[Canglang Pavilion | A Thousand-Year-Old Peach Blossom Spring Hidden in Gusu]

"See the water before entering the garden gate." This oldest garden in Suzhou (with a history of 992 years) uses a pool of clear water as a guide, hiding the elegance of Song Dynasty literati in the streets and alleys. Although not as grand as the Humble Administrator's Garden, its ingenious "covered walkways and latticed windows" create surprises throughout the 1.08-hectare garden. ✨My Exclusive Experience: 1. Three-Dimensional Aesthetics with Varying Heights Looking out from the hollowed-out latticed windows of the covered walkway, the swaying bamboo shadows and faintly visible pavilions resemble a breathing landscape painting. Standing on the Watching Mountain Tower and looking into the distance, the rockery and ancient trees complement each other, making even breathing feel lighter. The changing seasons add even more vibrancy: spring brings new shoots of Jinxiangyu bamboo, summer offers the sound of rain hitting banana leaves, autumn showcases red maples against pink walls and black tiles, and winter presents the snowy covered walkways like an ink painting. 2. Magical Moments with Few Crowds Pushing open the garden gate at 6 am (🌅), only early-rising aunties are sweeping fallen leaves, and the stone road of the covered walkway is still covered with moisture. After 4 pm, when the tourists have dispersed, sit on the stone bench of the Facing Water Pavilion, sip a cup of osmanthus wine, and watch the sunset dye the water surface a honey-orange color, as if traveling back to the leisurely time of *Six Chapters of a Floating Life*. Trip.com data shows that there are very few visitors before 8 am/after 4 pm on working days. 3. A "Classical Pairing" with Keyuan Garden Walking through the covered walkway of Canglang Pavilion, you can see Keyuan Garden across the Fengxi River (🤝). The sparse Ming Dynasty style clashes with the secluded Song Dynasty garden, like reading Ouyang Xiu's *Canglang Pavilion* and suddenly turning to Shen Deqian's *Keyuan Ji*, unexpectedly gaining a double artistic conception. The combined ticket for the two gardens is 30 yuan, and it only takes 5 minutes to get from Canglang Pavilion to Keyuan Garden, perfectly connecting "academy culture" with "the bustle of city life." 📸Photography Guide: Wide-angle lens is a must: The 108 latticed windows of the covered walkway each have their own unique charm. Use a wide-angle lens to capture the stunning "scenery at every step." Golden hour: The morning mist before 8:00 and the sunset after 16:00, the light is as soft as if it has a filter. Hidden spots: In the bamboo forest of Cuilinglong Hall, taking portraits through the "four-sided rhombus" latticed windows creates a natural ancient style filter. 🚗Transportation Tips: Take Exit 2 of Sanyuanfang Station on Subway Line 4 and walk for 5 minutes. For self-driving, it is recommended to park at "SEG," which is 10 times more spacious than the scenic parking lot. 🌟Why Recommend It to Non-Expert Tourists? Half-hour in-depth tour: From the entrance to the exit, following the covered walkway for a full circle will allow you to check in at all the highlights. Low cultural barrier: There's no need to memorize *Yuanye*. Just looking at the geometric aesthetics of the latticed windows and the antithesis of the couplets is amazing enough. Many connected attractions: Turn right out of the garden to reach the Suzhou Confucian Temple (to see the *Pingjiang Map* stele), and turn left for 500 meters to reach Guanqian Street, where you can enjoy a bowl of sweet porridge before continuing your journey. Finally, a little secret: The "Yaohua Realm" in Canglang Pavilion was once where Lin Zexu watched plays. Canglang Pavilion