The Classical Gardens of Suzhou are masterpieces of Chinese landscape garden design

The Classical Gardens of Suzhou are masterpieces of Chinese landscape garden design in which art, nature, and ideas are integrated perfectly to create ensembles of great beauty and peaceful harmony, and the gardens are integral to the entire historic urban plan.
Built in 1566, the Lingering Garden is a classic example of Ming Dynasty private garden style. Its most famous feature is the Cloud-Crowned Peak. It is listed as one of Suzhou’s four most famous gardens.

The Lion Grove Garden is particularly famous for its rockeries – bizarre (seemingly to my untrained eye) man-made formations of hand-picked rocks by the designers of the garden. Built in 1342 during the Yuan Dynasty, it is counted as one of Suzhou’s four most famous gardens.

When Suzhou is mentioned, the first thought in every Chinese mind is of its gardens. It is said that the gardens to the south of Yangtze River are the best in the world, and Suzhou gardens are the best among them. The history of the classical gardens of Suzhou can be traced back to 6 BC. By the time of the Ming and Qing dynasties, Suzhou City had become a garden city with more than 200 gardens. Having experienced a long history, only a part of the gardens are preserved perfectly. Because of their ingenious man-made landscape and the ideal of harmony between heaven and human beings, the gardens have gained a high reputation world wide.