he city of Suzhou is also referred to as the “city of gardens” which is a must for every visitor who wants to delve into the Chinese philosophy and get to know better the Chinese life and traditions. The history of Suzhou gardens takes us nearly 2,500 years back in time when the earliest garden of Pijiang, belonging to the Eastern Jin dynasty, was constructed. Since then, Suzhou has become the home for 200 private gardens, of which around 70 are preserved and can be seen today. 

A look at a bridge crossing over to one of the islands in the garden.

Image and caption copyright © Matt Preuss

Instead of describing the architectural features (such as terraces, carved door- and window-frames, pavilions and water basins) of these classical gardens, we would like to share what we read in a short presentation by Wendy Yang [link and pictures on the right], who was born in Suzhou and who has spent her childhood in Suzhou gardens. She would walk along winding green corridors and enjoy the scenery in the gardens, read old poems carved in stone, enter a large yard in the Surging Wave Pavilion (a garden) full with Bamboo trees which “sing” when the wind blows and play in a labyrinth in an artificial mountain, a part of the Lion Grove garden. Ms. Yang also talks about the general impression of tourists who think that the gardens are very similar to each other. As a matter of fact, the gardens of Suzhou have their own unique aesthetic features and, as Ms. Yang says, “it takes more than one visit” to realize it. 

These entrance ways are used throughout many Chinese gardens.

Image and caption copyright © Matt Preuss

People say that in order to understand China, it is best to understand Suzhou gardens first. They perfectly reflect the Chinese ideology and sense of aesthetics but more specifically, they emphasize upon the notion of going back to Nature. But why did they originate and is there any purpose underlying their construction? The answer is yes, and once again we witness the human quest for beauty and harmony: the Suzhou gardens were built as a result of human desire to escape from the transient everyday life and search contact with the eternal Nature.

A great detail in the different pathways.

Image and caption copyright © Matt Preuss

Among the most-famous gardens in Suzhou is the Humble Administrator’s Garden, the largest of all classical gardens. The name derives from an essay written by a person who believed that keeping well a garden and growing plants were the key to a humble life. Other popular gardens in Suzhou include the Master-of-Nets Garden, named after a narrative about a fisherman, and the Lion Grove one, which contains fascinating statues of lions.