Paradise on Earth

The history of Suzhou classical gardens dates to the royal garden of King of Wu in the 6th century, whereas the earliest record of private gardens was found to be Pijiang Garden in East Jin Dynasty. Famous Gardens grew in number with the time and by Ming and qing Dynasties they were everywhere in Suzhou and dozens of them have survived intact to the present.
The top of these gardens, such as Humble Administrator’s Garden. Lingering Garden, Master-of-Nets Garden, and Mountain Villa with Embracing Beauty, are works in the prime of the private landscape architecture, characterized as the model in their profound mood, delicate composition, elegant art, and cultural connotation. In December of 1997 World Heritage Committee of UNESCO registered them in World Heritage List with the conclusion that “ the four 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 four gardens are integral to the entire historic urban plan.” Then in 2001 the committee approved the extension to includes Surging Waves Pavilion, Lion Forest Garden, Garden of Cultivation, Couple Garden Retreat, and Retreat and Reflection Garden.