Plan at a glance
East Gate in, South Gate out
He Garden is at 66 Xuningmen Street in Guangling District. The East Gate is the usual entrance. Routes normally enter from the east and leave through the South Gate, which makes it easier to continue toward Pishi Street, Dongguan Street, and the old town.
Allow about 1 hour for a quick visit and 1.5–2 hours for a first visit at a comfortable pace. The garden has bluestone paths, steps, two-level covered corridors, and many turns, so the actual walking takes longer than a straight-line map suggests.
Ticket, reservation, and opening hours
The ticket is CNY 45 in the peak season and CNY 30 in the low season. Reservations can be made 3 days ahead, and the earliest booking window is 7 days; tickets are released at 09:00 each day. Opening hours are 07:30–17:15.
Tour groups usually increase after 08:30. Entering at 07:30 is better for a quiet look at the corridors and Water-Mind Pavilion. If you arrive after 15:30, prioritize the Water-Mind Pavilion, covered corridors, Yuxiu Tower, and Pianshi Rockery before deciding whether to extend the visit.
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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The covered corridors
The two-level covered corridors are He Garden's most distinctive space. The upper level looks down over the courtyards and gives framed views through windows. The lower level makes it easier to see the turns between the corridor, Water-Mind Pavilion, and garden rooms.
The corridor is both a route and a popular photography spot. Move to the side before stopping, and use a window, corner, or upper-level railing without blocking stairs or the main passage.
Water-Mind Pavilion and Boat Hall
Water-Mind Pavilion sits over the water and is a good place to pause and understand the garden's spatial relationships. Boat Hall, Peony Hall, and Butterfly Hall fit naturally into the first half of the visit. Look at how water, corridors, windows, and rooms create linked views.
These spaces reward a walking visit rather than a quick list of photo stops. Around Water-Mind Pavilion and Pianshi Rockery, reflections, rockwork, and corridor shadows change with the weather and light.
Yuxiu Tower, Nanmu Hall, and Pianshi Rockery
Yuxiu Tower combines Chinese and Western architectural features. Nanmu Hall is useful for looking at materials and the scale of the residence. Pianshi Rockery is the garden's main rockwork area. Keep these stops together in the route so the relationship between the architecture and the landscape remains clear.
He Garden suits visitors interested in garden architecture, Qing-era residences, and photography. Its main experience comes from moving between spaces, so do not spend the entire visit at the entrance corridors.
Build your day
The one-hour route
Enter at East Gate and visit Peony Hall, Boat Hall, and Water-Mind Pavilion. Continue to the upper level of the covered corridors, then Yuxiu Tower, and leave through South Gate.
This route keeps the main water, corridor, and tower views together for visitors with limited time or another old-town stop ahead. You can shorten the side courtyards, but keep Water-Mind Pavilion and the covered corridors. Check the South Gate direction before leaving so you do not repeat the same turns.
The 1.5- to 2-hour route
Enter from East Gate and visit Peony Hall, Butterfly Hall, and Water-Mind Pavilion. Follow the covered corridors from the lower level to the upper level, then continue to Yuxiu Tower, Nanmu Hall, and Pianshi Rockery before leaving through South Gate.
Pause at the covered corridors to look at the windows, corners, and upper/lower views. Pianshi Rockery works well as a slower final section. If a popular photo position is occupied, continue to an open area and return later rather than blocking the corridor.
Early entry and afternoon timing
Tour groups usually increase after 08:30, so 07:30 entry is best for a quiet full look at the corridors. After 15:30, complete Water-Mind Pavilion, the covered corridors, Yuxiu Tower, and Pianshi Rockery first, then use the remaining time for smaller courtyards.
He Garden can combine with Geyuan Garden, Dongguan Street, and Pishi Street, but each attraction has its own ticket and opening time. Nearby locations on a map do not mean each garden can be rushed into a few minutes.
Get there
Bus
Take bus 19, 61, or 62 and get off at “He Garden,” then walk to the entrance. The roads around He Garden are narrow, so a bus or a short walk is usually easier than driving to the gate.
From He Garden, you can continue on foot to Geyuan, Dongguan Street, or Pishi Street. If you need to return to Yangzhou Station or Yangzhou East Station, estimate the transfer time before adding another garden.
Parking
On weekends and public holidays, the 723 Research Institute at 26 Nanhexia may offer parking, about a 2-minute walk away. Entry requires registration with the gate staff, and it should not be treated as an always-available public car park.
If you enter at East Gate and leave at South Gate, the car may be away from the exit. Decide in advance who will collect the car, especially if the group has children, luggage, or camera equipment.
Know before you go
Shoes and steps
The garden has bluestone paths and many steps. Flat shoes are safer than thick soles or high heels. In summer, bring mosquito protection. After rain, slow down around the corridors and rockery areas.
The upper and lower corridors are narrow. Keep stairs and corners clear when taking photographs. Water-Mind Pavilion, Pianshi Rockery, and the corridor reflections are good photo areas, but the passage comes first.
Guiding and spending
The garden may offer free scheduled guiding. You can join one of those sessions rather than accepting a private guide at the entrance. Handicrafts near the entrance can be expensive; if you want small souvenirs, the nearby old-town streets offer more choices.
The garden's value depends on the relationship between the covered corridors, Water-Mind Pavilion, Pianshi Rockery, and the residence. A guide can make those connections easier to follow. Even without one, keep the East Gate–South Gate order rather than circling one corridor repeatedly.
Food and nearby routes
There are Yangzhou fried-rice and other food options opposite the garden. For a seated Huaiyang meal, use the He Garden area before moving on. Geyuan, Dongguan Street, and Pishi Street can follow, but decide whether the day is mainly for gardens or for old-town walking.
If you are driving or catching a train, confirm the car location and direction back to the station before adding a second garden. South Gate is better for continuing on foot; the parking arrangement may require a separate return walk.