Tiger Hill for many, is Suzhou’s most scenic spot. The hill in the northwest of the city, is the resting place of King Helu, founding father of Suzhou who died in the 6th century BC. His tomb on the peak was supposedly guarded by a white tiger which explains the name of the hill. Also on the summit is a leaning octagonal 48 meter (155ft) pagoda originally built in 961AD.

Many of the sites are associated with Helu and the legends of Tiger Hill. There is the ‘Thousand Men Rock’ where supposedly the men who built the tomb were killed to maintain the secrets of the grave. The ‘Sword Pond’ said to hide the King’s treasures which include 3,000 swords. Also there is the ‘Sword Testing Rock’ which Helu reputedly split while testing a new sword.