Originally the home of a prince, the oldest garden in Sūzhōu was first built in the 11th century, and has been repeatedly rebuilt since. Instead of attracting hordes of tourists, the wild, overgrown garden around the Blue Wave Pavilion is one of those where the locals actually go to chill and enjoy a leisurely stroll. Lacking a northern wall, the garden creates the illusion of space by borrowing scenes from the outside.
A double verandah leads along a canal from the front pavilion. From the outer path, you’ll see green space inside and from the inner path you can see views of the water. Look out for a ‘temple’ whose dark walls are carved with the portraits of more than 500 sages, and the ‘pure fragrance house’ has some impressive furniture made from the gnarled roots of banyan trees.
