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Couple's Garden Retreat (expanded 1874 onward from an earlier garden)

The Couple's Garden Retreat is a fairly large garden divided into three parts--a central living area flanked by an east and west garden (hence, the 'coupling' of the garden). The 0.8 hectare site is bordered on three sides by canals, with docks on the north and south sides permitting entrance from the waterways. It was first laid out in the early Qing period as the pleasure garden of Baoning prefect Lu Jingzhi. In 1874, Shen Bingcheng, the governor of Susong County in Anhui, acquired the garden and expanded it to its present size. In 1941, Liu Guojun, an industrialist from Changzhou, bought the garden and spent several years renovating it. In 1955, upon Liu's instruction, Tao Shunan, the Manager of the Zhenya Silk Weaving Mill, donated the garden to Suzhou city. It is currently registered as a World Heritage site.

According to the author's GPS, the Couple Garden Retreat lies at approximately 31 18.60553' north, 120 37.05524' east (WGS84 map datum).

Plan view

Image redrawn and adapted from signpost on site.