Jun 30·4 min· PV

Lingering Garden, Suzhou

After picking up lychees, an afternoon photo walk through the Lingering Garden

After quitting my internship, I booked a morning slot at the Lingering Garden for July 1st. Slept through the morning, and by afternoon it was too hot, so I didn’t set out until past 3, arriving at 4. After touring half the garden I was melting, so I rested at Zhile Pavilion and Shuxiao Pavilion for nearly an hour.
After resting, I walked along the climbing corridor, but by the time I finished, the broadcast was already reminding visitors that the garden was closing. I never made it to Guanyun Peak in the northeast corner — rested too long.
The heat was brutal. The best views of these spots are still the ones on my phone, viewed from an air-conditioned room. Went to Jinji Lake in the evening — much more pleasant after sunset.

📸 Photos uploaded and hosted at GnixAij’s Gallery

Huabu Xiaozhu (Huabu Little Garden)

The calligraphy above was inscribed by the Qing dynasty scholar Qian Daxin, titled “Zhuding Jushi.” “Huabu” is a variant of “Huabu” (flower wharf).

Dongshan Sizhu (Eastern Hill Silk and Bamboo)

Minge Tower (Bright and Serene Tower)

池上有客亭，左右揪桐，负日俯仰，目对鱼鸟，水木明瑟
By the pool stands a guest pavilion, with catalpa and paulownia trees on either side. Basking in the sun, looking up and down, facing fish and birds — the water and trees are bright and clear. — Commentary on the Water Classic

Five Old Men Peaks

Opposite the Wufeng Fairy Hall. Said to be modeled after the Five Old Men Peaks of Mount Lu.

Wufeng Fairy Hall (Hall of Five Peaks)

Linquan Qishuo Hall (Hall of Elder Sages of Forest and Spring)

Climbing Corridor (Pashan Corridor)

Shuxiao Pavilion (Whistling Pavilion)

登东皋以舒啸，临清流而赋诗
Climb the eastern heights and unleash a long whistle; face the clear stream and compose poetry. — Tao Yuanming, Return

This pavilion takes its name from Tao Yuanming’s Return, which took me right back to memorizing texts in high school~

Suzhou in July is just too hot. I rested here for nearly an hour. Other visitors later came here to cool off too (and it is indeed cooler here).

There was a family from the northeast whose child had just finished the gaokao, waiting for the results — quite a heartwarming scene. I lingered too long and only later realized I’d missed Guanyun Peak. If I return to Suzhou, I’ll try to make it up — ideally in autumn.

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