Suzhou, in east China's Jiangsu Province, enjoys a particular renown
for her landscaped gardens. Over 150 in number, some are more than
one thousand years old.
The gardens are not large but are fascinating in
their delicate design, containing hills and ponds, pavilions,
terraces, corridors and towers.
The famous gardens include: Canglang Ting (Pavilion
of the Surging Waves), Shizilin (Lion Grove), Zhuozheng
Yuan (The Humble Administrator's Garden), Liu Yuan (Garden
to Linger In).
Liu Yuan was constructed in the Qing dynasty and is three hectares
in size. Winding throughout the garden is a 700-meter long
corridor, on the walls of which are a great number of stone carvings and
windows.
Within the garden is "Yet Another Village";
a winding path with a trellised grape vine canopy.
All along the path are hundreds of potted flowers & trees, some
as much as three hundreds years old. Liu Yuan boasts the largest rock in
Suzhou. It is six & a half meters high, weighs five tons and was transported
from Lake Taihu. Because of its height and shape it was named "Cloud-capped
Peak". |
