The Qianlong Emperor's Southern Inspection Tour / Emperor Qianlong South Inspection Tour

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Suzhou Gardens were designed by true connoisseurs of gardening art, excellent specialists in the field of architecture, painting, classical literature and Chinese philosophy. Therefore, the garden's layout is distinguished by a skilful combination of water, artificial slides, pavilions, terraces, bridges, towers, halls, trees and flowers.

Blue Wave Pavilion Garden (Nanlanting)
The 1-hectare Blue Wave Pavilion is the only garden not entirely walled. It is also the oldest garden in Suzhou, closer to the wilderness than others, with stone hills and mounds adorned with bamboo groves. Its name comes from the Coastal Pavilion, built by the poet Su Shun Qing in 1044.

Respectful Official's Garden (Zhozheng Yuan)
This garden was lost by the son of a "respectful official" who founded it in 1522. The magnificent ensemble of about 5 hectares is one of the finest gardens in China. Water plays a central role here: the banks of large ponds are covered with openwork arbours and pavilions, and the ponds themselves are dotted with islands, which can be reached via graceful bridges or narrow stone dams.

Yearning Garden (Lu Yuan)
This 3 hectare garden has a high cliff dominating the area. The pavilions are impressive in size, including the lavishly furnished Hall of Mandarin Ducks and the Hall of Trees and Fountains by the Cloud Contemplation Pond. The main attractions are connected by a 700 m long corridor. Hundreds of windows with lattices in the form of various floral patterns gaze out at rocks, plants and water, creating the effect of "pictures from an exhibition" viewed through constantly changing frames.

Master of Networks Garden (Wanshi Yuan)
It is the smallest garden in Suzhou (0.5 hectares), but its small size is offset by a graceful layout that has become a model for many other Chinese gardens.

Names such as "Hall of Painting Admirement" or "Pavilion of the Moon and Wind" convey the atmosphere of blissful contemplation.