Suzhou's Lingering Garden: My "Hard Pass" (Personal Experience: Not Worth the Ticket Price)
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To address some unfriendly comments: I'm just sharing my honest experience for everyone to consider and judge for themselves. Don't tell me how famous this garden is; if it's not worth the price to me, it's simply not worth it. Stop trying to show off your superiority here, and don't blame tourists for 'affecting' your visit. If you're so high and mighty, then never travel elsewhere. Maybe they should charge 50,000 yuan for tickets so only locals like you can go? You complain about too many tourists, and I'm here helping to dissuade them. What are you so anxious about?
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After reading your review, I've decided to skip Lingering Garden tomorrow. I'd rather find a nice spot for tea instead.
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If you're looking for fewer crowds, I recommend Yipu Garden. It was a filming location for 'Dream of the Red Chamber.' The garden itself is small but tranquil, there are places to drink tea nearby, and the ticket offers great value.
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Thanks, OP! You've shown me the friendly side of Suzhou.
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I just went today, and it was exactly as the OP described – absolutely packed with people. Tiger Hill was alright, as its larger size helped to spread out the tourists somewhat.
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Excuse me, what time did you go? I'm debating whether to go tomorrow because Lion Grove Garden was also packed this afternoon, and the experience was really poor.
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I really don't think the ticket price is worth it. Some say people just love to follow the crowd and don't truly understand gardens, but if you're going to charge this much, the least you could do is ensure proper maintenance and upkeep, especially since it's one of the Four Great Classical Gardens. Inside, many areas looked dirty, and the plants and flowers seemed poorly tended. I also don't get why the indoor displays aren't better arranged; the bonsai felt out of place. While some spots do reveal their beauty at first glance, many areas actually seem to detract from the garden's original charm. And I really don't understand why they'd put soil directly on tables to create miniature landscapes. Couldn't they use small potted plants? Won't the tables rot?
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I couldn't agree more! I feel the exact same way.
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It's surprising if you can handle the crowds on Pingjiang Road but find Lingering Garden unbearable. As someone with a garden pass who's visited many times, I personally find Lingering Garden to be excellent value, though that's just my opinion. For many, these gardens might not seem 'worth it.' Lingering Garden is rich with bonsai, ancient trees, and antiques; anyone with even a little knowledge can appreciate their immense value. Those who are truly interested will take the time to explore and understand; for those who aren't, no amount of explanation will matter. Frankly, fewer visitors would be preferable, allowing genuine tourists to enjoy some peace and quiet.
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Just a whistle-stop tour, I see.
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Lingering Garden in March is stunningly beautiful; the entire garden is filled with all sorts of camellias.
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I wish I'd seen this review sooner! I came today and... I'm just speechless. Not long after we entered, my friend said, 'Let's ask for a refund, this really isn't worth the money.' I see many comments talking about appreciating the garden's 'deeper meaning' and 'culture,' but how are you supposed to do that when Lingering Garden is so small and absolutely packed with people? Every single spot is swarming with visitors. And for a 55 yuan ticket? Definitely not worth it.
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Same here. I'm in the garden right now and it feels like there are a million people; I'm speechless. You can barely even walk around.
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Lion Grove Garden is also 40 yuan, and it's just wall-to-wall people. The experience is terrible. If it were free, I wouldn't complain, but for 40 RMB... Suzhou's attractions are seriously expensive.
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Suzhou gardens are UNESCO World Heritage sites! What do you think they are, just some ordinary public park? That 'World Heritage' designation alone is worth the ticket price!
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For most ordinary people, isn't visiting a garden just about joining the crowd and snapping a few photos? The majority don't really understand the historical allusions or cultural depth of these gardens anyway...
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That's the plain truth.
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My third trip to Suzhou, and I stayed for five days. I deliberately skipped the Humble Administrator's Garden, Lingering Garden, and Lion Grove Garden because I was afraid of the crowds. I visited many beautiful, lesser-known places that weren't crowded instead. Sigh, I'm even thinking of settling down in Suzhou to explore everything at a leisurely pace.
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Why didn't you write a post about it?