SuZhou

Lion Grove Garden is a 700-year-old Zen garden famous for its extraordinary rockery maze made of Taihu stones, earning it the nickname 'Kingdom of Rockery.' Built during the Yuan Dynasty and favored by Emperor Qianlong, this compact garden (1.1 hectares) packs more visual intrigue and interactive exploration than larger competitors, with winding stone passages that genuinely feel like a puzzle to navigate. Visitors consistently praise its superior value, unique design, and the fact that children and adults alike find endless entertainment in exploring the 72 stone caves and lion-shaped formations.

The panoramic lake views from this light-filled space atop an office tower are lovely to behold. But they don't outshine the refined Suzhou cooking that showcases the best local produce in season. The signature Suzhou claypot rice with braised pork and green garlic features young bamboo shoots in spring and chestnuts in autumn. House-made chilli sauce with beef and dried fish adds a kick; the scorched rice at the bottom imparts smoky crispness.