Tiger Hill (Hu Qiu)
Gusu District, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215001
Topped by the wonky, 1,000-year-old Cloud Rock Leaning Pagoda, Suzhou’s Tiger Hill is China’s answer to the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The site is an artificial burial mound that likely conceals the remains of the city’s founder, King Helü. Gardens, pools, bonsai, bamboo forests, and tea houses make the hill a charming place to linger.
The basics
Most Suzhou tours visit Tiger Hill for the 7-tier pagoda, but garden fans will love the outstanding bonsai collection, which includes around 500 trees (some up to 300 years old). One-day or half-day tours, which generally come from Shanghai by bullet train, typically include at least one of Suzhou’s UNESCO World Heritage–listed classical gardens. Some tours also add one of the region’s famous water towns, such as Tongli or Zhouzhuang—or even Hangzhou, famed for West Lake.
Things to know before you go
- Tiger Hill spans about 3.5 acres (1.5 hectares), and the classical gardens also involve a degree of walking. Wear comfortable shoes.
- The Tiger Hill area is not stroller-friendly, nor are Suzhou’s classical gardens. Slings or back carriers are the way to go.
- Tiger Hill is not wheelchair-friendly due to the steps and undulating terrain.
How to get there
Tiger Hill sits in northwest Suzhou, about a 2-mile (3-kilometer) drive west of Suzhou Station on the Y1 tourist bus route. The bullet train from Shanghai takes half an hour, but be sure to book tickets for Suzhou Station, not Suzhou North Station.
When to get there
Tiger Hill is open from early morning until late afternoon throughout the year, with slightly shorter hours in the winter season (roughly, October through April). Plan to visit at the very start or very end of the day to beat the crowds.
Cloud Rock Leaning Pagoda
While it only stands around 100 feet (30 meters) tall, Tiger Hill is an icon of Suzhou, and a trip to the Cloud Rock Leaning Pagoda (Yunyan Si) is an essential stop. The Tiger Hill pagoda broke new ground when it was built in the 10th century as one of China’s first brick temples. Over the years its summit has slipped more than 6 feet and 6 inches (2 meters) from its original position.
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