Canglang Pavilion (Blue Wave Pavilion)
Canglang Pavilion (Blue Wave Pavilion)
4.5
7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
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4.5
104 reviews
Excellent
51
Very good
36
Average
14
Poor
1
Terrible
2
Isaac L
Indiana101 contributions
Jan 2020 • Solo
A pleasant 10 min walk straight south from Sanyuanfang metro station. (Suzhou metro is straightforward to use, and the ticket machines have an English option.)
At the garden, I got the 30 yuan entrance to “both”; the other garden is literally on the other side of the ticket office itself, though that garden is less impressive, it is also charming and historic. Inevitably a lot of what you see is renovated, replanted, or repaired; yet this is a real, living 1,000 year old tradition of gardening in Suzhou, and you can just watch the Chinese visitors to appreciate the love and seriousness they bring to it. There are some stunning older trees in Surging Waves and of course there is a lot of research and attention that goes into keeping the old designs alive despite repeated wars, upheavals, or vandalism. Something this old has been reworked many times; the pavilion atop the hill was moved to that location in 1696. So even “new” developments like that become part of the rich heritage of the site.
If you love Classical Chinese gardens, you will have a great time here. It is much smaller than Humble or Lingering. It is a significantly different design (giant wrap-around corridor with 108 windows, and a central hill rather than a central lake) and reflects a somewhat earlier era (Song Dynasty). There were quite a few visitors but not the crowds at Lingering, or Humble and I was seeing more the art students, serious photographers, etc. Some of the students had even brought tape measures, while others were doing elementary drawing exercises. I also got to watch two amateur painters at work with their brushes, and amusingly, a teenage Instagram-type personality with her entourage of semi-pro photographers, posing away.
Excellent light and play of sunset/shadows in the “golden hour” late in the afternoon; if you don’t experience that in this garden, try to time your visit to another classical garden to see what sunset does to Suzhou’s whitewashed garden walls.
Please be careful to exit exactly the same way you came in! I was hoping to head east toward the Master of the Nets Garden more directly, but wound up in a sort of dead end in a large facility with a parking lot and security gates, I only at the last moment saw on my map app that I had wandered into the grounds of a hospital operated by the People’s Liberation Army.
At the garden, I got the 30 yuan entrance to “both”; the other garden is literally on the other side of the ticket office itself, though that garden is less impressive, it is also charming and historic. Inevitably a lot of what you see is renovated, replanted, or repaired; yet this is a real, living 1,000 year old tradition of gardening in Suzhou, and you can just watch the Chinese visitors to appreciate the love and seriousness they bring to it. There are some stunning older trees in Surging Waves and of course there is a lot of research and attention that goes into keeping the old designs alive despite repeated wars, upheavals, or vandalism. Something this old has been reworked many times; the pavilion atop the hill was moved to that location in 1696. So even “new” developments like that become part of the rich heritage of the site.
If you love Classical Chinese gardens, you will have a great time here. It is much smaller than Humble or Lingering. It is a significantly different design (giant wrap-around corridor with 108 windows, and a central hill rather than a central lake) and reflects a somewhat earlier era (Song Dynasty). There were quite a few visitors but not the crowds at Lingering, or Humble and I was seeing more the art students, serious photographers, etc. Some of the students had even brought tape measures, while others were doing elementary drawing exercises. I also got to watch two amateur painters at work with their brushes, and amusingly, a teenage Instagram-type personality with her entourage of semi-pro photographers, posing away.
Excellent light and play of sunset/shadows in the “golden hour” late in the afternoon; if you don’t experience that in this garden, try to time your visit to another classical garden to see what sunset does to Suzhou’s whitewashed garden walls.
Please be careful to exit exactly the same way you came in! I was hoping to head east toward the Master of the Nets Garden more directly, but wound up in a sort of dead end in a large facility with a parking lot and security gates, I only at the last moment saw on my map app that I had wandered into the grounds of a hospital operated by the People’s Liberation Army.
Written 12 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alan R
Cambridge, UK1,249 contributions
Oct 2019
The building of the Surging Wave Pavilion dates back to 1045 CE. It is a little further afield than the Humble Administrators Garden but easily reached. A tranquil space with typical mountain,water, rock features interspersed around the architecture.
