Suzhou or the art of the classic gardening

When one approaches the city of Suzhou, which jumps first at sight are its imposing walls, their high towers inner doors - terrestrial and fluvial - and its exquisite pagodas. Here an absolute silence reigns and a strong flavor of antiquity is perceived. Beautiful land of dream.

Located to borders of the vast Taihu lake (Jiangsu), in the central part of the delta of the Yangtsé river, the city of Suzhou is celebrated by its historical and cultural value. In 514 a. n. e. There am Lu, king of the Wu State, ordered to the courteous Wu Zixu to construct a wall around the city, in order to install its capital.

Suzhou has 2500 years of existence already. In old times, a truly prosperous aspect appeared here: sail boats furrowed rivers and channels, cars hauled by beasts reasoned interminable by the streets, the people were crowded together in the stores of soothes, that made good businesses Today –, the city still maintains their old appearance: the terrestrial and fluvial routes go parallel, the bridges of high arcs are raised windy, coastal houses shine their elegance, When one takes a walk by the deep alleys, arrive to him, from time to time, the glad laughter of the settlers you announce and them of the traveling salesmen. An own costumbrista spectacle of a earth like Suzhou, in the south to the Yangtsé river.

The city is beautiful. But what it attracts its visitors more they are its classic gardens. The Garden of the King of oldest the Wu State – of those goes back to the period of the Spring and Fall (770-476 a. n. e.) and the garden of Pinjiang- first in appearing, were constructed of the Jin dynasty of the East (317-420). The construction of gardens in the locality prospered through history and in this way, many gardens acquired celebrity by their incomparable elegance. During the dynasty Ming and Qing, Suzhou was the developed zone more of China and the gardening happened quickly popular. The gardens, that added then about 200, were scattered inside and outside the walls of the city; from another name of Suzhou came there: “ Terrestrial Paradise ".

Today, several tens of these old gardens are in good state of conservation. The gardens of Zhuozheng (Humble Administrator), Liuyuan (Demonstrating), Wangshi (Old Fisherman), and the Villa of Huanxiu Summer are most important, are distinguished by their capable design, its Guam elegance and its contained depth cultural.

The Garden of the Humble Administrator was deprived residence of Wang Xianchen, imperial censor of the Ming dynasty. He is greatest of the city. It is walled, but it offers an atmosphere that widens the heart. Here small barren islands and lagoons, and hills and constructions are appraised. Raised these to borders of the Lagos and brooks, they communicate to each other by means of bridges. One releases gallery “ reasons " among open lands. Views and landscapes appear dispersed, but they instill deep espírtu altogether cultural. “ As much, that it does not seem to be a human work. “

The Garden of the Demonstrator is compact. It stands out by the beautiful disposition of his buildings finely decorated. Superposed, they are integrated in perfect harmony.

The Garden of the Old Fisherman is the minor. In spite of his limited area (0.6 hectare), it is a compact set of great invoice. The footpaths, that arrive winding at diverse points worthy to see, seem interminable.

The Villa of Huanxiu Summer is made famous by its artificial hills, accumulated knolls with stones as large as a fist. When one is placed in the middle of them, it seems to be surrounded by lofty rock tips.

The art of the Chinese classic gardening, does not separate from Literature and the Chinese red painting. Influenced by the painting landscaper of suggestive style that bloomed during the dynasties Tang, Song and others, it grants to sum importance to the design as a whole. The gardens of Suzhou emphasize by their artificial and natural beauty, and its rich cultural content in perfect harmony. The names that take the constructions, boards registered, the dísticos, the sculptures and other decorations, not only serve to embellish the gardens but also constitute alive data to investigate old history and the culture. Thus for example, the works of famous handwritings expert of successive historical times that are conserved in the gardens have stop artistic value.

Constructed the classic gardens of Suzhou, in their majority, prosperous times of the economy and culture of the place and represent the maximum level of the art of the gardening reached in history. All are characterized to occupy little space and to resort to a series of techniques, in order that the pavilions, towers, platforms, kiosks, rocks, pools and springs conform landscapes of different enchantment for each station from the year. In fact, the gardening of Suzhou reached historical level in the integration of the architectonic beauty with the natural beauty, which gives to singular location him in the history of the gardening of the world.

The classic gardens of Suzhou are works of a multifacético art. Mulberry landscapes take part and. Its appearance had to do with gigantic creciniento of the large city and the shortage of natural landscapes in the city proper is a embellishment and improvements of environmental means on the part of the humanity after integration between the man and the nature.

In 1997, with their unique enchantment, the classic gardens of Suzhou were including by UNESCO in the List of Cultural Patrimonies of the World.