[2025 Suzhou Attraction] Travel Guide for Lion Rock (Updated Apr)

• Spring in Suzhou 🍃 is so beautiful it'll make you cry! • Finally got on the tram line cherry blossom train 🚌, which goes directly through several kilometers of cherry blossom avenue 🌸, even the platform is as beautiful as a picture book! • The continuous cherry blossoms outside the window are like clouds and snow 🫧, coupled with the "ding-ding" sound of the tram 🔔, the atmosphere is amazing 🈵! • It is recommended to get off at Xiuan Station 🚉, hurry up sisters, or you'll have to wait another year~ 🚃 Check-in guide 📝 📍 Route: Tram Line 1 (Shizi Mountain Station ➡️ Xiyang Mountain Station) ⏰ Operating hours: Shizi Mountain 05:53-23:00 Xiyang Mountain 05:44-21:50 🎫 Ticket price: 2💰 📸 Photo tips ✨ Time selection: Before 9:00 am or after 4:00 pm, the light is soft ✨ Dress code: Light colors! JK uniforms, Hanfu, and white skirts are a perfect match, bring a woven bag or transparent umbrella as a prop! ✨ Amazing photo spots: Xiuan Station, take a bird's-eye view of the painted stairs on the second floor, and the diagonal composition makes your legs look super long •

🌈Attraction Highlights Natural Landscape: Lion Mountain gets its name from its resemblance to a crouching lion. It runs north to south, is about 0.5 km long, and has an elevation of 114.5 m. The mountain is made of granite, with exposed boulders and cliffs, revealing its rugged structure. - Historical Relics: In 1976, a Western Jin Dynasty tomb complex was discovered at the eastern foot of Lion Mountain. 126 funerary objects were unearthed, including gui vessels, flat pots, rabbit-shaped water droppers, and other items made of celadon, bronze, and gold. In addition, there are cliff carvings on the mountain such as "Xixin Spring," "Yunxi," "Immortal's Boot," "Flying Rain," and "Pillar of Strength." Modern replicas of calligraphy and poems by famous figures such as Kang Youwei, Wu Changshuo, Xu Beihong, and Gu Tinglong add to the cultural atmosphere. - Surrounding Amenities: Suzhou Amusement Land, one of the earliest large-scale theme parks in China, was once located at the foot of Lion Mountain. After the concept of "Jinji Lake in the east, Lion Mountain in the west" was proposed in 2014, a series of museums, commercial complexes, and other facilities have sprung up in the surrounding area, such as the Suzhou Museum West Branch, Longhu Tianjie Shopping Mall, and Huaihai Street. Ticket Information Lion Mountain is currently free and open to the public. No tickets or reservations are required. Opening Hours Weekdays: 7:00–16:30, Weekends and holidays: 5:00–17:30. Opening hours are subject to change. Please refer to on-site instructions. Other Tips - Transportation: Take Subway Line 1 or Line 3 to Shishan Station. If driving, nearby parking lots include Shishan Cultural Square, Golden Eagle, and Shishan Longhu. - Hiking Routes: There are three uphill trails. The south and north trails are for ascending, and the middle trail is for descending. - Important Notes: There are no places to buy food or water on the mountain, so please prepare in advance. Drones, pets, and tents are not allowed. 💗Other Tips:

