China Guide
Jiangsu and Zhejiang
Canglang Ting
Opening time: Daily 8am–5pm
Price: ¥15
Address: Cnr Renmin Lu and Zhuhui Lu, just beyond Shiquan Jie
The under-visited but intriguing Canglang Ting (Dark Blue Wave Pavilion) is the oldest of the major surviving gardens. Originally built in the Song dynasty by scholar Su Zimei around 1044 AD, it's approached through a grand stone bridge and ceremonial marble archway. The central mound inside is designed to look like a forested hill. In the south of the garden (away from the entrance) stands the curious Five Hundred Sage Temple lined with stone tablets recording the names and achievements of great statesmen, heroes and poets of Suzhou.