The Garden of the Couples Retreat

★ 4.8

(22000 reviews)

A highly romantic, beautifully secluded classical garden bounded on three sides by ancient river canals, famous for its symmetrical dual-wing layout.

⚡ Vibe Heritage & Culture

💰 Cost $3

🏃 Effort Moderate Walking

Snap' Description

Discover an extraordinary monument to romance and symmetry at the Garden of the Couples Retreat (Ou Yuan). Tucked quietly against the rugged stone foundation bases of the old city walls, this unique UNESCO World Heritage site is bordered on three sides by wide river canals. It features a brilliant ' sheng-wing' layout consisting of twin eastern and western residential blocks framing a central lake.

Getting There

🚇

Metro Info

Xiangmen (Line 1, Exit 3) + 12 min Walk along old canal walls

🚕

Taxi Address

苏州市姑苏区仓街小新桥巷12号

Navigate

Amap Apple Maps

💎 Insider Tips

⚡
The garden features its own private, direct historic water dock; you can board a hand-paddled gondola right from the rear garden gate lines.
⚡
Explore the 'Eastern Orchard' section; it houses a spectacular mountain rockery sculpted entirely out of prized yellow stone slabs.
⚡
Significantly less visited by commercial tour coaches due to its secluded cul-de-sac location, providing an unmatched quiet slow-life vibe.
⚡
Passport or official national ID card is fully mandatory for entry ticket purchasing at the electronic kiosks; audio guides are available.