One Day in Suzhou, 20,000 Steps to Check in at Lesser-Known Gardens

A loose yet tense journey, from strangers to friends who make plans to meet again. 8:30 Meet at Beibanyuan, where the staff of Pingjiangfu Hotel opened the mysterious door of Beibanyuan for us. Three little ones were playing in the pool, so carefree. 9:15 Passed by the Suzhou Urban Construction Museum, which was not on the itinerary. The building's "dialogue between ancient and modern" allowed us to rediscover Suzhou, a city we often visit. For the first time, we realized that there are so many ancient buildings beyond our knowledge. 10:00 Quanjin Guild Hall, China Kunqu Opera Museum, and the 2025 "Just in Time to Dream" Peony Pavilion-themed exhibition depicted a dream-seeking route for us to explore Kunqu Opera. We sat down for a short break and enjoyed a famous song, which was quite enjoyable. 11:00 Boarded a boat at Xiangmen Wharf to Xumen. The ancient city gates along the way were particularly majestic, giving us a sense of traveling through time and space. We passed by Shemen, quickly pressed the shutter, and welcomed the dancing golden snake. 13:00 After a simple lunch, we headed to the former site of the Jiangsu Provincial Surveillance Office, where a joint exhibition of aquatic art was held. The boundless imagination of the artists and the ancient building engaged in a dialogue across time and space, and the words "dialogue between ancient and modern" appeared in our minds again. On the way, we passed by the "Suzhou People's Hall" and looked forward to the scene of entering it in the future. 14:30 Arrived at Changyuan as scheduled, which is limited to 20 visitors per day, so remember to make a reservation in advance. Now, Changyuan is operated by Vanke's Youxiong Hotel, and behind every ancient door in the garden may be a place to rest. 16:00 Arrived at the Suzhou Silk Museum before it closed. The embroidery added a touch of beauty to the silk, and the exquisite exhibits were breathtaking. Young curator Luo Yier and a group of young artists once again presented a "dialogue between ancient and modern" here, bringing this trip to a perfect end. 20,000 steps in one day to check in at many lesser-known gardens, and we still had the energy to add a classic after dinner, Tang Yin's Former Residence, and rushed to the high-speed rail platform at the last minute. Looking back on the dialogue between ancient and modern throughout the day, every step was a scene, more exciting than a time-travel drama.