Yanjia Garden (Yan's Garden), also named Xian Yuan, was originally the residence of the famous scholar Shen Deqian in Suzhou during the reign of Emperor Qianlong in Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Following this, it was rebuilt several times. With acreage of 16 mu (about 2.64 acres) and lots of well-designed chambers and pavilions, this garden has become the leading landscape garden in Suzhou. The most unusual part in it is the Shangxian Hall (Wisdom-respected Hall) which is a nanmu-framed hall built in the architectural style of the Ming Dynasty. The hall is simple but elegant in design and betrays a dignified look by its large finely-made nanmu pillars. The elaborate carvings on these pillars are decorated in plain colors but are very attractive in appearance. In this garden there are several southern magnolias which it is said were planted by the Emperor Qianlong. Nowadays, they have become lofty trees. Every spring when the flowers are in full bloom, the whole garden is enveloped in their fragrance.

   Some 200 meters (about 219 yards) to the east of Yanjia Garden, there is the Hongyinshanfang. This was the private landscape garden of a scholar named Xu Shiyuan who lived during the Qing Dynasty. It is made up of two small gardens of Ming Dynasty--Xiaoyin Garden (Privacy Garden) and Xiuye Garden (Beautiful Field Garden).In contrast with other gardens in Suzhou, the Hongyinshanfang Garden combines the characteristics of a delicate southern landscape and a grand northern royal garden. In the eastern part of the Xiaoyin Garden, old trees, remarkable rocks and bamboo shows people a charming but peaceful natural scenery. In the western part of the Xiuye Garden, which is now a museum, 20 Decrees of the Emperors and the papers of imperial examinations in Qing Dynasty are exhibited. During the Qing Dynasty, the Emperor Qianlong visited the gardens to listen to opera every time when he traveled south of the Yangtze River. Now, many relics of this emperor, such as a tablet carved with a poem written by him remain in the garden.