Suzhou 5A National Attractions

🏛️ 5A National

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🏛️ 5A National Attractions

Last verified 22 Jul 2025

Suzhou's classical gardens anchor a cluster of eight official 国家5A级 scenic areas—China's densest concentration of elite heritage sites outside Beijing. Add two postcard water-towns and a Taihu-lakeside eco-resort and you have one city that condenses Jiangnan culture into metro-ride distances.

Tick all eight in three easy clusters—Gardens core, Water-town south, Lake & Mountain north—and Suzhou's essence is yours. No Tourist Traps. No BS.

1 Quick Metrics

Total 5A sites

UNESCO share

3 / 8 (Humble Administrator's, Lingering & Lion Grove Gardens)

Ticket range

¥40 garden low-season → ¥120 water-town night pass

Real-name booking

Required for all gardens & water-towns (ID + health-code scan)

Metro reach

4 / 8 sites ≤ 800 m of a Suzhou-Metro exit; Zhouzhuang & Tongli need HSR/bus

2 Why It Matters

Classical-Gardens crash course — Ming-Qing horticulture perfected: rockeries, borrowed views, zig-zag bridges, all UNESCO-listed.

Canal-town living museum — Zhouzhuang & Tongli float on 11th-century waterways; dusk lamp-lit boat rides show the Jiangnan many day-trippers miss.

Yue-style landscape mix — Tiger-Hill's leaning pagoda sits on a sword-smith legend, while Yushan-Shanghu pairs plum-blossom ridges with lotus lakes.

Lake-edge exhale — Taihu National Resort swaps Bund crowds for reed walks, cycle paths and fishermen's perch-net suppers at sunset.

3 Pro Tips

Humble Administrator's – enter 07:30 sharp; Bonsai Garden sun-patch is photo-empty for 30 min.

Tiger Hill – pay extra ¥5 cliff-rail car to Yunyan Pagoda and walk down; crowds climb opposite.

Water-town passes – Zhouzhuang Starlight (after 17:00) is half-price and lanterns glow 18:30-22:00.

Tongli combo – ticket includes UNESCO Retreat-and-Reflection Garden; scan QR at south gate to skip queue.

Taihu eco-loop – rent e-bike at Dongshan pier; 15 km reed-fringe ride, bird hides every 3 km.

4 The Full 5A List

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Classical Garden · Gusu

Humble Administrator's Garden / 拙政园

5.2 ha Ming masterpiece; UNESCO; ¥70 peak; 07:30–17:30; Metro L4 Beisita 700 m.

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Classical Garden · Gusu

Lingering Garden / 留园

UNESCO rockery maze & "Cloud-Capped Peak" limestone; ¥55; 08:00–17:00.

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Classical Garden · Gusu

Lion Grove Garden / 狮子林

Fantastical grotto tunnels—legend says 9 turns reach heart; ¥40; 08:30–17:30.

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Historic Hill · Huqiu

Tiger Hill Scenic Area / 虎丘山风景名胜区

1,000-yr leaning pagoda, sword-testing rock; ¥80 high; 07:00–18:00.

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Water Town · Kunshan

Zhouzhuang Ancient Town / 周庄古镇

"China's No. 1 water-town"; 14 stone bridges; ¥100 day / ¥80 night; HSR to Kunshan + bus 101.

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Water Town · Wujiang

Tongli Ancient Town / 同里古镇

Canals + UNESCO Retreat-&-Reflection Garden; ¥100; HSR Suzhou Station → bus 735.

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Mountain-Lake · Changshu

Yushan-Shanghu Scenic Area / 虞山尚湖旅游区

Plum-blossom ridge & lotus lake boardwalks; ¥70; 07:30–17:30; Bus Changshu 1.

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Lake Resort · Wuzhong

Suzhou Taihu National Tourism Resort / 苏州太湖国家旅游度假区

228 km² lakeshore: wetland reeds, cycle ring, islet temples; park free; attractions ¥20–60.