🌸Suzhou's spring is awakened by plum blossoms! Right now is the peak season for plum blossoms. Don't go to crowded, popular attractions. Here's a free, niche plum blossom viewing guide to help you take stunning photos. Save it and go! 🌸[Qiuxiang Garden] 📍Address: No. 178, Jiefang West Road, Gusu District 🚗Transportation: Take subway Line 2 to Tongjing Park Station, Exit 4, and walk about 1.1 km. 🎫Tickets: Free Red and white plum blossoms complement each other against the backdrop of white walls, black tiles, pavilions, and terraces, creating a scene reminiscent of a Jiangnan ink painting. Find a sunny afternoon, sit in the pavilion, watch the plum blossoms fall with the wind, and enjoy the pleasant atmosphere. Light-colored Hanfu is recommended. Stand under the plum blossoms, with ancient buildings as the background, and capture古风 photos with ease. 🌸[Jiqing Street] 📍Address: Jiqing Street, Gusu District 🚗Transportation: Take subway Line 1 to Yangyuxiang Station, Exit 3, and walk about 1.3 km. 🎫Tickets: Free As a charming riverside street in the old city, the plum blossoms leaning against the ancient bridge are particularly eye-catching against the backdrop of small bridges, flowing water, and houses. Here, you can not only appreciate the beauty of the water town but also take unique photos that blend the Jiangnan water town with plum blossoms. In the evening, the setting sun casts a beautiful glow on the plum blossoms and the water. Bring your camera to capture this moment. 🌸[Beisi Pagoda] 📍Address: No. 1918, Renmin Road, Gusu District 🚗Transportation: Take subway Line 4 to Beisi Pagoda Station, Exit 1. 🎫Tickets: Free (tickets required to climb the pagoda) The "Mei Pu" (Plum Garden) under the pagoda is small and exquisite. Bypass the rockery to encounter the elegant plum blossoms. Although the garden is not large, it is delicately laid out, and the plum blossoms are perfectly matched with the surrounding greenery and buildings. Take photos in the corridor of the garden, with plum blossoms in the foreground and people strolling in the corridor, to capture dynamic photos full of artistic conception. 🌸[Shishan Cultural Square] 📍Address: Shishan Cultural Square, High-tech Zone 🚗Transportation: Take subway Line 1 to Shishan Station, Exit 3, and walk about 500m. 🎫Tickets: Free The green calyx plum blossoms at the entrance of Gusuqiao Noodle Restaurant are fresh and elegant, and there is a large area of pink plum blossoms nearby. You can also enjoy delicious food while appreciating the plum blossoms. The square has a wide view, so you don't have to worry about cluttered backgrounds when taking photos. With the sea of plum blossoms as the background, full-body photos look great. Wearing bright-colored outerwear will make you stand out in the sea of flowers. ⏰Tips for plum blossom viewing: The plum blossom season is limited, and it is currently at its peak. Be sure to visit soon. Try to visit on a working day to avoid peak crowds and enjoy a more pleasant plum blossom viewing experience. ·

Day 2 Morning: Sleep in, check out, and have some barbecue. Noon: Head to Suzhou Museum West: After a hearty meal, take the subway to Shizishan Station. Suzhou Museum West is located at 399 Changjiang Road, Suzhou New District. You can take Suzhou Metro Line 1 or Line 3 to get there. Walk to the museum after getting off the subway. Visit the museum: Suzhou Museum West is free to visit, but you need to make a reservation in advance (you can make a reservation online up to seven days in advance, and the system is available from 8:00 to 23:00 every day). The museum has several exhibition areas, including the Suzhou History Exhibition Hall, Suzhou Craft Hall, and Dormitory Life Hall, which comprehensively display the long history and unique crafts of Wu culture from the perspectives of culture and art, Suzhou crafts, and Suzhou life. It is recommended to spend 2–3 hours visiting the museum to slowly appreciate the historical and cultural heritage of Suzhou. Evening: Climb Lion Mountain: After visiting Suzhou Museum West, head to Lion Mountain. Lion Mountain is not high, and the climb is not difficult. Climb to the top of the mountain in the evening to enjoy the beautiful sunset. As the sun sets, the afterglow spreads over the earth, and the whole city is bathed in golden light, which is very spectacular. After sunset, the city lights gradually come on, and you can continue to enjoy the night view of Suzhou from the top of the mountain. The brightly lit city is completely different from the daytime scenery, with a unique charm. Night: Dine nearby: There are some delicious foods to choose from near Lion Mountain. If you like Hunan cuisine, you can go to Jiang Xiang Yan in Lion Mountain Park. Or you can go to Lion Mountain Night Market, which is full of people and interesting snacks, such as rose roasted milk, grilled tofu, grilled milk fan, grilled rice cake, Dai-style hand-grabbed rice, spicy mixed potatoes, pounded chicken feet, grilled fish, and grilled pears. Return to Shanghai: After dinner, take the high-speed train back to Shanghai. You can find the first day of the two-day, one-night Suzhou travel guide on my homepage.

