Humble Administrator's Garden

The largest of Suzhou's UNESCO-listed classical gardens (5.2 hectares). 16th-century landscape with ponds, pavilions, rockeries, and an emphasis on water.

The Humble Administrator's Garden was begun in 1509 by a retired imperial censor, Wang Xianchen, who turned the grounds of an old monastery into a private retreat. The 5.2-hectare design centres on a series of ponds connected by bridges and walkways, with pavilions, kiosks and corridor structures arranged to frame views from changing angles. UNESCO-listed in 1997 as part of the Classical Gardens of Suzhou. Among the four most-visited classical gardens in Suzhou; combine with Lion Grove and Master of Nets for a full garden day.