Tiger Hill (Huqiu)

Tiger Hill (Huqiu) is a hilltop scenic area at 8 Huqiu Mountain Road in Huqiu District, Suzhou, Jiangsu, about 3.5 km northwest of the old city. Tradition holds that King Helu of the Wu state was buried there around 496 BCE, and legend says a white tiger guarded his tomb, which gave the hill its name. The main landmark is the Yunyan Pagoda, a seven-storey brick structure completed in 961 CE that leans noticeably, at about 3 degrees, and is often compared with the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The site also includes the Sword Pool, a rock-walled pond said to hold the swords buried with the king, the Thousand Men Rock, a large flat stone associated with legends of a mass execution, and the Sword Testing Stone, split by a single stroke. Paths wind through the hill past teahouses, gardens, stone inscriptions and small temples. Visitors climb up stone steps to the pagoda, and the walk from the entrance to the summit takes about twenty to thirty minutes at an easy pace. A typical visit takes about two hours. The area is popular with school groups and tour parties, so early morning is the calmest time, and spring brings blossoms and mild weather. The pagoda itself is closed to climbing for structural reasons, so visitors admire it from outside. Bus routes from Suzhou Railway Station serve the site, and Didi takes about twenty minutes. Nearby, Lingering Garden lies close enough to combine into one day. English signage is available for main points.