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It is also a source of the unique Taihu rocks
and over a long period many officials built gardens here. In the
Ming and Qing dynasties, there were some 200 gardens and the city
was renowned both in China and abroad for its small but elegant
private gardens. They represent the quintessence of the gardens
found in the southern area of Jiangsu Province and demonstrate the
varied styles of the Song Dynasty (960-1279), Yuan Dynasty (1206-1368),
Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and Qing Dynasty (1616-1911). The Blue-Waves
Pavilion Garden, the Lion Grove Garden, the Humble Administrator's
Garden and the Linger-Here Garden are the most important ones in
the city and illustrate architectural styles of the Song, Yuan,
Ming and Qing dynasties.
The Blue-Waves Pavilion Garden is the oldest
and was a villa in the old days. Built in a unique style the garden
makes use of and combines landscapes outside as well as inside the
garden. the garden itself is composed of rocks, green bamboo groves
and hills. Bright Path Hall is the largest building in the garden.
The west wall of the hall is carved with more than 500 images of
celebrities who have figured in Suzhou's history.
Lion-Grove Garden is on the Yuanlin Road
in the city itself. The garden, built in the Yuan Dynasty, is famous
for its rockeries, most of which look like lions, hence the name.
It is small but well arranged and to the southeast there are hills
while in the northwest there is water. Around the garden there is
a walkway that follows the contours of the land and there are number
of buildings that are in perfect harmony with the scenery including
Yanyu Hall, Sleeping-Clouds Chamber and Seek-Plum-Blossoms Tower.
The Humble Administrator's Garden on Northeast
Street in the city is the largest of its kind in the area. It is
one of China's four major gardens and a masterpiece of the private
classic garden. About three-fifths of the garden is a water area
and most of the major buildings were built beside water; they are
simple and elegant. There are a dozen pavilions built in different
styles and the garden is divided into three parts-east, middle and
west. The middle part features the essential qualities of the garden.
The Linger-Here Garden was first built in
the Ming Dynasty. It is famous for its composition and variety.
Groups of buildings are used ingeniously to divide and compose the
space into ever-changing garden scenes. The garden is divided into
four parts-central, eastern, western and northern. The central part
is characterized by hills and water and is quiet and peaceful. The
eastern part features double-eaved buildings. The northern part
has rural scenery and the western part natural scenery. The four
parts are linked together by a winding path. The central and eastern
parts are the most distinctive.
Included in the UNESCO world heritage list
in 1997.
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