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The Humble Administrator’s Garden is located on Donbei Jie（东北街,North East Street）,between the two city gates,Lou and Qi（娄齐二门）,in the northeast corner of Suzhou city.It was constructed on the remains of Da Hong Temple（大宏寺）by Wang Xiancheng（王献臣）who acquired the land during Jia Jing（1522 AD—1566 AD,嘉靖）period of the Ming dynasty.The name“Humble Administrator”（拙政）is derived from Pan Yue’s（潘岳）phrase“A humble way being an administrator”（拙者之为政）.

This garden was sold to Xu family of Lizhong（里中徐氏）by Wang Xiancheng’s son in order to settle his gambling debt.Its ownership then fell into the hands of Chen Zhiling（陈之遴）from Haining（海宁）in the early part of the Qing dynasty.The garden became the official residence for the garrison general after Chen Zhiling was banished to a faraway outpost for penal servitude.After that,it turned into the administrative depot of military supply for local circuit.

This garden was for a time the residence of Wang Yongnin（王永宁）,the son-in-law of Wu Sangui（吴三桂）.It was repossessed by the government after Wu Sangui’s rebellion against the emperor.During the reign of Emperor Kang Xi（康熙）,the garden was used as the official residence of the administrator of the circuit of Suzhou,Songjiang,and Changzhou.Emperor Kang Xi visited this garden during his southern tours of the empire.

The garden became divided into many small residences when the position of administrator for circuit of Suzhou,Songjiang,and Changzhou was latereliminated.Jiang Qi（蒋棨）brought the various parts of the garden together in early years of Emperor Qian Long’s（乾隆）reign and had it renamed as Fu Yuan（复园,Recovered Garden）.It was then sold to Cha Shitan from Haining（海宁查世倓）during the reign of Emperor Jia Qing（嘉庆）.Later this garden changed hands again and became the property of Wu Songpu from Pinghu（平湖吴菘圃）.

After Tai Ping Tian Guo（太平天国,Heavenly Kingdom of Great Peace）took control of Suzhou,the garden became a part of Prince Zhong’s residence（忠王府）.The garden became the property of the imperial government after the rebellion of the Tai Ping Tian Guo.It served as the venue of Ba Qi Clan Association（八旗奉直会馆）starting in the tenth year of Tong Zhi（同治，1871 AD）.The garden was restored to its original name,the Humble Administrator’s Garden.During this period the west section of the garden became the property of Zhang Luqiang（张履谦）and was named Bu Yuan（Addition Garden,补园）.The two gardens have since been reunited into one after 1949.

The highlight of the Humble Administrator’s Garden is water.Over sixty percent of the garden is covered by water.As a result of vast water coverage,eighty to ninety percent of the main buildings in the garden are built along water front（Page 275,Site Plan of the Garden）.This is documented in the article A Record of the Humble Administrator’s Garden（拙政园记）by Wen Zhengming（文徵明）in this way:“There were many marsh lands nestling in the northeastern section of the city.This is especially true for the area between the city gates Lou and Qi.Water accumulates in these areas to form natural ponds.These ponds were channeled together with little effort and lined by trees around them.…”　It can be seen from these lines that the garden was designed based on the then existing topography.

The practice of incorporating existing topography into the design is also described by Ji Cheng（计成）in his book Yuan Ye（Craft of Gardens,园冶）written during the late Ming dynasty.It is said in Xiang Di section（Site Locating and Evaluation,相地）of Yuan Ye that“Pavilions and platforms should be located on high grounds,and ponds should be dug at low lands.”　The choice of the site for the Humble Administrator’s Garden on or around water is well justified because of the readily available low lands in the area.

Incorporating existing topography into garden site planning is a common practice found in many gardens other than the Humble Administrator’s Garden in Suzhou.The garden Wang Shi Yuan（网师园,The Master-of-Nets Garden）at Kuo Jie Tou Xiang（阔阶头巷）has eighty percent water coverage.The same is true of Wu Mu Yuan（五亩园）at Ping Gate（平门）,in which several small ponds were linked together to form a vast water surface.All of these gardens are invariably created by taking advantage of existing topography.

Looking for underground spring is another good way for acquiring a fresh water source.In the garden Huan Xiu Shan Zhuang（The Mountain Villa with Embracing Beauty,环秀山庄）on Jing De Rd（景德路）the water source is an underground natural spring found when digging the pond.This was done by the owner Jiang Ji（蒋楫）during the reign of Emperor Qian Long（乾隆）of the Qing dynasty.This spring was named“Flying Snow”（飞雪）by Jiang Ji.

