Humble Administrator's Garden, Classical Chinese garden in Suzhou, China.

Humble Administrator's Garden covers 5.2 hectares at 178 Northeast Street, divided into eastern, central and western sections. The central section holds one-third of its area in water, with the Ming-era Hall of Distant Fragrance facing two islands. The western section's Thirty-Six Mandarin Duck Hall has a vaulted ceiling used for kunqu opera. The eastern section, rebuilt in 1959–1960, contains the main entrance.

An Imperial official and poet named Wang Xianchen created this garden in 1509 during the Ming Dynasty on the site of a former temple. The project grew from a desire to build a private retreat using classical design principles.

The garden embodies Suzhou's landscaping traditions through carefully arranged rocks, plants, and water that work together to create balance. Visitors notice small architectural details like carved windows and decorated walls throughout, all part of this design approach.

The garden covers a large area, so wear comfortable shoes and allow plenty of time to explore all sections. Early morning visits offer fewer crowds and better lighting for photos and viewing.

The garden holds 48 buildings, 101 tablets, 40 steles and 21 old trees, plus over 700 Suzhou-style penjing. Cao Xueqin, author of Dream of the Red Chamber, is said to have lived here around 1735, and scholars link the novel's garden scenes to these grounds.