Also known as ‘Jinshanlin’ and ‘Leyuan’, it is located at Sanyuanfang (No. 48 Renmin Road) in the south of Suzhou City, just separated by an alley from the Canglang Pavilion. The garden gate faces south and overlooks the Canglang Pavilion across the water. In 1963, it was listed as a cultural relic protection unit in Suzhou City. The existing area of Keyuan Garden is 5,000 square meters. The pool is in the center. The buildings are sparse and elegant. The corridors are winding. The water and trees are clear and beautiful. The courtyard is clear and spacious. It has been repaired several times in decades. The site of Keyuan Garden belonged to the villa of Sun Chengyou, the Jiedushi of Zhongwu Army of Wuyue State in the Five Dynasties. In the Northern Song Dynasty, it was a part of the Canglang Pavilion. In the Southern Song Dynasty, it was the residence of ‘Hanyuan’. In the Yuan and Ming Dynasties, the land belonged to Dayun Nunnery. In 1767 (the 32nd year of Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty), a garden was built here. Taking the meaning of Confucius’ ‘The benevolent find pleasure in mountains, and the wise find pleasure in waters’, it was named ‘Leyuan’. Later, it was renamed ‘Keyuan’ because ‘pleasure cannot be taught’. In 1827 (the seventh year of Daoguang in the late Qing Dynasty), Liang Zhangju, the governor of Jiangsu Province, renovated it again and named it Cungu School. In 1914, the Jiangsu Provincial Suzhou Library (initially named the Second Library) was set up here. In 1963, it was listed as a cultural relic protection unit in Suzhou City. Opening hours: Open from 07:30 to 17:00 from November 1st to February 28th; Open from 07:30 to 17:30 from March 1st to October 31st. Preferential policies: Children: Children under 6 years old (inclusive) or under 1.4 meters (inclusive) in height can enter for free with valid identification documents. Free. Minors aged 6 years old (exclusive) to 18 years old (inclusive) can enjoy half-price tickets. Half price. Seniors: Seniors aged 70 years old (inclusive) and above can enter for free with valid identification documents. Free. Seniors aged 60 years old (inclusive) to 70 years old (exclusive) can enjoy half-price tickets with valid identification documents. Half price. Students: Full-time undergraduate and below students can enjoy half-price tickets with valid identification documents. Half price. Military personnel: Active servicemen of the People’s Republic of China can enter for free with military ID cards. Retired military cadres can enter for free with retirement cards. Free. Disabled people: Disabled people and one accompanying person of severely disabled people can enter for free with valid identification documents. Free. Preferential objects: Preferential objects with the ‘Preferential Certificate for Veterans of the People’s Republic of China’ and the ‘Preferential Certificate for Martyrs, Military Personnel Who Died on Duty, and Family Members of Military Personnel Who Died of Illnesses of the People’s Republic of China’ (except for inner gardens, charged items in the garden and night tour projects) can enter for free. Medical personnel in Suzhou: Within seven days (from May 12th to 18th and from August 19th to 25th) starting from International Nurses Day on May 12th and Chinese Physician Day on August 19th every year, medical personnel in Suzhou can visit scenic spots for free. When medical personnel in Suzhou visit scenic spots, please show ‘personal ID card’ + ‘Suzhou Medical Personnel Free Garden Card (electronic card)’ and can enter the park directly without reservation and be exempt from the first entrance ticket fee.
Keyuan Garden, a place where admission is free.
