---
title: Humble Administrator's Garden
date: 2025-05-05
excerpt: "Thus I observe the measure of contentment, forsaking ambitions like drifting clouds, building a house and planting trees, free and self-possessed. The ponds suffice for fishing, the harvested grain for farming. Watering the garden and selling vegetables provides for daily meals; tending sheep and brewing cheese awaits the seasons' needs. Filial in devotion, brotherly in bonds — this too is the governance of the unskilled."
tags:
  - Essay
  - 苏州
  - 园林
cover: https://assets.vluv.space/cover/Essay/拙政园.webp
lang: en
i18n:
  cn: /suzhou_humble_administrators_garden
  translation: 2
updated: 2026-05-23 00:30:59
---

On May 5th, I set out from Xiangcheng District to the Humble Administrator's Garden. Took Metro Line 2, transferred to Line 6 at Pinghe Road Station, then two more stops and I was there.

On Line 2, I noticed a station name that sounded rather poetic — "Lumu Station"[^1]. The original name was "Lumu" (陆墓, "Lu's Tomb"), said to be where the cenotaph of the Tang dynasty chancellor Lu Zhi[^2] is located[^3].

I went in the afternoon (still crowded, despite the rain and cooler weather). Booked three days in advance, tickets are 80 RMB, half price for students. You can scan your face or ID card — no need to fumble with a QR code at the gate, which is slightly more convenient than Tiger Hill. The Suzhou Museum is right next door.

The reservation time slot isn't strictly enforced — I booked 4:30–5:30 PM but got in at 3 PM without any issues.

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<br>

Like Granny Liu entering the Grand View Garden, I snapped away — only to realize I'd forgotten to turn off Live Photos 😭. Each one easily 10MB+. I'll process them later when I have time.

## Jianshan Pavilion (Seeing Mountains Hall)

> [!NOTE]
>
> 采菊东篱下，悠然见南山。
>
> *Plucking chrysanthemums beneath the eastern fence, leisurely I gaze at the southern hills.* — Tao Yuanming

![Jianshan Pavilion](https://assets.vluv.space/见山楼.webp)

## Taying Pavilion (Pagoda Shadow Pavilion)

<div style="display: flex; justify-content: space-between; align-items: flex-start; gap: 2rem;">
  <!-- Column 1-->
  <div style="flex: 1;">

![Humble Administrator's Garden](https://assets.vluv.space/拙政园3.avif)

  </div>
  <!-- Column 2-->
  <div style="flex: 1;">

![Humble Administrator's Garden](https://assets.vluv.space/拙政园17.avif)

  </div>
</div>

## Xiaofeihong Bridge (Little Flying Rainbow)

![Humble Administrator's Garden](https://assets.vluv.space/拙政园15.avif)

## Water Corridor (Shuilang)

<script data-swup-reload-script type="module" src="/js/components/image-carousel.js"></script>
<image-carousel interval="" ratio="9/5">

![Humble Administrator's Garden](https://assets.vluv.space/拙政园18.avif)

![Humble Administrator's Garden](https://assets.vluv.space/拙政园13.webp)

![Humble Administrator's Garden](https://assets.vluv.space/拙政园7.avif)

</image-carousel>

## Tingyu Pavilion (Listening to Rain Chamber)

Near Liuding Pavilion there are lotus flowers 🪷, and outside Tingyu Pavilion grow banana palms — both are wonderful for listening to rain sounds.

![Humble Administrator's Garden](https://assets.vluv.space/听雨轩.avif)

## Yiyu Pavilion (Leaning on Jade)

![Humble Administrator's Garden](https://assets.vluv.space/拙政园8.webp)

## Thirty-Six Mandarin Duck Hall / Eighteen Manluo Flower Hall

> 小径四时花，随分逍遥，真闲却，香车风马。
> 一池千古月，称情欢笑，好商量，酒政茶经。
>
> *Flowers bloom all four seasons along the path, freely wandering, truly at leisure, with fragrant carriages and swift horses. One pool holds a thousand years of moonlight, hearty laughter, well-matched, fine rules for wine and tea.*

<image-carousel interval="" ratio="9/5">

![Humble Administrator's Garden](https://assets.vluv.space/拙政园4.avif)

![Humble Administrator's Garden](https://assets.vluv.space/拙政园14.webp)

![Eighteen Manluo Flower Hall](https://assets.vluv.space/十八曼陀罗花馆.avif)

</image-carousel>

## MISC

<image-carousel interval="" ratio="9/5">

![Borrowed view of North Temple Pagoda](https://assets.vluv.space/借景.avif)

![Humble Administrator's Garden](https://assets.vluv.space/拙政园盆景.avif)

![Humble Administrator's Garden](https://assets.vluv.space/拙政园2.avif)

![Humble Administrator's Garden](https://assets.vluv.space/拙政园16.avif)

![Humble Administrator's Garden](https://assets.vluv.space/拙政园1.avif)

</image-carousel>

<div style="display: flex; justify-content: space-between; align-items: flex-start;">
  <div style="flex: 1;">

![Humble Administrator's Garden](https://assets.vluv.space/拙政园v4.jpg)

  </div>
  <div style="flex: 1;">

![Humble Administrator's Garden](https://assets.vluv.space/拙政园v2.jpg)

  </div>
  <div style="flex: 1;">

![Humble Administrator's Garden](https://assets.vluv.space/拙政园v3.webp)

  </div>
</div>

## References

No tour guide — I read a few articles as a spot guide beforehand.

[中国四大园林之首拙政园，你看懂了多少？](https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s?__biz=MzAxNzM2MjcyMg==&mid=2247486614&idx=1&sn=243ac09cd69d154007b732f3b9dbb8a2&chksm=9be7f6dbac907fcd0ad0aac66b0201c44e361c214f4e415351e29dd6f36dfc59ee9cfbb9354b&token=2068481580&lang=zh_CN#rd)

[【景观笔记 139】带你还原最真实的拙政园——拙政园三十一景图 - 知乎](https://zhuanlan.zhihu.com/p/344585014)

[^1]: [江南温故 | 苏州多陵墓地名_昆山市_陆贽_历史](https://www.sohu.com/a/767510871_121448078)
[^2]: [陆贽（唐朝中期政治家、文学家、政论家、思想家）_百度百科](https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E9%99%86%E8%B4%BD/2447362#9-1)
[^3]: [为什么是陆慕？-苏州吴文化地名研究所](http://www.szdmw.com/PgShow_546.html)