Lingering Garden, Classical Chinese garden in Suzhou, China.
The Lingering Garden is a Chinese garden in Suzhou composed of four distinct sections connected by halls, courtyards, and covered walkways. The layout uses water features, rock formations, and planted areas to create different rooms and views that shift as you move through the space.
The garden was built in 1593 during the Ming Dynasty by scholar Xu Zhenqing and went through several redesigns under different owners. These changes shaped its present-day layout and appearance.
The garden reflects Chinese design principles where buildings, water, and plants are carefully arranged to create miniature natural landscapes. As you walk through, you notice how each corner was planned to create a particular mood or view.
The garden is easy to reach on foot from nearby transport hubs, and following the marked pathways helps you navigate the site. Allow time to leisurely explore all four sections, as the walkways wind through the space and areas are easy to miss.
Several trees in the garden are hundreds of years old and form a striking feature with their size and structure, especially around the central rock formations and water areas. These ancient trees give the space a living connection to its long past.
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