Suzhou's Little Treasure Park - East Park

🌳My dears, today I want to share with you a niche treasure park in Suzhou - Dongyuan. It is really an underestimated urban oasis, so hurry up and save it!​ Address: No. 1, Baita East Road, Gusu District 🎫Tickets: Free (there are charges for recreational facilities inside, the price is reasonable) ​ 🕙Opening hours: Open from 07:30 to 17:00 from March 16 to November 15 every year Open from 07:30 to 16:30 every year from November 16 to March 15 🚗Transportation: Green travel is recommended. Walking, subway and bus are all very convenient. If you drive, the Dongyuan parking lot is 6 yuan per hour, but there are many attractions nearby and traffic jams are common.​ 🌟History and Features​ Dongyuan is the first new comprehensive park built in Suzhou after its liberation. It cleverly utilizes the ruins of Jiang Taoyuan, the remains of the ancient city wall and the inner city river, and after artificial transformation, it has formed today's modern garden with mountains and waters as the main landscape. The total area of ​​the park is 270 acres, of which 90 acres are water surface. It has both the gentleness of a Jiangnan water town and the vitality of a modern park.​ 🌳Natural landscape Walking into the East Garden, it feels like entering a green world. The area is densely shaded by trees and has a fresh and pleasant air. There are more than 100 species of trees, totaling about 3,500 trees, making it a natural oxygen bar. Special varieties such as cedar, black pine, camphor, maple poplar, and camellia can be seen everywhere. The "Spring Scenic Area" is at the southern end of the ancient city wall. When spring arrives, crabapples and cherry blossoms bloom in layers, full of spring atmosphere. The "Spring View Pavilion" at the highest point of the city wall is an excellent place to enjoy the spring. The "Summer Scenic Area" is located to the north of the "Spring Scenic Area", and the "Summer View Pavilion" and "Spring View Pavilion" on the mountain echo each other from a distance. The lotus pond at the foot of the mountain is filled with lotus fragrance in summer. The curved bridges and waterside pavilions on the pond, and the cool breeze make it feel like a cool world.​ 🏞️Architectural landscape The buildings in East Garden are full of charm. The main attraction in the west is the "Hanbi Tower", a two-story building with a gable roof, gray tiles and white walls. There is a spacious platform in the front, facing the mountain and the water, and a curved corridor in the back connecting and separating the courtyards. It is a great place to enjoy tea and enjoy the scenery. Next to it is the "Ming Pavilion", which was built based on the model of the "Dianchun Pavilion" in Wangshiyuan Garden. It is 31 meters long and 13.5 meters wide. It is surrounded by fire-proof gables more than 7 meters high. Inside there are the Lengquan Pavilion, curved corridors, rocks, etc. The layout is open and elegant, reflecting the characteristics of Ming Dynasty architecture. The eastern part is dominated by the remnants of the ancient city wall, with lush trees on the hills. The river on the west side twists and turns, and the reflections of Hanbi Tower and the Three-Arch Bridge form a beautiful ink painting. The "Fish Viewing Area" at the east end of the Three-Arch Bridge has pavilions and curved bridges on the pond. There are many ornamental fish in the pond, and you can lean on the railing to play with the fish or go fishing.​ 🦆 Tour Highlights ✅Here you can get close to black swans, wild ducks, mandarin ducks, etc. They are not afraid of people at all. They stroll leisurely in the garden and forage for food. They are super cute.​ ✅Good news for those who like ancient style photography! The lush greenery and Soviet-style architecture make every shot a blockbuster.​ ✅There is a cruise ship dock in the park with more than 60 cruise ships. You can enjoy boating on the lake. There are more than 10 kinds of amusement facilities such as bumper cars, gliding dragons, air fighters, carousels, as well as small trains, bounce boats, etc., which are also very suitable for taking children out for a walk.​ ✅There are many scenic spots around Dongyuan. It is very close to Ouyuan, Pingjiang Road, Cangjie, and Xiangmen Ancient City Wall. You can arrange to visit together.​ 💖In addition, there are 10 friendship facilities in East Park, which are witnesses to the friendship between Suzhou City and its sister cities around the world. For example, there is the tree-planting totem pole commemorating the signing of the sister city agreement between Suzhou and Victoria, Canada in October 1980, and the friendship monuments of Ikeda City, Kanazawa City in Japan and Venice City in Italy near the Hanbi Tower.​ My dears, Dongyuan is really a treasure park. Whether you want to take a leisurely stroll, play with your children, or take photos and check in, this place can satisfy you. Come and explore this small and beautiful place! ​