---
title: Lingering Garden, Suzhou
date: 2025-07-01
excerpt: After picking up lychees, an afternoon photo walk through the Lingering Garden
tags:
  - Essay
  - 苏州
  - 园林
cover: https://assets.vluv.space/cover/Essay/留园.webp
lang: en
i18n:
  cn: /suzhou_lingering_garden
  translation: 2
updated: 2026-05-23 00:30:59
---

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> 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. [[suzhou_jinji_lake|Went to Jinji Lake in the evening]] — much more pleasant after sunset.

📸 Photos uploaded and hosted at [GnixAij's Gallery](https://gallery.vluv.space/?tags=留园)

## 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).

![20250705170546187](https://assets.vluv.space/20250705170546187.webp)

## Dongshan Sizhu (Eastern Hill Silk and Bamboo)

![Dongshan Sizhu](https://assets.vluv.space/东山丝竹.avif)

## 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*

![Minge](https://assets.vluv.space/明瑟.avif)

![Lingering Garden reflections](https://assets.vluv.space/留园倒影.avif)

## West Tower & Quxi Tower

![Lingering Garden](https://assets.vluv.space/留园3.webp)

## Five Old Men Peaks

> Opposite the Wufeng Fairy Hall. Said to be modeled after the [Five Old Men Peaks](https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E4%BA%94%E8%80%81%E5%B3%B0/6090534) of Mount Lu.

![Lingering Garden Taihu stones](https://assets.vluv.space/留园太湖石.avif)

## Wufeng Fairy Hall (Hall of Five Peaks)

![Five Peaks Fairy Hall](https://assets.vluv.space/20250705165408988.webp)

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

![Lingering Garden interior](https://assets.vluv.space/留园室内.avif)
![Lingering Garden interior](https://assets.vluv.space/留园室内2.avif)
![Rare stones, ancient longevity](https://assets.vluv.space/20250705172725939.webp)

## Climbing Corridor (Pashan Corridor)

![Lingering Garden corridor](https://assets.vluv.space/留园廊.avif)

## 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*](https://www.gushiwen.cn/shiwenv.aspx?id=987458864738), 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.

<div style="display: flex; justify-content: space-between; align-items: flex-start;">
  <div style="flex: 2;">

![Shuxiao Pavilion](https://assets.vluv.space/piclist-clipboard-images-20260102154023676.avif)

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

![Shuxiao Pavilion](https://assets.vluv.space/shu_xiao_ting.avif)

  </div>
</div>

## Others

![Lingering Garden wall](https://assets.vluv.space/留园墙面.avif)
![Lingering Garden lotus](https://assets.vluv.space/留园荷花.avif)
![Lingering Garden banana palms](https://assets.vluv.space/留园芭蕉.avif)