Canglang Pavilion (Blue Wave Pavilion)

Canglang Pavilion (Blue Wave Pavilion) is located in the southern part of Suzhou, and is one of the four most famous gardens of the city. It is the oldest Suzhou garden that can be traced back to the beginning of Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127). In 1045, a scholar Su Shunqin was demoted and sent to Suzhou. He bought the garden and built the pavilion in a setting adjacent to water to enhance the beauty of the garden. The garden was then named Canglang Pavilion in honor of his namesake, Canglang Weng.

Canglang Pavilion Photos

Typical scenery of Suzhou Gardens

Unlike other gardens, Canglang Pavilion emphasizes the harmony between man-made buildings and the natural environment. Before entering the garden, you can see a beautiful green pool that is surrounded by weeping willows. In the garden you will see incredible man-made rock formations that are divided into two parts. On the eastern side, the earth has been mixed with natural yellow stones and built in such a manner that it resembles a natural hill. On the western side, exquisite stones gathered from lakes have been used to create another hill of natural appearance. All of these rock formations have been planted with green trees and viridian bamboos that add to the beauty of the scene and create the sensation of walking in a primitive mountain forest. There are also winding corridors with pavilions that link the hills and pools together. As you walk along these corridors that follows a path alongside the unique stone formations and strategically planted ancient trees, it seems as if you were walking in a primitive forest. The architectures built in the garden are simply and classically designed, presenting a Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) style.
 Zigzag corridors throughout the garden link the scenic spots of the garden. On the walls of the corridor, there are 108 lattice windows of various designs through which you can enjoy the beauty of the pool outside and the hill in the center of the garden. The intricate patterns of the windows are interesting and enhance the beauty of the corridor.
 Facing Water Veranda is a four-sided hall beside the water to the west of the corridor. When you are tired after a long walk, you can sit and drink a cup of tea while enjoying the quiet and beautiful surroundings of the garden.

Furniture of the Ming Dynasty in Mingdao Hall

Carved Root Furniture in Fragrance Hall

At the east end of the corridor, a square pavilion sits on a stone beside the pool. It is called Fishing Terrace which is a perfect place to sit and watch different varieties of fish swimming in the pool.
 Crossing the corridor, you can climb up the man made rock formation along a gently winding path. Among a sea of green trees, a square antique Canglang Pavilion can be seen indistinctly. The beams here are carved with intricate patterns of fairy children, flowers, birds, and animals. From inside the pavilion, you can see the beauty of the entire garden.
 

Mingdao Hall

Mingdao Hall is the main building in the garden. In the hall are three rooms that were once used as places for ancient scholars to study. Inside the hall, there are also rubbings of three stone tablets including the Astronomic Picture, Geographic Picture and Pingjiang Prefecture Map which are the priceless treasures of Suzhou. In a setting of age old trees, the hall looks very solemn and venerable.
 Fragrance House is to the west of the Mingdao Hall. When autumn falls, the house is filled with the delicate fragrance of the sweet-scented osmanthus that grows within the garden. While sitting in Fragrance House, it is easy to enjoy both the beauty of the green rock formations and blue pools as well as the faint scent of osmanthus that adds to the joy and comfort of the scene.
 Five-Hundred Famous Ancient Sages Hall is also an important building in the garden. The stone statues of 594 ancient sages of Suzhou are encased in the glass walls of the hall and form a large art gallery. The hall adds cultural atmosphere to the natural beauty of the whole garden.
 In the south end of the garden, a two-storey building called Mountain-Watching Building stands majestically in the garden. With its flying eaves and turned up corners, it is one of the most exquisite buildings in the garden. From inside this building, you can see the mountains around the garden as well as the beauty of the entire garden.
 1. Take Rail Transit Line 4 to Nanmen and walk north for 5mins to Canglang Pavilion.
2. Take bus 1, 101, 308, 933, 949, Gusu tourist bus line 2 to Gongren Wenhuagong and walk east to the garden.
Suzhou Bus Search
 

Entrance Fee	Apr. & May & Jul. - Oct. : CNY 20; CNY 40 for a combo ticket with Ke Garden nearby. Jan. - Mar. & Jun. & Nov. & Dec. : CNY 15; CNY 30 for a combo ticket with Ke Garden. * Note: 1. Children under 6 or below 1.4 meters (4.6 feet) and seniors over 70 can enter for free. 2. Children aged 6-18 and seniorsaged 60-70 can enjoy half price.
Opening Hours	Mar. 1 to Oct. 31: 07:30 to 17:30 Nov. 1 to Feb. 28: 07:30 to 17:00 * Note: Ticket sale stops half an hour before the closing time.