Unesco description
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.

Partial list

• The Humble Administrator’s Garden
• The Lingering Garden
• The Master-of-Nets Garden
• The Mountain Villa with Embracing Beauty
• The Canglang Pavilion
• The Lion Forest Garden
• The Garden of Cultivation
• The Couple’s Retreat
• The Retreat & Reflection Garden

Received through a private swap on 17.11.2010
Master of the Nets Garden:
It is located at Dai Cheng Qiao Road, No. 11 Kuo Jia Tou Xiang. The Master of the Nets is particularly regarded among garden connoisseurs for its mastering the techniques of relative dimension, contrast, foil, sequence and depth, and borrowed scenery.The Master of the Nets garden, then called Ten Thousand Volume Hall, was first constructed in 1140 by Shi Zhengzhi the Deputy Civil Service Minster of the Southern Song Dynasty government.

Received through a private swap on 01.01.2011
Master of the Nets Garden:
The 5,400 m² garden is divided into east and west sections. The eastern part consists of residential quarters, while the gardens are located in the western part. Eastern section is the residential area it is a linear sequence of four halls one tower and three courtyards. The western garden is an ensemble of buildings around the 334 m² Rosy Cloud Pool. Plants and rocks are used to create views which represent several seasons. It also includes three side courts to the east and south. The two dominant elements of the composition are the Barrier of Cloud grotto, a cypress tree dating from the Ming Dynasty, and pine several centuries old. The areas to the south of the Rosy Cloud Pool were used for social activities and the areas to the north were used for intellectual activities. The buildings are laid out in a style called close to the water which is used to give the Rosy Clouds Pool the illusion of great size. Small buildings are set on rocks or piers directly over the water surface while large buildings are separated from the pool by yards planted with trees to obscure their size.

Received through a private swap on 15.02.2010
Humble Administrator´s Garden:
The garden is located at n°178 Dongbei Street and it is the largest garden in Suzhou and is considered by some to be the finest garden in all of southern China. On the Zhuozhengyuan’s site was first built a garden during the Shaoxing period (1131-1162) of the Southern Song Dynasty.