Stunning Chinese-style courtyard check-in at the Humble Administrator's Garden! Suzhou, Jiangsu

The Humble Administrator's Garden is located at No. 178 Dongbei Street, Gusu District, Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province, China. It is situated in the northeast of Suzhou city center, adjacent to the Suzhou Museum, the Loyal King’s Mansion of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, and the Lion Grove Garden, together forming a rich cultural tourism area. The Humble Administrator's Garden is the foremost of China's Four Great Gardens (the other three are the Summer Palace in Beijing, the Mountain Resort in Chengde, and the Lingering Garden in Suzhou). It is also the largest existing classical garden in Suzhou and has been listed as a World Cultural Heritage site. Built in the early Ming dynasty Zhengde period (early 16th century) by the Ming dynasty censor Wang Xianchen, the garden’s name "Humble Administrator" is derived from a line in the Jin dynasty writer Pan Yue’s "Idle Living" poem: "Tending the garden and selling vegetables to provide meals morning and evening... this is also the governance of the humble," symbolizing a retreat to rural life. Over more than 400 years, the Humble Administrator's Garden changed owners many times, was divided into east, central, and west parts, serving as private residences or official use, and underwent multiple renovations and expansions. In the 1950s, it was carefully restored and opened to the public as a park. Centered around water, the garden features winding hills and waters, exquisite pavilions, and lush plants, full of poetic charm, exemplifying the private gardens of Jiangnan. The entire garden is divided into three relatively independent sections: east, central, and west gardens. The central garden is the essence, centered on a broad water surface, with all buildings seemingly floating on the water. It includes Yuanxiang Hall, Yiyu Pavilion & Xiangzhou, Jianshan Tower, Little Flying Rainbow, and the Four-sided Lotus Breeze Pavilion. The west garden (Bu Garden) is compactly arranged around a pond with exquisite buildings, including the Thirty-six Mandarin Duck Hall & Eighteen Mandala Flower Hall, With Whom to Sit Pavilion, and Reflection Tower. The east garden (Return to the Countryside Residence) is relatively open, more spacious, and exudes a pastoral atmosphere. It features Lanxue Hall, Furong Pavilion, Tianquan Pavilion, and Zuiyun Peak. The Humble Administrator's Garden is not just a garden but a living work of art, embodying the wisdom of ancient Chinese literati, painters, and craftsmen. It perfectly integrates natural beauty, architectural beauty, and cultural ambiance, making it a must-visit place to understand Suzhou and even Chinese classical culture.