Red Boat’ stands out for its dynamic presence. The stone boat, named ‘Noisy Red Boat,’ sits突兀ly in the pond, unmoved by the wind and waves. Standing at the bow offers the sensation of a small boat drifting on a lake. The boat is supported by lake stones, half-submerged in clear water, with water flowing through the stone’s holes, creating a continuous, soothing sound. The water surface along the side of the boat reflects the clouds, giving the illusion that the boat has set sail, adding a unique touch of interest.
Surrounding the stone boat, originally planted with lotus flowers and water caltrops, during the summer and autumn seasons, a gentle breeze stirs, and the green canopy sways. Fish in the lotus pond seem to understand human gestures, and with a slight clap, they swim away in groups, creating a delightful spectacle.
Opening hours are from 08:00 to 17:15 all year round. Important tip: with a Tongli Ancient Town ticket, you can only enter Tuisi Garden once, so plan whether you want to visit during the day or at night. If you have visited Tuisi Garden during the day and wish to experience the night tour, you can purchase a separate night tour ticket.