The Humble Administrator’s Garden is made of three distinct parts.Its center section is the main part of the garden.This section contains the majority of the original designs that have survived over the years.The west section is the portion of garden that used to be Bu Yuan（Addition Garden,补园）of Zhang family.This section has received many major modifications but maintained its original style.These changes do not diminish the glamour of a well designed garden.The east section was Gui Tian Yuan Ju（Retreat House,归田园居）of Wang Xingyi’s（王心一）during the Ming dynasty,which has long been neglected,and is now being restored.

Yuan Xiang Tang（the Hall of Distant Fragrance,远香堂）（Page 86）is the principal building in the center section of the garden,with a four-sided threebay–wide hall,and a single eave gable-on-hip roof（单檐歇山）.Looking south from the hall one enjoys a view of a small pond with rockery.There is a lush green shade provided by several clusters of magnolia.An old elm tree stands by the rock nearby an undulating wall（云墙）.A line of dark green bamboo hugs the rockery.The slender winding veranda follows the curve of the hill rocks.It leads the visitor into the garden.This type of site planning not only creates an impression of entering a natural forest（Page 84,upper）for the visitors,but also effectively hides the garden entrance for people looking south from the main hallby using the rockery as a natural screen.This design technique is similar to the use of Zhao Bi（Screen Wall,照壁）or Ping Feng（screen,屏风）at the entrance of a residence.

Sitting inside the Hall of Distant Fragrance and looking at north,one can get a glimpse of major sceneries of the whole center section of the garden,with Xiu Qi Ting（Paeonia Suffruticosa Pavilion,绣绮亭,Page 90）to the east,Yi Yu Xuan（Bamboo Pavilion,倚玉轩,Page 86）on the west side,a large lotus pond bordering the north side,as well as two pavilions atop islets across the pond,named Xue Xiang Yun Wei Ting（Snow-Like Fragrant Prunus Mume Pavilion,雪香云蔚亭,Page 105）and Dai Shuang Ting（Orange Pavilion,待霜亭,Page 104）.Along the north-to-south axis of the Hall of Distant Fragrance the garden’s profile goes up and down with accentuating motifs.In particular,the islets in the pond are surrounded with flowing water,veiled by dwarf bamboo,and adorned by lime stones along the jagged shore.The whole view stretches one’s boundless imagination as if one had found oneself in a true natural scene of lake.

Strolling along the waterside trail eastward from the Hall of Distant Fragrance takes one to the bridge Yi Hong Qiao（Leaning against Rainbow Bridge,倚虹桥,Page 96）.This bridge is a part of the original Ming dynasty construction.It is characterized by the low balustrade and close proximity of the bridge surface to water surface.After crossing the bridge one arrives at the pavilion Yi Hong Ting（Leaning against Rainbow Pavilion,倚虹亭）.This pavilion is built with its east side against a wall and the other three sides to open terrain.Therefore,it is also called East Half Pavilion（东半亭）.

The passage northward from the Leaning against Rainbow Pavilion leads to the Pavilion Wu Zhu You Ju（Secluded Pavilion of Firmiana Simplex and Bamboo 梧竹幽居,Page 102）.This is a pavilion with a pyramid-shaped roof and a ring-shaped gate on each of its four sides.Here is the east end of the center section of the garden.Looking at the west of the garden through the two ring-shaped gates one gets an extraordinary view of the beauty around the pool（Page 99）,with a dimly visible sight of the West Half Pavilion（西半亭）located far away on the opposite side of the garden across the pond.The West HalfPavilion is well known as Bie You Dong Tian（Another Cave World,别有洞天）which refers to the moon gate in this Pavilion since this moon gate leads into the west section of the garden.

At the Secluded Pavilion of Firmiana Simplex and Bamboo,one can see the reflection of the gate“Another Cave World”in the water,and the Pagoda Bei Si Ta（North Temple Pagoda,北寺塔）rising sheer into the sky behind the West Half Pavilion.This is a spectacular use of the scene borrowing（借景）technique.Besides there is a sharp contrast presented to the viewer at this vantage point（Page 97）.The left side of the pool unfolds a group of elaborate buildings including the Hall of Distant Fragrance,the Bamboo Pavilion,and Xiang Zhou（Fragrant Isle,香洲）.On the right side lie two small islets in a totally natural milieu.“This is the best use of contrast in a garden design.”as noted by Master Liu Dunzhen（刘敦桢）.As a matter of fact,the physical distance between the east and the west sides of the pond is not particularly large.But the visual effect of the design provides an illusion of depth.This is partly due to the construction of a winding stone clapper bridge across the pond.One’s sight lingers on the bridge before reaching the west shore.On the other hand,the strip of water between the north and the south shores is slender,and the magnificent buildings on the south contrast wonderfully with the natural verdant hills on the north.All these give people a profound feeling of depth and extension.With aged elm standing by the shore,swaying willow leaning onto the water,a new cluster of pavilions and halls looming through an elegant gate in between,what catches one’s eye is another wonderland on the opposite bank.

