Pavilions

  

     

Hollow windows
      

Various doors 

    

Stones

   

Located in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, Suzhou is blessed with the geographical advantage of being only 80 kilometers away from Shanghai. Its history can be traced back 2500 years ago to 514 BC, when it was designated as the capital of the Wu State. The city's ancient history has bestowed it with a wealth of historical sites and cultural relics.

Talking about Suzhou, people always think of an old Chinese saying: "There is a paradise in Heaven, and there are Suzhou and Hangzhou on earth." This saying shows just how beautiful Suzhou and Hangzhou are.

But what in Suzhou stands out the most? The answer has to be its gardens! Yes, it's the many poetic and elegant classical gardens in Suzhou that make the city famous worldwide. Representing the highest achievements of the southern style of Chinese garden architecture, the ancient gardens in Suzhou are of unparalleled beauty in every season and hold an irresistible charm to visitors from all around the world.

Known as the city of gardens, Suzhou tops all other Chinese cities in terms of both the number and the artistry of ancient gardens. The city used to have more than 200 gardens dating from the 4th century to the 18th century. One third of them have been well preserved even till today, and nine gardens have been listed by UNESCO as World Cultural Heritage Sites.
The Suzhou gardens are regarded as an indigenous expression of ancient Chinese people's love for nature and a combination of classical Chinese philosophy, literature and art.

Unlike Beijing, which boasts a number of imperial gardens, the gardens in Suzhou were mostly private ones built and owned by ancient scholars, men of letters and retired officials who moved to the city to spend their golden year. They sought to create places where they could feel close to nature, cultivate their temperament, and be free from the sorrows and worries of daily lives.

In line with such intentions, these private gardens are generally cut off from the outside world by white-washed walls, turning the gardens into a world of their own. Tranquility reigns inside the gardens despite urban hustle and bustle and busy crowds outside.

Since they were built for private use, the gardens usually occupy a small area, and hills, ponds, rocks, flowers, trees, pavilions, towers and halls constitute their basic components.

But if you have a stroll in these gardens, you will find that each one is in an unique, exquisite design and has its own characteristics. Today these miniatures of nature offer a wonderful refuge for people bothered by worldly affairs, bringing them peace of mind and communion with nature.(Photo Source:www.szgarden.sz.js.cn)