Lush greenery, a first trip to Tiger Hill in mid-to-late April

【First Trip to Tiger Hill】: Tiger Hill Scenic Area is a AAAAA-rated scenic spot, located northwest of Gusu City, south of Sucheng Avenue. Su Dongpo said that it would be a pity to visit Suzhou without visiting Tiger Hill. Today, I finally got my wish and visited it after seeing many gardens. As for why it's called Tiger Hill, it is said that King Helü of Wu was buried here during the Spring and Autumn Period, and there were tigers guarding it, so it became "Tiger" (Hu). It's called a "Hill" (Qiu) because the mountain is only over 30 meters high, hence the name "Tiger Hill" (Huqiu).

🕘【Opening Hours】: Open from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm.

💴【Ticket Price】: Peak season tickets are 70 yuan, half price for students, half price for seniors aged 60-70 from outside the province, and free for seniors aged 60 and above from within the province.

⛺【Activities】: Although the scenic area is not large, if you want to stroll, see, listen, take photos, and rest at each spot, it is recommended to spend 3-5 hours. Since the ground is mostly stone steps, it is recommended to wear non-slip sports shoes. Seniors should pay attention to safety when going up and down.

🚌【Transportation Guide】: It takes about ten minutes to ride a shared bike from Wanda Plaza Sunshine City, but there's no guarantee there will be bikes available for your return trip. I didn't find a designated parking spot for shared bikes.

👉【Itinerary】: I entered from the north gate and climbed to the pagoda from the middle route, then moved left and right, making a circle back. I didn't have time to see the south side at all, and probably only visited the northern part of the entire scenic area, about 1/3 of it. It is recommended to listen to the audio guide as you walk. It's hot, so half a day is enough. In the afternoon, you can visit the nearby Lingering Garden and Xiyuan Temple, and then visit Shantang Street after dinner, if you have the energy and don't mind sore feet.

🧡【Preparation Before Trip】: Sun protection is a must! Bring water. It feels like summer in Suzhou now, with temperatures up to 31 degrees Celsius.

🧡【Unexpected Gains】: In the scenic area, many tourists asked me to help them take photos. Fortunately, everyone was satisfied with the photos, and I didn't lose face as a photographer. A girl from Hebei generously asked me to take photos for her with my phone. It was a pleasant experience, even though I was a little late getting back. Most of the photos have the Tiger Hill Pagoda as the background, basically taken in the order of the tour route from the north gate.

Post by butcherefficient | Apr 18, 2025