IN ancient times, Suzhou, in present-day Jiangsu Province, was praised as "Heaven on Earth." Still ranking high among the heavenly delights of the 4,000-year-old city are its famous gardens. These attractions, many of which once belonged to retired officials or wealthy merchants, have survived centuries, with new features bringing renewed vitality.The Humble Administrator's Garden and the Lion Forest Garden

Created in 1509, the Humble Administrator's Garden is considered the pinnacle of Suzhou gardens. Centering upon the broad expanse of a lake, the picturesque garden landscapes and waterscapes are kept the style of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). It was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site list in 1997.

The original owner of the garden was Wang Xianchen, a legal official with the central government. Historically, officials and writers revered the lotus as the exquisite flower emerges from foul pond mud. Lotuses are one of the big features of the garden.

Many new varieties have been added in recent years and there are now more than 200 types of lotuses in the garden, which hosts in summer a lotus festival.

This features many rare and unusual varieties, such as a mini water lily, with blooms the size of a table tennis ball.

The lotuses are in full bloom in late July. The best spot for viewing them is in front of the Hall of Distant Fragrance, at the center of the garden.

This was the reception hall of the garden, as the former owners believed from there they could survey the best scenery.

Other spots, such as the Waterside Lotus Pavilion, are also ideal for watching lotus.

The Lion Forest Garden is within walking distance of the Humble Administrator's Garden. Created in the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368), the biggest feature of the garden is the rockeries.

It was created by a Buddhist monk, and as the lion is one of the holy creatures in Buddhism, the monk built rockeries featuring hundreds of natural stones said to resemble lions, though they have weathered over the years.

Inside the rockeries are passageways, creating a huge labyrinth, in which visitors can hear someone close by, but not find them. When Emperor Qianlong of Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) visited the garden, he spent four hours exploring.

On emerging, he wrote "real delight" in calligraphy to describe the rockeries. The work was made into a inscription, hanging in a pavilion next to the rockeries.

The Humble Administrator?s Garden

Admission: 70 yuan/US$11.4 (April 16-October 30); 50 yuan (October 31-April 15)

Address: 178 Dongbei St

Tel: 0512-6753-9869

How to get there: Tour Bus No. 1, 2 or 5



The Lion Forest Garden

Admission: 30 yuan (April 16-October 30); 20 yuan (October 31-April 15)

Address: 23 Yuanlin Rd

Tel: 0512-6727-8316

How to get there: Tour Bus No. 1, 2 or 5



Surrounding attractions:

The 800-year-old Pingjiang Road is a typical water lane in Suzhou, its historic Suzhou-style housing preserved.

There are also some tea houses on the street in which people can enjoy both tea and ancient Chinese music.

Wu Men Ren Jia restaurant is located in a historic residential house and serves authentic Suzhou cuisine. The classic dishes help to create a traditional atmosphere.The Master-of-Nets Garden

The ònetsó in the name of the garden refers to òfishing nets,ó expresses the former owner of the garden?s dream of making a living through fishing. The refined garden is small ? you can walk around it in 20 minutes ? but its specialty is the evening tour.

Beginning at 7:30pm, it takes about 90 minutes. Traditional Chinese performances, such as music, dance, Kunqu Opera and pingtan - a traditional combination of song and storytelling - are held in the halls and pavilions of the garden. English-speaking tour guides are available, explaining the history of the garden and the performances.

The garden has a covered walkway, so if it's raining, visitors can still enjoy the scenery without being soaked.

The most beautiful time for the evening tour is when the full moon is hanging in the sky. In the center of the garden is the Pavilion Where the Moon Meets the Breeze, with a huge mirror hung on the wall.

On nights when there's a full moon, its reflection on the water and in the mirror create a stunning "three moon" composition.

The Master-of-Nets Garden

Admission: 30 yuan (April 16-October 30); 20 yuan (October 31-April 15); 100 yuan for evening tour

Address: 11 Kuojiatou Lane

Tel: 0512-6520-3514

How to get there: Tour Bus No. 2



Surrounding attractions

Shiquan Street, at the exit of the Master-of-Nets Garden is a popular bar street in Suzhou. As two hotels here were the only accommodation available for overseas visitors in the past, it became a favorite area with foreigners. Even though the city now has other entertainment zones, there is still a buzz here at night.Tiger Hill and the Lingerings Garden

The cradle of Suzhou, Tiger Hill remains one of the most popular scenic areas in the city. Bonsai has become one of the key features of Tiger Hill, with thousands of miniature trees collected in a garden called "Garden of All Sceneries." This includes a precious Chinese sweet plum bonsai, which has a history of more than 400 years.

Bonsai masters in the garden demonstrate their delicate horticultural skills, and visitors can also have a go.

"Such interactive activities are very popular, especially among foreign visitors," said Wang Jianqiang, a bonsai master who has been working for more than two decades at the garden.

Wang said most foreign bonsai lovers are more familiar with Japanese bonsai, but as China was the cradle of the culture, Chinese bonsai has a stronger cultural background and greater achievements.

Yunyan tea is another attraction of Tiger Hill. Grown on the far side of the hill, it is too precious to sell. Visitors can only taste it in a nearby tea house.

Every spring, a tea festival is held in the field, on which visitors can learn to pick and process the tea leaves.

The Lingerings Garden is not far from Tiger Hill. Along with the Humble Administrator's Garden, the Lingerings Garden, created during the Ming Dynasty, is listed as among "the best four gardens in China" (the other two are royal gardens in Beijing and Hebei Province). The garden is renowned as among the best places to appreciate Taihu Lake stone, an attractive type of limestone found around the lake.

The garden has three treasures.

There is a masterpiece of Taihu Lake stone - slender, with folds and numerous holes which allow light to flood through. It is joined by a natural cross-section of marble, which resembles a painting of a landscape beneath the moon.

The third treasure is a 200-millionyear-old fossil of a cod. It is said the former owner of the garden just loved the stone's pattern, without realizing that it was a fossil of a fish.

Tiger Hill

Admission: 60 yuan (April 16-October 30); 40 yuan (October 31-April 15)

Address: Inside the Tiger Hill Gate

Tel: 0512-6723-2305

How to go: Tour Bus No. 1, 2



The Lingerings Garden

Admission: 40 yuan (April 16-October 30); 30 yuan (October 31-April 15)

Address: 79 Liuyuan Rd

Tel: 0512-6533-7903

Transport: Tour Bus No. 1, 2



Surrounding attractions

Shantang Street is an ancient street with more than 1,000 years of history. Visitors can enjoy traditional Suzhou snacks here, while accommodation is available in homey Suzhou-style bed-and-breakfasts.