Suzhou Gardens -- Treasures of the Jiangnan: Treasures of the Jiangnan

Author: Wang Lei
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: Suzhou is a renowned historical and cultural city in China, celebrated for its beautiful landscapes and classical gardens. It is often described as "the gardens of Jiangnan are the best under heaven, and the gardens of Suzhou are the best in Jiangnan." In 1985, Suzhou's gardens were ranked as one of China's top ten scenic spots. The gardens of Suzhou have their own artistic characteristics in terms of layout, structure, and style. The four classical gardens of Suzhou—Canglang Pavilion, Shizilin, Zhuozheng Yuan, and Liu Yuan—represent the artistic styles of the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, respectively. Zhuozheng Yuan is the most representative garden in Suzhou. It was first built during the Zhengde era of the Ming Dynasty. The owner, Wang Xianchen, named it after the phrase "to build a house, plant trees, water a garden, and sell vegetables—this is also the governance of the clumsy" from Pan Yu's "Leisurely Residence" in the Jin Dynasty. Zhuozheng Yuan is divided into three parts: the Eastern Garden, the Central Garden, and the Western Garden. The Eastern Garden features alternating hills and ponds, with buildings such as Shuxiang Hall and Lansuetang. The Western Garden has winding water surfaces and a compact layout, with pavilions and towers built near the mountains and water. The main building, the Mandarin Duck Hall, was used by the garden owner for entertaining guests and listening to music. The interior is exquisitely decorated. On sunny days, the blue glass windows in the room allow views of the outside as if they were covered in snow. The "Yue Qing Tong Zu Xuan" in the garden is a fan-shaped pavilion. The two solid walls of the fan-shaped pavilion have two fan-shaped openings. One faces the "Mandarin Duck Hall," while the other faces the Liting Pavilion on the mountain, with the roof of the Liting Pavilion perfectly matching the shape of a complete fan. The Central Garden is the essence of Zhuozheng Yuan. Its overall layout centers around a pond, with pavilions, terraces, and towers built around it, some extending directly into the water. It is a finely structured four-sided hall with floor-to-ceiling glass windows, offering views of the surroundings. The interior is elegantly decorated. To the south of the hall is a small pond with artificial mountains and lush bamboo and trees. To the north of the hall is a spacious platform connecting to a lotus pond. In summer, when the lotus blooms, the gentle breeze fills the hall with fragrance. The plaque "Yuan Xiang Tang" was written by Wen Zhengming of the Ming Dynasty. The northern part of the hall is the main scenic area, with two artificial mountains built in the pond. On the western mountain stands the "Xue Xiang Yun Wei" pavilion. The couplet "The chirping of cicadas makes the forest quieter, and the singing of birds makes the mountain more secluded," written by Wen Zhengming, and the inscription "Mountain flowers and wild birds" by Ni Yunlin of the Yuan Dynasty, are hung inside the pavilion. On the eastern mountain stands the "Dai Shuang Pavilion." A stream bridge connects the two mountains, with flowers and trees planted throughout the mountains and vines and shrubs scattered along the banks, creating a wild and charming atmosphere.