Lion Grove Garden – Ticket Price, Opening Hours, Location, and Highlights

Lion Grove Garden (狮子林), situated in the northeastern part of Suzhou city, is a masterpiece of classical Chinese private garden architecture. Its origin dates back to the second year of the Yuan Dynasty’s Zhizheng era (1342 AD), initially serving as the backyard garden of a Zen Buddhist temple before being transformed into a private residence. Renowned as one of the “Four Great Gardens of Suzhou,” alongside Humble Administrator’s Garden, Lingering Garden, and Canglang Pavilion, Lion Grove Garden showcases the artistry and cultural richness of ancient Chinese garden design.

The garden gets its name from the abundance of rock formations resembling lions scattered throughout the landscape. Visitors can delight in counting stone lions and navigating a maze constructed of carved stone, adding an element of playful mystery to the experience. Lion Grove Garden holds a special place in history, as it was a favored retreat for Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty, who visited the garden six times during his trips to southern China. Legend has it that the garden is home to five hundred stone lions within its rockeries. Such was the emperor’s fondness for Lion Grove Garden that he replicated it in both Yuanming Yuan and Chengde Mountain Resort.

At the heart of the garden lies a pond and artificial hills, with a vantage point provided by the Jianshan Tower, offering panoramic views of the garden’s natural and architectural elements. The garden is adorned with a continuous corridor featuring calligraphic masterpieces by four prominent Song Dynasty literati – Su Shi, Mi Fu, Huang Tingjian, and Cai Xiang – alongside inscriptions of the Southern Song poet Wen Tianxiang‘s “Plum Blossom Poem.”

Table of Contents

• Basic Information
• Location and Transportation
• Map of Lion Grove Garden
• Highlights of Lion Grove Garden
  • Unique Rock Formations
  • Yanyu Hall
  • Wenmei Pavilion
  • Stone Boat
• Vlog about Lion Grove Garden
• A Brief History of Lion Grove Garden
• Useful Information Summarized from Reviews
• Attractions near Lion Grove Garden

Basic Information

Location and Transportation

Lion Grove Garden, also known as Shi Zi Lin in Chinese, is a renowned classical garden located in the city of Suzhou, Jiangsu province, China. Suzhou, often referred to as the “Venice of the East,” is renowned for its exquisite traditional gardens, and Lion Grove Garden stands as one of its most cherished gems. Its exact address is

Bus: Take bus 5, 9009, 9016, 9025, 9029, or Tourist Line 4, get off at Suzhou Museum Station, and the Lion Grove Garden will be to your east.

Metro: The nearest metro station to the Lion Grove Garden is North Temple Pagoda (北寺塔) on line 4. After getting out of the station, walk about 1 kilometer to the east to reach the garden.

Map of Lion Grove Garden

Highlights of Lion Grove Garden

Unique Rock Formations

The rockeries in Lion Grove Garden, dating back to the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties, incorporate numerous remnants from the Northern Song Dynasty’s “Hua Shi Gang” (precious stones). These ancient stones, combined with the ingenious ideas of rockery artists, form a landscape that simulates human figures, lions, and other animals related to Buddhist stories. Ancient trees and pine trees grow in the gaps between the rocks, and vines hang from the cliffs. The rockeries are divided into three parts – upper, middle, and lower – with a total of nine mountain paths and 21 cave openings. At the summit of the rockeries stand five prominent peaks, including the central Lion Peak, the Hanyue Peak to the east, and the Tuyue Peak to the west, creating a stunning visual spectacle.

Yanyu Hall

Yan Yu Hall, meaning “enjoyment of the swallows,” derives its name from the Book of Songs, suggesting joy and ceaseless entertainment. Functioning as the primary venue for entertaining guests, Yan Yu Hall is renowned as one of Suzhou’s most famous halls. The hall’s ceiling features three immortals and a child, symbolizing auspiciousness. Its pillars are adorned with elaborate carvings depicting flower baskets and pillars shaped like baskets of flowers and plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum motifs.

