Wangshi Garden, a typical Suzhou garden, has an area less than one-sixth of the Humble Administrator’s Garden. Despite its small size, its ingenious layout gives no sense of confinement, embodying the principle of “small yet grand”. Visitors can appreciate the delicate design. During the annual Night Garden event, they can enjoy traditional performances under the stars.
Originally built in the Chunxi era of the Southern Song Dynasty (1174-1189 AD), Wangshi Garden was once called “Yuyin” garden. Like its current name, it symbolizes a retreat from the world. The current layout and structures are mostly remnants from the late Qing Dynasty after extensive restoration and expansion.
The focal point of the garden is the large pond, Caixia Chi. All buildings are arranged around it. The eastern section is residential, the northern section is for study, the western section is the inner garden area, and the southern section is for entertainment.
The garden has two entrances: the North Gate (rear entrance) and the Southeast Gate (main entrance). It is recommended to enter through the Southeast Gate and tour the garden counterclockwise around the pond to see all the buildings.
In the eastern part of the garden, from south to north, there are the sedan chair hall, the main hall Wanjuan Tang, Xie Xiu Lou (used for the master’s living quarters and receiving guests), Wu Feng Shuwu (for storing books, the former site of the Southern Song “Wanjuan Tang”), and Ti Yun Shi to the northeast of Wu Feng Shuwu. The sedan chair hall has a meticulously carved sedan chair that is almost hollowed out. The gate towers opposite Wanjuan Tang and in front of Xie Xiu Lou are adorned with exquisite brick carvings. The doors and windows of Ti Yun Shi are decorated with beautiful wood carvings.
From Wu Feng Shuwu, along the northern side of Caixia Chi, head west to explore the northern part of the garden. To the west of Wu Feng Shuwu, there is Jixu Zhai (where the master reads) and Zhu Wai Yi Zhi Xuan (where the master’s children study). Further west, Kan Song Du Hua Xuan is a place to appreciate the garden’s scenery, with pine and cypress trees planted in front. Enjoying the blooming flowers in spring, listening to cicadas in summer, smelling osmanthus in autumn, and watching snow cover the pines in winter, the garden’s year-round scenery is like a series of paintings, making the term “reading paintings” very fitting.
Continuing west leads to a relatively independent area – the inner garden in the west. The painter Zhang Daqian once lived in Dian Chun Yi in the inner garden and even kept a tiger there to paint it well. After the tiger’s death, Zhang Daqian’s tombstone for the tiger can still be seen under the semi-kiosk at the westernmost wall of Wangshi Garden.
Heading south, you will arrive at Yue Dao Feng Lai Pavilion, located in the middle of the western part of the garden, overlooking Caixia Chi. The pavilion offers a serene reflection of the surrounding black and white buildings in the water. At night, it becomes an excellent spot for moon-gazing. Inside the pavilion, there is a large mirror that visually expands the space.
Further south, passing through Zhuo Ying Shui Ge, you will reach the southern part of the garden. Here, you will find Qin Shi (where the master plays the zither) and Dao He Guan (a place for leisurely residence).
Ascend the artificial hill of Huangshi to the east. From there, you can overlook the garden’s scenery. Continuing eastward, pass by the small mountain pavilion filled with cassia trees, which serves as the master’s living quarters and reception area. You will encounter an incredibly small bridge resting atop a narrow stream, known as the “Jingjing Bridge”. This tiny bridge is a famous architectural feature of Wangshi Garden, with five steps on each side and can be crossed in just three strides. Located at the confluence of the stream and the colorful pool, its small size contrasts with the vastness of the pool, making the garden’s space seem larger.
To the north of Wangshi Garden is the renowned Shiquan Street in Suzhou, famous for its dining and craft specialties. Not only Shiquan Street but also the intersecting Fenghuang Street are lined with numerous restaurants, such as the Old Suzhou Tea and Wine Building and Xiehe Restaurant, offering authentic Suzhou dishes like squirrel-shaped mandarin fish, oily eel paste, and green snail shrimp. Crafts for sale include Suzhou embroidery, calligraphy, and silk. Nearby accommodations include Nanlin Hotel, Suzhou Residence Hotel, and Nanyuan Hotel. The area also boasts the scenic spot Canglang Pavilion, which can be visited together.
Wangshi Night Garden is a classic Suzhou tourism productIt combines garden scenes with intangible cultural heritage performances and installation art. Through air sachets, it combines fragrance with dynamic artistic forms to bring a beautiful mood and viewing experience from all aspects of ‘shape, sound, smell, taste, and touch.’ It allows for the re-creative integration of the ancient garden and traditional art, effectively expressing the night beauty of Wangshi Garden, the ‘extreme case of a small garden.’
Night tour performances include Suzhou storytelling, Kunqu Opera, Kunqu dance, flute and xiao, guqin, and tea ceremony performances, lasting about 45 minutes in total. Breaking the conventional passive viewing, the audience actively explores the clues of garden stories, moving from scene to scene, and using the garden to showcase intangible cultural heritage and intangible cultural heritage to interpret the garden.
Opening hours: March 1st to October 31st from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM; November 1st to February 28th from 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM.
Preferential policies: Children under 1.4 meters in height (inclusive) or under 6 years of age (inclusive) with valid identification, free of charge; minors aged 6 to 18 years (inclusive) with valid identification, preferential tickets; students with full-time university undergraduate or lower-level student identification, preferential tickets; elderly aged 60 to 70 years (inclusive) with valid identification, preferential tickets; elderly aged 70 years and above (inclusive) with valid identification, free of charge; active-duty military personnel of the People’s Republic of China with military identification and retired military officers with retirement identification, free of charge; disabled persons with a ‘Disability Certificate,’ free of charge; severely disabled persons requiring companionship can be accompanied by one companion free of charge; preferential treatment targets with ‘People’s Republic of China Veterans’ Preference Certificate’ or ‘People’s Republic of China Martyrs, Military Personnel Who Died on Duty, and Sick Military Personnel Dependents’ Preference Certificate’ (excluding garden within the garden, garden charges, and night tour projects), free of charge; Suzhou medical staff: Free to visit the scenic area from May 12th International Nurses’ Day to May 18th and from August 19th Chinese Doctor’s Day to August 25th each year.
Medical staff in Suzhou, when visiting the scenic area, are requested to present their ‘Personal ID’ along with the ‘Suzhou Medical Staff Free Garden Card (Electronic Card)’, allowing direct entry without the need for advance reservation and waiving the first admission fee.
Complimentary services include WiFi: Account: Master of the Nets Garden; Password: No password required; Coverage: Throughout the scenic area’s visitor service center.
Luggage storage: Reference price: Free.
Guided tours: Human-guided services are available at the entrance pavilion. Fees: Free guided services (Free tour times: 8:20/9:00/9:40/10:20/11:00/12:30/13:10/13:50/14:30/15:10/15:50); Paid guided services (1-5 people, 60 RMB; 6-10 people, 80 RMB; 11-20 people, 100 RMB; More than 20 people, 140 RMB).
Restrooms: Multiple restrooms are located within the Master of the Nets Garden scenic area, near Yunku and Luhua Pavilion, with clear signs for easy identification.
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