Plan at a glance
Entrance, scope and hours
Lingering Garden is at 338 Liuyuan Road in Gusu District. The entrance is on Liuyuan Road and has a small frontage, so look for the garden signs. The garden has central, eastern, western and northern sections; allow 1.5–2 hours. It opens 07:30–17:30 from March 1 to October 31 and 07:30–17:00 from November 1 to the end of February.
Tickets and reservations
Admission is CNY 55 in the peak seasons of April–May and July–October, and CNY 45 in the low season; half-price admission is CNY 27.50. Reserve and buy a real-name ticket 1–2 days ahead through the official Suzhou Gardens Tourism WeChat account or an online platform, following the time shown on the booking.
Tickets and visit details
View visit options for this attraction and confirm the visit date and current arrangements before you go.
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Buildings, corridors and rocks
Lingering Garden's main interest is the way its four sections shift through different spaces, with winding corridors, windows and doorways constantly changing the view. Crown Cloud Peak, Wufeng Immortal Hall, Crown Cloud Tower and its fish fossil, together with the waterside Mingse Tower and Hanbi Mountain House, suit visitors who enjoy classical gardens, architecture and photography.
Who it suits
The compact layout suits visitors who want to see several garden styles in a limited time, but the full route still requires sustained walking, so visitors with limited mobility should assess the ground conditions and crowds. Xiyuan Temple is about 600 metres away and works as a separate next stop, with its own admission and hours.
Build your day
A 1-hour route
From the entrance, visit Green Shade Pavilion, Hanbi Mountain House, Wufeng Immortal Hall, Quxi Tower, Crown Cloud Peak and Huopopodi before leaving. This route covers the main buildings and Crown Cloud Peak, leaving more time for Shantang Street or Xiyuan Temple.
A 1.5–2 hour route
Follow the route through Ancient Tree and Intertwined Branches, Hanbi Mountain House, Mingse Tower, Wenmuxiang Pavilion, Keting Pavilion, Qingfeng Pond Hall, Wufeng Immortal Hall, Linquan Qishuo Hall, Crown Cloud Peak and Crown Cloud Tower before leaving. If time allows, add the western rockery area and northern countryside area for a more relaxed 2–3 hour visit.
Get there
Metro and buses
Take Metro Line 2 to Shilu Station (石路), Exit 1, then walk about 10–15 minutes. Bus routes Tour 1, 7, 34, 36, 44, 85, 304, 317, 933 and 921 stop at Lingering Garden.
Driving and nearby walking
Parking around Lingering Garden is limited, and holiday traffic can be heavy. Drivers are better off parking near a more distant metro station and continuing by metro and on foot; if you walk to Xiyuan Temple afterward, navigate to its separate entrance.
Know before you go
Quiet periods and walking
Weekday opening time or the final hour before closing is usually better for seeing the corridors and windows, while weekends and holidays can be much busier. The visit is mainly on foot, so there is no need to speed through all four sections.
Food and nearby services
There is no full food service inside the garden, so bring water. Shops along Liuyuan Road keep their own hours; if you continue to Xiyuan Temple, allow separate time for admission, walking and food.