National Heritage Punch-in: Huanxiu Villa (Grade III)

Huanxiu Villa is located at No. 270 Jingde Road, Gusu District, Suzhou, and is a third batch national key cultural relic protection unit, dating from the Ming to Qing dynasties, categorized as ancient architecture. Huanxiu Villa was originally the site of the Jin Gu Garden from the Five Dynasties period, during the Ming it was the residence of the chancellor Shen Shixing, and in the Qing, it became part of the Wang family's 'Gengyin Yizhuang', renamed Huanxiu Villa. During the Qianlong era, the renowned rockery builder Ge Yuliang created artificial mountains in the garden, which are considered the best among Suzhou's lake stone rockeries. Although Huanxiu Villa is small in size, its rockeries are rugged and steep, with a majestic aura. The mountain paths wind and twist, with cliffs, caves, ravines, dangerous paths, precipices, stone chambers, and the Feixue Spring, among other features. The garden also retains exquisite and beautiful pavilion and tower structures such as the Buqiu Mountain Room and the Bantan Autumn Water. To reach Huanxiu Villa, exit at Yangyuxiang Station on Suzhou Metro Line 1 and walk for about one kilometer. The entrance fee for Huanxiu Villa is 15 yuan, but it's free with a Suzhou Garden Card. Like many other Suzhou gardens, the garden is filled with beautiful women taking photos. The rockery is the essence of the entire garden, but unfortunately, it is now in a precarious state, supported and fixed by steel pipes, which greatly detracts from its aesthetic appeal.