In front of Lion Mountain, it was once bustling and lively, and it was the most popular place in Suzhou New District. After the amusement park moved away, the rural houses in the south were transformed into commercial housing communities, and the original amusement park was transformed into Shishan Square, Shishan Park, Suzhou Museum West Hall, Suzhou Science and Technology Museum, Suzhou Industrial Exhibition Hall, Art Theater, etc., becoming a new landmark of the city and a good place for citizens to relax and exercise.

Suzhou Lion Mountain is located in Huqiu District, Suzhou City. It is an open landscape park integrating public cultural and technological facilities. The Lion Mountain Scenic Area includes several sub-projects, including the West Hall of Suzhou Museum, Suzhou Science and Technology Museum and Industrial Exhibition Hall, Art Theater, Underground Space and Lion Mountain Park. It is committed to creating a new business card and new landmark for the city axis with "Jinji Lake in the east and Lion Mountain in the west". ❤️Open scenic area, free admission, easy parking, and not high in altitude, suitable for daily hiking and family outings, a good choice!

Lion Rock is located at the intersection of Changjiang Road and Yushan Road in the west of the ancient city, with an altitude of 114.5 meters. Because its shape resembles a lying lion, it is called "Lion Rock". From the Zhishuang Pavilion on Tiger Hill, Lion Hill looks like a lion looking back with its head held high, looking at Tiger Hill from afar. Therefore, it is called "Lion Looking Back at Tiger Hill" by Suzhou people. 1⃣️In fact, the story I always heard when I was a child is like this: During the Jiaqing period of the Ming Dynasty, there was a winged lion outside the city of Suzhou that often flew in at night to steal the people's livestock, and sometimes even killed people. At that time, everyone from the state officials to the civilians could not do anything about this monster, so they had to close the doors and windows when it got dark. After a long time, everyone felt that this was not a solution. A young man named Li from Shantang came up with an idea. He organized all the villagers to climb Tiger Hill on a dark and windy night. Everyone held a torch and lit up the entire Tiger Hill. At the same time, they beat gongs and drums to attract the flying lion monster. Just as the monster was flying towards the light, Li made a gesture and everyone's torches, gongs and drums were extinguished. The flying lion monster's eyes went dark and it could not find its target. It could not stop its wings and fell headfirst not far from Tiger Hill. Before it died in the early morning, it used up its last bit of strength to turn its head to look at the place where it died, which was Tiger Hill. 2⃣️Now come out of Exit 3a of the Lion Rock Station and walk to the West Pavilion of the Suzhou Museum. You can spend 2-3 hours visiting the permanent exhibition halls and special exhibitions of the West Pavilion. After coming out of the West Pavilion, follow the signs or follow the crowd (there are really a lot of people going hiking) to the trailhead. Lion Rock has three hiking trails: South, Central, and North. The South Trail is for descent only and not for climbing up! It is recommended to go up the mountain from the middle road and go down the mountain from the north or south road. The climb takes about 30 minutes. The steps are very steep, so it is recommended to travel light and bring your own drinking water. You will see many cliff carvings along the way. There are a lot of people on the top of the mountain (even on weekdays), so be careful when taking photos. You can take a look at the skyline of the Hi-Tech Zone. [Travel route] Get off at "Shizishan" Station on Metro Line 1 and 3 - Suzhou Museum West Building [Opening hours] Suzhou Museum West Building: 9:00-17:00 (closed on Mondays) Shizishan: 8:00-16:00 (autumn and winter)

Under Lion Mountain, the Lion Mountain Park once had unlimited glory. In recent years, the park moved to Dayang Mountain, and after reconstruction here, the new look is impressive. The new highlight of the Suzhou Museum West Pavilion, the Science and Technology Museum and the Industrial Exhibition Hall are under construction. Looking at Lion Mountain from a distance, its beauty is further enhanced by the reflections of flowers in the water. If you have the stamina, you can follow the mountain path to the top of Lion Mountain for an unlimited view of the scenery.