Li Garden


The Li Garden is in southwest Wuxi, and is surrounded on three sides by Wuli Lake. It is one of the most
famous gardens for lake scenery in China.

The garden derived its name from the alternative name for the Lake which is "Li Hu" (Li Lake). Legend
has it that 2,400 years ago Grand Master Fan Li helped Goujian, the Duke of Yue, eliminate the state of
Wu. He then took the wise move of stepping down and returning to the seclusion of Wuli Lake together
with Xi Shi, one of the four famous stunning beauties in ancient China.

The garden is classical Chinese in layout and architecture. It is a mix of rock formations and greenery, a
lot of which is man made. The garden landscape merges with Lihu to become the most beautiful spot
on the entire lake.

Li Garden borders water on three sides with views of rolling green hills in the distance. It is divided into three sections: the middle section with
artificial hill, the west section with Four Seasons Pavilion and the east section full of corridors. The manmade hills in the middle section although
varies in shapes and styles, are all magnificently beautiful.

The Four Seasons Pavilion in the west section is actually four pavilions, one for each season. They are all built in the same style with flowers
unique to each season painted on the pillars. Each pavilion also features one special type of flowers planted inside. The Spring and Autumn
pavilions are the tallest structures of the garden at three stories tall and provides a great view of the entire garden.  

A 1,000-meter long corridor winds around the park and has brick inscriptions in the handwriting of famous ancient calligraphers, such as Su
Dongpo and Mifu. There is also a large white wall with numerous latticed openings from where you can view the park at different angles.

Li Garden is a splendid place for visitors. With ponds, a walkway, mini-bridges, mini-pagodas and
souvenir stalls dotted here and there, the garden appears full of life and is like a mysterious labyrinth.
There is a tour boat dock inside the garden for cruises to other points on the lakeshore. The park is
especially popular in springtime when the plum blossoms are in full bloom.