Tiger Hill – More Than Just a Leaning Pagoda Suzhou‘s
Tiger Hill – More Than Just a Leaning Pagoda Suzhou‘s landmark. A hill with a pagoda that leans more than the Tower of Pisa. And it’s 200 years older. The Yunyan Pagoda, built in the Song Dynasty, tilts about 2.34 meters off center. It survived earthquakes, wars, and centuries of weather. Walk around it – from certain angles, the tilt is very obvious. Legend says the hill is the burial site of King Helü of Wu, with 3,000 swords inside. The Sword Pool at the base, a small pond that never dries up, marks the spot. The area is small but very dense. Half a day is enough. Walk up the central path, see the pagoda, explore the Sword Pool, then wander the gardens and bamboo groves nearby. Peak season (April–May, July–October) entry is 70 RMB; off-season is 60 RMB. Go on a weekday morning. The narrow paths get packed by late morning. Sunset is also beautiful, but the pagoda faces east, so morning light is better for photos.