The city of Suzhou stands on the north bank of the mighty Yangtze River. The city is famous for its classical gardens, particularly since the trend of building gardens in this style was begun in Suzhou. Inspired by the teachings of Taoism, these gardens were designed to be private places of seclusion, an escape from the pressures of day-to-day work. These gardens vary hugely in age; some of them are 2500 years old and more and some of them were built as recently as the 19th century. Of course, not all of the gardens constructed over the course of over two millennia have survived; in fact only a few of the many classical gardens in Suzhou retain their former glory.
Though there are no hard and fast rules for the construction of classical gardens, they tend to follow the same basic plans, as they’re built according to the rules of feng shui. There’s the section that surrounds the house, and then the garden proper, where typical Chinese flora are planted among small ponds and around pavilions. Gardens often have poems posted somewhere inside them, to add to its sense of peace.
The location of the house is decided based on where the sun shines in the garden. Inside a classical home everything is designed for calm. No jarring or bold colors are used, and the furniture – most often made of rosewood – is simple and elegant. You’ll often find indoor plants, said to provide a calming affect, as well as adding to the décor.
The Humble Administrator’s Garden, the Lion Grove Garden, the Blue Wave Pavilion, and the Lingering Garden are widely considered to be the four best examples of classical gardens in Suzhou. The Humble Administrator’s Garden (Zhouzheng yuan) is particularly famous for its water works and pavilions.
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