The expression of nature in traditional Su Zhou gardens

Abstract

The commercial city of Su Zhou, situated in the eastern part of China near Shanghai, has been known for its gardens since the fourth century AD (figure 1). Chinese gardens are usually small, but the intricate spatial design and poetic use of materials somehow very effectively transport visitors to another world. These gardens were started by wealthy scholars and aristocrats with a desire to escape from the convention ofrules and rituals into a refuge of peace and quiet, solitude and a realm of nature.