The Retreat and Reflection Garden is a small but beautifully composed classical garden in Tongli, the canal town southeast of Suzhou. It is part of the UNESCO listing for the Classical Gardens of Suzhou, and its ponds, halls, rockwork, and covered walks show how much can be done in a limited space.
Because it sits outside central Suzhou, it is best folded into a Tongli day trip rather than squeezed between the city gardens. The reward is a quieter setting, with water-town lanes around it and a garden that feels intimate rather than monumental.