Plan at a glance
Entrance, route and timing
Lion Grove Garden is at 23 Garden Road in Gusu District. Visitors normally enter through the north gate and leave on the south side along a one-way route; allow about 2 hours for a first visit, or about 1.5 hours for the main areas if time is tight.
Tickets and reservations
The ticket price is CNY 40 in the peak season from April to October and CNY 30 from November to March, with half-price tickets for students. Reserve a real-name time slot through the Suzhou Gardens Tourism WeChat account; the garden opens 07:30–17:30 in the peak season, with last entry at 17:00, and 07:30–17:00 in the low season, with last entry at 16:30.
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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Rockery maze and Nine Lions Peak
Lion Grove Garden is about its multi-level rockery complex, rather than another water garden similar to Humble Administrator's Garden. Nine Lions Peak is a Taihu rock with nine lion forms to find, while the rockery has several levels of paths and caves for visitors who enjoy spatial exploration, garden architecture and photography.
Who it suits
Families can let children try some of the low caves, but the garden has many rock steps, so visitors with limited mobility and families using strollers should assess the route first. Zhenqu Pavilion, the window of the stone boat, Yanyu Hall and the higher parts of the rockery offer different views of the garden; follow the on-site flow when taking photographs.
Build your day
A 1.5-hour route
Enter through the main gate, then visit Yanyu Hall, Nine Lions Peak, the outer rockery route, Zhenqu Pavilion and the stone boat before leaving. This route covers the main hall, the signature rocks and the waterside space, and leaves time for Humble Administrator's Garden or Suzhou Museum afterward.
A 2-hour route
From the main gate, visit Yanyu Hall and Xiaofang Hall, then continue to Nine Lions Peak, Yifeng Zhibai Studio, the rockery maze, Woyun Room, Zhenqu Pavilion, the stone boat, the Stele Corridor and Lixue Hall before leaving. The rockery paths can be confusing, so choose the cave sections that suit your energy instead of repeatedly retracing your steps.
Get there
Metro and walking
Take Metro Line 6 to Lion Grove Garden Station and walk about 5 minutes, or take Line 1 to Lindunlu Station (临顿路), Exit 3, and walk about 600 metres. Humble Administrator's Garden and Suzhou Museum are nearby, making them natural same-day stops.
Driving and local movement
Parking in the old city is limited, and holiday traffic can be heavy. If you must drive, use a public parking lot nearby, then continue by foot or metro instead of taking the car into the core sightseeing area to look for a temporary space.
Know before you go
Shoes, steps and strollers
The worn stone steps in the rockery can be slippery, so wear flat shoes with good grip; some low caves require you to bend down. There are many steps and rockery sections, so strollers are inconvenient and you can ask the visitor centre about storage.
Entry timing and energy
Arriving at 07:30 or after 15:30 is usually better for avoiding large tour groups. Between 09:30 and 15:00, visitor numbers may be higher and midday light is not always good for photographs; audio guides are available, and you should bring your own water.