Short answer: Lion Grove Garden (狮子林) is one of the few Suzhou classical gardens that still requires real-name timed ticketing (with Humble Administrator’s Garden and Lingering Garden). For foreigners, the practical path is usually a passport-friendly Trip.com timed ticket (Alliance live on the attraction page). Peak about CNY 40 / off-season about CNY 30. Still read official Suzhou notices — do not present Trip as the only authorized channel.
Booking steps
- Open Trip.com: Lion Grove Garden (use the Alliance link above when booking from this site).
- Pick a date and timed slot; enter passport name/number exactly as on the ID you will carry.
- Pay and save the voucher/QR offline. Arrive near your slot — mid-morning rockeries get crowded.
- At the gate, staff match passport to the real-name ticket. Do not buy the same visit on multiple platforms.
Prices & hours
- Price (official municipal English + garden admin table): CNY 40 in April, May, July–October; CNY 30 in January–March, June, November–December.
- Hours (official EN): 1 March–15 October 07:30–17:30; 16 October–end February 07:30–17:00. Ticket window closes 30 minutes before closing. Confirm on the product page the day you book.
- Address: No. 23 Yuanlin (Garden) Road, Gusu, Suzhou. Humble and Lingering have their own tickets — one garden ticket does not cover the others.
Why this garden still needs real-name
Suzhou’s 2024 garden policy cancelled real-name ticketing for most classical gardens. Exceptions that still keep real-name timed entry include Humble Administrator’s Garden (拙政园), Lingering Garden (留园), and Lion Grove (狮子林). Master of Nets Garden does not keep the same real-name rule — do not copy-paste advice across gardens.
Official English municipal copy lists Lion Grove hours and seasonal prices; it is not a passport web checkout. Chinese WeChat / on-site windows remain the official channel. Trip is the practical foreigner path we verify when payment friction blocks the Chinese path — name both honestly.
Fitting it into a Suzhou day
- Book the earliest timed slot you can — tour groups pack the famous rockery labyrinth by mid-morning.
- Pair with Humble Administrator’s Garden foreigners guide or Lingering Garden foreigners guide only if you can hold separate timed tickets without rushing (Lion Grove sits near Humble / Pingjiang area — much closer than Lingering).
- Keep the Trip voucher QR offline; gate staff match passport.
Sources: english.suzhou.gov.cn Lion Grove page (prices/hours); Suzhou garden administration price table (ylj.suzhou.gov.cn, 狮子林 40/30); live attraction Trip Alliance SKU (Allianceid 10988321 / SID 333283525 / trip_sub3 D20209072). Re-check before you go — rules and inventory change. Checked 2026-10-26.
Also: Suzhou hub · Humble foreigners guide · Lingering foreigners guide · release times.
FAQ
- Do foreigners need a real-name timed ticket for Lion Grove Garden?
- Yes. Lion Grove is one of the Suzhou gardens that still keep real-name timed ticketing (with Humble Administrator’s Garden and Lingering Garden). Book a passport-matched timed slot before peak days.
- How much does Lion Grove Garden cost?
- Official municipal English and garden admin listing: CNY 40 in April, May, July–October; CNY 30 in January–March, June, November–December. Confirm on the live product page.
- What are the opening hours?
- 1 March–15 October 07:30–17:30; 16 October–end February 07:30–17:00. Box office closes 30 minutes before closing. Verify on the day you book.
- Is Trip.com the official channel?
- No. Official channels are Suzhou garden / municipal notices and Chinese booking paths (often WeChat). Trip.com is a practical passport-friendly option when those paths are hard for foreigners — we keep Alliance IDs on the attraction page and still name the official path.
- Does one Suzhou garden ticket cover Humble, Lingering, and Lion Grove?
- No. Each garden has its own ticket. Master of Nets also differs — it does not keep the same real-name rule as Humble/Lingering/Lion Grove.