Garden Architecture | Suzhou Classical Gardens-World Cultural Heritage

Talking about China, you will think of the images of Chinese classical garden. Suzhou, a cultural and historical city in east China Jiangsu Province, is celebrated around the world for its elegant gardens. If you are a Chinese Gardens lover, don't miss to go there.

Suzhou is also known as "Gusu city", having the fame of "Oriental Venice" with more than 2500 years history. As the world of garden, Suzhou offers the best museum to show its ancient gardens which are the gem of classical garden architecture in south China and has been included in the UNESCO heritage list.

Local chronicles reveal that Suzhou city held nearly 200 gardens during its heyday. As the saying goes, gardens to the south of Yangtze River are the best in the World and Suzhou gardens are the best among them. These gardens attain their high reputation not only for their vast numbers, but also for their charming natural beauty and harmonious construction.

Enjoying or appraising Suzhou Gardens, you should keep in mind six points as below:
# Conception

# The way rockery and waters are arranged

# Pavilions, terraces, halls and chambers

# Flower and tree arrangements

# Appropriate name

# Poetic touch

The Surging Waves Pavilion, the Lion Grove Garden, the Humble Administrator Garden and the Lingering Garden in Suzhou are inscribed as the Four Most Famous Gardens in China and they represent the different styles of Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties. And the Garden of the Master of the Nets is another exquisite garden in this city.

Song Style Suzhou Gardens: The famous example is the Blue Wave Pavilion (Canglangting). The oldest classic garden in Suzhou, It is originally built in the Tang Dynasty. Canglang Pavilion emphasizes the harmony between man made buildings and the natural environment which features a range of man-made mountains on the inside and landscapes on the outside.

Yuan Style Suzhou Gardens: The famous example is the Lion Grove Garden which is reputed as a "kingdom of artificial mountains". Built in 1342, the garden is an ideal sightseeing site as it many elegant pavilions, majestic towers and numerous other works of art. What fun it will be when you are viewing fragrant flowers and winding delicate corridors!

Ming Style Suzhou Gardens: The famous example is the Humble Administrator' s Garden. The garden consists of three parts with different types of buildings around streams and ponds. In the main garden, there are four pavilions placed at different spots. Each pavilion has a very beautiful and lyrical name which represent the four seasons.

Qing Style Suzhou Gardens: The famous example is the Lingering Garden. Possessing typical Qing style, it is well-known for the exquisite beauty of its magnificent halls, and the various sizes, shapes, and colors of the buildings. Dating from the 11th-19th century, the gardens reflect the profound metaphysical importance of natural beauty in Chinese culture in their meticulous design.
Recommended tours:

# Day 01 Arrival Suzhou

# Arrive in Suzhou. Be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Free at leisure for the rest of the day.Day 02 Suzhou

# Depart from hotel in the morning and be transferred to visit Humble Administrator Garden, the Tiger Hill and the Lingering Garden.Day 03 Departure Suzhou

Visit the Garden of the Master of the Nets in the morning. Free at leisure until to be transferred to the airport for your next destination.

china tour-Professional China Tour Operator with tailor made service. Come with us to see China with your own eyes and touch this ground with your hands. All services are private and in small group with English speaking tour guide and license driver.

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