Wenmei Pavilion

The Wumei Pavilion, the main building in the western part of the garden, is situated on a hill and surrounded by plum trees. The pavilion is decorated with a small grove of red and green plum trees, creating a picturesque scene. The double-eaved and towering Wumei Pavilion displays a plaque reading “Spring News through the Elegant Window,” inspired by a poem from the Tang Dynasty poet Wang Wei. Inside the pavilion, the furniture is shaped like plum blossoms, with exquisite plum blossom carvings under the tables, plum blossom patterns on the windows and floors, and paintings and calligraphy on eight screens featuring plum blossom themes, reflecting the aesthetic taste of literati.

Stone Boat

The Stone Boat, also known as the Dry Boat or “Bu Xi Zhou (不系舟/untied boat),” is situated northwest of the water pond and was built in the early years of the Republic of China. This structure, constructed by the last owner of the garden in the 20th century, is a two-story boat with 86 windows adorned with colored glass. The boat seems to float on the water, connected to the shore by a small stone bridge resembling a diving board. The intricately crafted stone and woodwork, along with the incorporation of Western elements, make the Stone Boat a unique and exquisite feature of Lion Grove Garden.

Vlog about Lion Grove Garden

A Brief History of Lion Grove Garden

Lion Grove Garden, located in Suzhou, has a history dating back to the Yuan Dynasty. In 1341, the Buddhist monk Tianru Chanshi (Shi Weize) arrived in Suzhou to teach, gaining a devoted following. In 1342, his disciples purchased land and built a Zen temple, naming it after the “Lion Peak” within the garden. The site featured famous rock formations like “Containing Sunshine” and “Spitting Moon,” along with halls such as “Lixue Hall” and “Woyun Room.” The garden, rich in bamboo, included a pond and bridges, making it a serene retreat.

By the late Yuan and early Ming periods, Lion Grove Garden became a renowned gathering place for scholars and artists. However, after Tianru Chanshi’s passing, the temple and garden fell into decline. In 1373, the famous painter Ni Yunlin created the “Lion Grove Garden” painting. In 1589, during the Ming Dynasty, Monk Mingxing collected alms in Chang’an to fund the garden’s restoration, reviving its former glory. By the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty, the temple and garden were separated. The garden was later purchased by Huang Xingzu, a government official, and renamed “She Garden.” In 1771, his son Huang Xi, who achieved the top scholar rank, expanded and renamed it “Wusong Garden,” adding Emperor Qianlong’s inscribed “True Delight Pavilion.”

By the late Qing Dynasty, the Huang family declined, and the garden fell into disrepair. In 1917, businessman Bei Runsheng, a relative of architect I. M. Pei, acquired and restored it over seven years, adding halls, bridges, and rockeries while preserving its original layout. In 1953, Bei’s family donated the garden to the Chinese government. After renovations, it opened to the public in 1954, standing today as a UNESCO-listed masterpiece of classical Chinese gardens.

Useful Information Summarized from Reviews

Avoid Peak Hours for a Better Experience: It’s not recommended to visit during peak hours as the garden can be crowded, reducing the overall experience. Consider going in the early morning when there are fewer visitors for a more enjoyable exploration.

Utilize Visitor Services Center: Take advantage of the Visitor Services Center inside the garden. It offers free storage facilities for your belongings and provides complimentary stamps. Additionally, there are charging stations available for your convenience.

Wear Appropriate Attire: Lion Grove Garden is predominantly made up of rocks and artificial hills, involving a lot of climbing. It’s advisable for women to avoid wearing skirts as navigating through the garden involves going up and down various levels.

Explore the Visitor Center Near the Parking Lot: Next to the parking lot, there is a Visitor Center. Here, you can find a large screen TV playing a 13-minute documentary about Lion Grove Garden, providing insights into its history and current condition. It’s a great way to gain a general understanding before exploring the garden.

Attractions near Lion Grove Garden

Pingjiang Road, Suzhou 

Suzhou Museum

Suzhou Folk Custom Museum

Guanqian Street, Suzhou

Suzhou Pingtan Museum

Suzhou City God Temple

Suzhou Kunqu Opera Museum

Ouyuan Garden

Suzhou Garden Museum

Xuanmiao Temple, Suzhou

Yiyuan Garden, Suzhou

Suzhou Silk Museum

Taipingtianguo Zhongwang Mansion