Couple's Retreat Garden (Ou Yuan)
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Couple's Retreat Garden![]() |
In ancient Chinese, 'ou' means cultivating the land by two persons, so that the garden's name implies that a couple retreat to the countryside and lead a peaceful life there. The Couple's Retreat Garden consists of a large mansion and smaller houses built in the middle of the layout with two gardens to the east and the west, respectively. On three sides it is surrounded by a canal. The garden now boasts 24 buildings, 21 tablets and couplets, brick carvings and precious ancient trees. The imposing scenic spots are the Eastern and Western Gardens, Yellow Stone Rockeries, and City Corner Thatched Cottage. Among these attractions the Yellow Stone Rockeries are the principal scenic area.
History
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Eastern Garden
Before the hall of City Corner Thatched Cottage is the Yellow Stone Rockery. This man-made hill is natural and vivid. From the big eastern part of the rockery, tourists can arrive on the platform on the east side on the hill and the stone chamber on the west side, by walking along the stone path in front of the cottage's hall. On the east side of the platform, the peak of the hill descends and ends in a precipice. At the foot of the precipice is a pool. Visitors can get to the pool by a passage on the east side of the precipice. This scenery is the most imposing in the garden. The western part of the rockery, contrastingly, is small and descends gradually to the west, ending in the right wall of the City Corner Thatched Cottage's hall.
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Middle Mansion
Western Garden
Since the climate in Suzhou is mild and wet with four distinctive seasons, the Couple's Retreat Garden is open all the year round. The best visiting time is from April to October, when the scenery is especially attractive. As visitors stroll through the Garden, they will enjoy interesting free performances of folk music and Pingtan (a folk art form combining story telling and ballad singing of Suzhou, usually performed by two actors) all year round. This is a good place for visitors to enjoy sights, relax and learn about Chinese classical garden culture.
Transportation

Take Rail Transit Line 1 and get off at Xiangmen Station. Go out via Exit 3 and walk northward on Cangjie Street for about 700 yards (640 meters).

1. Take bus no. 301 or 305 and then get off at Dongyuan Station (Eastern Garden Station). Walk to the south on Cangjie Street for around 600 yards (550 meters).
2. Take bus no. 2, 9, 32, 40, 60, 89, 112, 146, 178, 200, 261, 307, 518, 800, 900, or tourist bus no. 5 and then get off at Xiangmen Station.
Suzhou Bus Search
Admission Fee | Apr. 16 - Oct. 30: CNY 25; Oct. 31 - Apr. 15: CNY 20 |
Opening Hours | 07:30 ~ 17:00 |
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- Last updated on Apr. 08, 2021 -
Questions & Answers on Couple\s Retreat Garden
Asked by Sally from AUSTRALIA | May. 10, 2019 19:44
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Do I need to prebook my ticket of Couple's Retreat Garden before I arrive?
Recently the Suzhou museum and the humble administrators garden have made you pre book your ticket before you come in. Is that the case with this garden? What about the lingering garden?
Answers (1)
Answered by Fiona from CANADA | May. 12, 2019 22:49
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No, you don't.
Asked by jun from MALAYSIA | Apr. 20, 2019 09:29
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What is the Chinese name for this Suzhou Couple's Retreat Garden?
Answers (1)
Answered by Trina from CHINA | Apr. 24, 2019 01:15
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In Chinese, it is '苏州耦园'.