Retreat and Reflection Garden
退思园
A World Heritage garden in Tongli Ancient Town, built right over the water, a model of Jiangnan water-town residential gardens.
The Retreat and Reflection Garden is in Tongli Ancient Town in Wujiang District. It was built during the Guangxu period of the Qing dynasty, and its owner, Ren Lansheng, named it after the saying 'retreat to reflect on faults.' It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001. The garden layout runs horizontally: the residence is on the west, the courtyards in the middle, and the garden on the east. The garden centers on a pond, and its pavilions and halls are built right over the water, earning it the nickname 'Waterside Garden.' Highlights include the Naohong Boat and the Tuisi Thatched Hall, both small and exquisite. The admission is included in the Tongli ancient town combined ticket (about 100 yuan), and the town is least crowded in the early morning and evening. It is about 1 hour by car or bus from downtown Suzhou.
Opening hours
07:30–17:30
Nearby sights
- Tongli Ancient Town
- Baodai Bridge
- Wu Culture Museum
- Zhouzhuang Water Town
- Ligong Causeway
- Shihu Lake & Shangfang Mountain
- Jinji Lake
- Fengmen Hengjie Market Street