World Cultural Heritage: The Classical Gardens of Suzhou (5)

Located in the southeast of Suzhou city, the Master of the Nets Garden was originally built during the Southern Dong Dynasty (1127-1279 A.D.), when it was called the Fisherman's Retreat (Yuyin). The garden was reconstructed during the Emperor Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty and renamed to the Master of the Nets Garden. The Master of the Nets Garden covers an area of about half a hectare and is the smallest of the Suzhou gardens. The main buildings in the garden are the Osmanthus and Fragrance Pavilion, Zhuoying Shuige, Watching Pine and Appreciating Paintings Pavilion, and the Peony Study. All the pavilions, terraces, halls and towers in the garden were built near water. Water is the main theme of the Master of the Nets Garden and the architecture in the garden is arranged in an orderly manner. The Master of the Nets Garden has an exquisite layout and fully shows the classical garden architectural style during the Ming Dynasty.

The Suzhou garden designers and builders created stunning natural landscapes within limited space by adopting unique techniques. They integrated lakes, rockeries and trees, as well as pavilions, terraces, halls and towers into one beautiful picture, and skillfully combined the natural beauty with creative art. The Suzhou gardens allow people to appreciate the natural scenery of hills and forests without leaving the city. Moreover, they also reflect the rich Chinese cultural background. The garden art and architectural features, as well as various masterpieces created by poets and men of letters under the inspiration of the garden sceneries, all epitomize the essence of the traditional Chinese culture.