Couple's Retreat Garden
耦园
A garden bordered by water on three sides, whose east and west gardens symbolize a couple living in quiet seclusion together; a lesser-known World Heritage garden near Pingjiang Road.
Couple's Retreat Garden is on Xiaoxinqiao Lane, east of Pingjiang Road. Shen Bingcheng and his wife Yan Yonghua once lived in seclusion here during the Qing dynasty. The character 'ou' in the garden's name is pronounced the same as the word for 'pair,' and the east and west gardens symbolize a couple living together. The garden is surrounded by water on three sides and faces the street on the fourth. The yellow stone rockery in the east garden is a masterpiece among Suzhou gardens and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Admission is about 20 yuan. You can reach it on foot from Pingjiang Road or by small boat. It sits next to Suzhou Wharf and the ancient city moat, and pairs well with Pingjiang Road and the Humble Administrator's Garden.
Opening hours
07:30–17:30
Nearby sights
- Suzhou Pingtan Museum
- Pingjiang Road
- Lion Grove Garden
- China Kunqu Opera Museum
- Twin Pagodas of Luohan Temple
- Soochow University (Tianci Campus)
- Humble Administrator's Garden
- Suzhou Museum