I have lived in Suzhou for three years now and probably haven’t appreciated its famous gardens as I perhaps should have. All that changed, however, while I was researching this piece on what makes Suzhou’s classical gardens so special for Lonely Planet.
[Suzhou’s] gardens reflect the profound metaphysical importance of natural beauty in Chinese culture in their meticulous design.
This quote from UNESCO describes why they inscribed Suzhou’s gardens into the World Heritage List.
What I really enjoyed about getting to know more about the gardens was that, in their simplest form, they have been peaceful havens from the stresses of life that their owners, over hundreds of years, have experienced. I really identified with that and feel that now more than ever, in our modern pressurised times, we can appreciate the power of these beautiful landscapes.