Suzhou Linghuzhu Park Skywalk

Project Profile

Linghuzhu Park in Taihu Lake is located in Linhu Town, Wuzhong District, Suzhou, covering approximately 22 hectares. Positioned on the northern middle section of the Dongshan Peninsula, the park faces Dongshan and Xishan across the water. It served as the main exhibition area for the Suzhou Garden of the 9th Jiangsu Provincial Garden Expo, and was also the site of the opening ceremony. The design aimed to transform an overlooked suburban park into a “New Suzhou” landscape, integrating the natural and cultural features of the Taihu Basin. During the Expo, the park functioned as a major venue for exhibitions, receptions, and the opening ceremony, showcasing a modern interpretation of Suzhou gardens. After the Expo, it was planned as a high-quality lakeside business and leisure resort, becoming a “backyard garden” for Suzhou citizens around Taihu Lake.

With Suzhou’s long-standing garden tradition, the project explored how to inherit and reinterpret classical garden culture using contemporary design language and techniques, while also considering how the park’s slow-traffic system could withstand flooding and contribute to a water-adaptive landscape.

The overall design strategy followed the concepts of "land reclamation with levees, irrigation and fertilization, integrating water chestnuts, lotuses, rice, and beans, and creating a crisscrossed recreational network.”

The Linghuzhu Park Skywalk weaves a layered and dynamic circulation system, with elevated walkways, bike lanes, pedestrian paths, and countryside trails forming an immersive slow-traffic network. Winding and varied in elevation, it offers visitors a rich spatial experience. On the lakeside, a commercial and leisure zone has been developed, with building layouts closely aligned with the site’s texture and maximizing lake views. The rooftops are seamlessly connected to the skywalks, forming the highest points in the park and offering spectacular panoramic views of Taihu Lake.

The park is lush and vibrant, a harmonious blend of natural beauty and human design. Walking along the skywalk, one can enjoy seasonal scenery and a rich leisure experience, making it an ideal destination for lake-viewing and mountain-gazing along Taihu Lake.