Located in Suzhou, these gardens are a pride of China and historians claim that its existence can be dated back to the 4th century.
About
There are more than 50 classical gardens in the country and of them all, there are 9 gardens which stand out the best, namely, the Couple’s Garden Retreat, the Canglang Pavilion, the Lingering Garden, the Mountain Villa, the Lion Grove Garden, the Garden of Cultivation, the Humble Administrator’s Garden, Net Master’s Garden, and finally, the Retreat and Reflection Garden.
History
The Canglang Pavilion is the oldest of this lot and was built in the 11th century with great influence from the freehand styles you can find in authentic Chinese landscape paintings.
Where to go
If you are an avid botanist and want to explore as much of these gardens as you can, it’d be a smart decision for you to rent one of the Suzhou apartments in the city; ideally find a place that is within easy reach of the best gardens, like at Somerset Emerald City Suzhou, for instance.
Why you should visit
If you’re wondering why these gardens stand out among the others, the answer is simple. They meet the requirements of covering all essential elements and prominent values that a Suzhou garden is supposed to have, according to the books written from the 11th to the 12th centuries.
Fritzjames Stephen is a travel writer, who writes content based on the myriad of experiences and indulgences that the world has to offer travellers across all walks of life. Google+