Written 29 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
pojaya
Sydney, Australia1,259 contributions
Oct 2017 • Family
This was a very pretty garden in Suzhou. It was not very crowded, thankfully, probably because it is slightly less well known than some others.
However it is on the world heritage list, and it is one of Suzhou's most important garden.
It is also one of the oldest, being from the Song Dynasty.
I enjoyed this visit a lot.
However it is on the world heritage list, and it is one of Suzhou's most important garden.
It is also one of the oldest, being from the Song Dynasty.
I enjoyed this visit a lot.
Written 17 November 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jarko2015
Amsterdam, The Netherlands1,731 contributions
Sept 2017 • Solo
I foolishly followed Lonely Planet's advice that this was a top "must see" spot in Suzhou. Will I ever learn? It's certainly interesting and there's a massive, colonaded modern building slap in the centre that houses some minimal artworks, but over all, the pavilion and garden are only mildly interesting compared to many others in the city.
Written 20 September 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Buke W
Shenyang, China424 contributions
Dec 2012 • Couples
I like the place for it is like a pearl hidden in Suzhou's central and busy old town. You zigzag in the lane networks in the old town and somehow you see this place. Something like a coincidence.
The garden itself is small and peaceful with less tourists compared with other more famous gardens in the city. Good for a visit for 1 hour combined with Guanqian Commercial Street.
The garden itself is small and peaceful with less tourists compared with other more famous gardens in the city. Good for a visit for 1 hour combined with Guanqian Commercial Street.
Written 6 November 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
2pence_worth
Bengaluru, India478 contributions
Sept 2012 • Couples
Among all the gardens I visited in Suzhou, the Canglang pavilion (aka the blue wave pavilion, great wave pavilion or the surging waves pavilion) is the quietest. We went around 11 am and we spotted only two other tourists! It is a simple (but definitely not lacking in beauty) Song dynasty garden surrounded by water on one side and in a beautiful locale.There are pavilions, fish watching spots, really lovely carved windows (one for each season) and some very beautiful views here. I loved the bamboo groves (both the yellow and the green ones) here. The pavilions here have a dignified majesty. At 20RMB per person, it is a quaint romantic garden and would be a great spot for a picnic.
Written 28 September 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
thetankengine
Christchurch, New Zealand201 contributions
Jun 2024 • Solo
Nestled amongst the famed "Big Four" of Suzhou's gardens lies this hidden gem, the oldest of the bunch. Unlike its more crowded siblings, this garden offers a haven of peace and quiet. The cleaver use of spaces somehow creating a feeling of spacious tranquillity.
On a scorching summer day, there's no better place to escape the heat and soak in the serenity. An afternoon spent here simply melts away, especially if you take a moment to appreciate the intricate details of the decorative windows lining the corridors.
This charming, less-visited garden offers a unique opportunity to experience the soul of Suzhou's gardens without the hustle and bustle.
On a scorching summer day, there's no better place to escape the heat and soak in the serenity. An afternoon spent here simply melts away, especially if you take a moment to appreciate the intricate details of the decorative windows lining the corridors.
This charming, less-visited garden offers a unique opportunity to experience the soul of Suzhou's gardens without the hustle and bustle.
Written 15 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Coral
70 contributions
Sept 2019 • Solo
This garden was really pretty, not too busy and not too small (especially if you get the joint ticket with Ke Garden)
Written 20 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kirkie
192 contributions
Oct 2018 • Friends
This is slightly outside the old city, but still worth going to. It is more undulating than some of the other gardens, with more trees, so for me, more enjoyable because of that. An added plus is that opposite to the entrance of the garden, across the canal is a second one, newly restored, which is also well worth seeing too.
Written 27 November 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Louise K
Richmond, TX455 contributions
Apr 2018 • Couples
Came only because it’s in the UNESCO Classical Gardens of Suzhou cluster. After you have visited the Humble Administrator’s Garden, this is no comparison. Just lots of bamboos & fake rocks. There’s some renovation going on; otherwise, not much to see despite its history.
Written 4 April 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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