Classical Gardens in Suzhou(783 views)

Release date:2011-01-27 02:51:32

Suzhou situated in Jiangsu Province is famous for its stone bridges and beautiful gardens. It is said that of all places in China, Hangzhou and Suzhou are the best places to live. Suzhou's beautiful gardens are like visualizing poems and paintings by great masters of olden times. Suzhou’s gardens mirror the celebration of nature’s beauty in Chinese culture between 11th century and 19th century.

Though there are nine gardens in Suzhou, only four are considered masterpieces of Chinese landscape gardening. They are Surging Waves Pavilion, the Lion Grove Garden, the Humble Administrator's Garden and the Lingering Garden. In these gardens art, nature and idea together create perfect harmony. These four classical gardens represent styles of Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties.

The Canglang Pavilion built in 11th century by a Northern Song poet Su Sunqin. It is one among the four classical gardens of Suzhou and also said to be the oldest. He restored and built a pavilion on the banks of water and named it Canglang pavilion. Water surrounding it makes the pavilion more dreamlike. Green water pool surrounded by weeping willows welcomes its visitors and then directs to the man- made hills that are on both eastern and western sides. One hill is a mixture of earth and yellow stones and the other is a mixture of earth and lake stones; both appearing like naturally formed hills. Trees and bamboos planted on them give more natural look as of a small mountain forest. Amidst this patch of green stand the centuries old Canglang Pavilion presenting fine carvings of children, birds, animals and flowers. It is an excellent spot to view the garden.

Between hills and pools there are pavilions and walkways that connects scenic spots. The current architecture reflects classic Qing Dynasty. There are 108 lattice windows with rich and elegant design that make walkways beautiful. At the west end of walkway, there is a hall where you can sit and relax and to the east end of the walkway is a square pavilion called Fishing Terrace from where you can watch varieties of fish in the water.

Mingdao Hall, the main building in the garden has three halls where scholars used to stay. Fragrance Hall near Mingdao Hall is filled with scent of osmanthus during autumn and hence the name. There is a hall called Five Hundred Ancient Sages Hall where 594 sages’ stone statues are displayed.

The Lion Grove Garden was built in 1342 by Tian Ru and few Zen Buddhist disciples in order to honor their master and monk Zhongfeng. Garden got the name due to the lion shaped rockeries, which is the main theme of the garden. Pavilions such as True Delight Pavilion, Standing in Snow Hall, Greeting the Plum Blossoms Pavilion have interesting stories behind each. Lion Grove Garden had inspired many poets and artists to create masterpieces, which are exhibited in the garden.

Humble Administrator’s Garden covering almost 13 acres is the largest among the famous four gardens in Suzhou. Built in 1509 during Ming Dynasty, it was a private garden owned by a government official who intended to live his retired life by planting trees and growing vegetables. Water forms major part of the garden and hills, forests and rock formations completes the landscape. It has Suzhou style residences, Eastern Section with beautiful landscape and two important halls like Lanxiang Tang and Tianquan Ting, Central Section with Hall of Distant Fragrance and Small Flying Rainbow Bridge and Western Section with 18 Camellias Hall and 36 pairs of Mandarin’s Duck’s Hall. Many flower exhibitions are conducted here. Western Section features Bonsai Garden while Central Section features precious stones house called Elegant Stone House.

Lingering Garden built in Qing style during 1522 consists of temples, private gardens, halls etc. Even if it has a history of only 400 years it came under several hands that appreciated the garden and strived for the welfare of the same. Following the corridors you can enter the central section of the garden that consists of pools, hills and buildings.

Suzhou gardens are like poems inscribed in nature and are loved and remembered by its visitors both at home and abroad. Visiting these gardens certainly makes its visitors understand the importance of life ignored during today’s busy life.

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