Classical Gardens of Suzhou
Classical Chinese garden design, which seeks to recreate natural landscapes in miniature, is nowhere better illustrated than in the nine gardens in the historic city of Suzhou. They are generally acknowledged to be masterpieces of the genre. Dating from the 11th-19th century, the gardens reflect the profound metaphysical importance of natural beauty in Chinese culture in their meticulous design.
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/813
The Classical Gardens of Suzhou are the most refined representations of the art of classical Chinese garden design. They are complex landscapes imitating natural scenery with pavilions, rocks, hills and rivers. The designs were especially adapted to the small space available in private gardens.
Suzhou's landscape garden design flourished in the 16th-18th centuries, resulting in as much as 200 private gardens. The four gardens originally included in the World Heritage List were:
- Humble Administrator's Garden
- Lingering Garden
- Garden of the Master of Nets
- Mountain villa with Embracing Beauty
In 2000, the site was extended to also include the following gardens:
- Canglang Pavilion
- Lion Forest Garden
- Garden of Cultivation
- Couple's Garden Retreat
- Retreat and Reflection Garden
These five gardens date from different periods than the original ones (from the 11th - 19th centuries), but have been well-preserved too and show Chinese landscape gardening in their own right.
http://www.worldheritagesite.org/sites/suzhougardens.html
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