Walking along the passage westward from the Secluded Pavilion of Firmiana Simplex and Bamboo and crossing the Three Zigzag Bridge（三曲桥）one descends on a small triangle shaped islet.Taking the winding trail up hill one arrives at a hexagonal shaped pavilion nestling among dwarf bamboos at the peak,which is named Dai Shuang Ting（Orange Pavilion 待霜亭,Page 104）.To its east and across the water is the Pavilion Lu Yi Ting（Green Ripple Pavilion,绿漪亭,Page 100）.On the west it is matched by Xue Xiang Yun Wei Ting（Snow-Like Fragrant Prunus Mume Pavilion,雪香云蔚亭,Page 105）,which is a rectangular shaped pavilion located on an elliptical shaped islet.A small bridge across a smallcreek connects the two islets（Page 108）.Enchanted by aged trees leaning in a bamboo grove,clear stream gurgling and orioles twittering in the arbor brush,one feels a sudden isolation from the mundane world.

The trail winding down from the Snow-Like Fragrant Prunus Mume Pavilion leads to the Pavilion He Feng Si Mian Ting（Pavilion in Lotus Breezes,荷风四面亭,Page 125）.This is another hexagonal shaped pavilion.It is at the confluence point of three passages,with connecting zigzag bridges on two of the passages.The way forward heads for the Bamboo Pavilion,while the way backward brings one to Jian Shan Lou（Mountain-In-View Tower,见山楼）and“Another Cave World”through the winding veranda Liu Yin Lu Qu（A winding way with willow shades,柳阴路曲,Page 116）.The Mountain-In-View Tower（Page 109）is a two-storey building with a double eave gable-on-hip roof（重檐歇山顶）.Its second storey is reached via a staircase formed by rockery on the exterior.This building is located on the northwest corner of the center section of the garden.It is well separated from other structures in all directions,providing a wide-angled view from the top of the building.The whole city comes into focus when looking northward.

Due to the large size and expansive water surface of the Humble Administrator’s Garden,such a two-storey tower built in it does not look overly tall.What’s more,its reflection in the limpid water is a welcome addition to the scenery.However,in designing a two-storey building in a garden due attention should be paid to its architrave arrangement at elevation.One should adopt more horizontal lines running in parallel to the water surface in order to achieve a better consistency.

This type of vantage viewpoints can be found in many Chinese gardens.For example the pentagonal shaped pavilion built in Ban Yuan（Half Garden,半园）at Zhong You Ji Xiang（中由吉巷）,and Shan Mian Ting（Fan Pavilion,扇面亭,Page 206）found in Shi Zi Lin（Lion Forest Garden,狮子林）are both located on high peaks in the corner of the gardens.

The Fragrant Isle is traditionally known as a land boat,a building formed in the shape of a boat though it cannot float as a boat on water（Page 117 and 118）.There is a large mirror lodged in the bay of the building.When viewedfrom the Bamboo Pavilion,one cannot tell whether one sees a true subject or a reflection in the mirror.It also gives a sense of depth to a relatively shallow area.The upper part of the two-storey structure of Fragrant Isle,which is called Cheng Guan Lou（澂观楼,clear water viewing tower）,is in an advantageous position for enjoying faraway scenery.

To the south of the Fragrant Isle is the Pavilion De Zhen Ting（True Nature Pavilion,得真亭,Page 123）,in which there is also a mirror that creates similar effect of illusion.In this area there is a narrow strip of water.The stone bridge Xiao Fei Hong（Small Flying Rainbow Bridge,小飞虹,Page 120）crosses over the water surface and breaks it into two parts.To the south of the bridge,a three bay pavilion Xiao Cang Lang（Small Cang Lang,小沧浪）perches over the water and further divides the water surface.With open spaces beneath the bridge and pavilion,one does not feel any constraint in this narrow area.Instead,the structural arrangement gives people a free and unrestrained feeling.

Looking from the Small Cang Lang and through the Small Flying Rainbow Bridge and the Pavilion Yi Ting Qiu Yue Xiao Song Feng Ting（Autumn Moon and Windy Pine Pavilion,一庭秋月啸松风亭,Page 120 and Pages 122）,one has a panoramic view of a large expanse of water with the reflection of the Pavilion in Lotus Breeze in it,the profile of the Fragrant Isle as well as the Mountain-In-View Tower afar（Page 121）.This multiple level scenery gives a sense of looking at a grand view through a small portal,and cheers up the viewer with its clear open space.

Pi Pa Yuan（Loquat Garden Court,枇杷园）lies on the southeast side of the Hall of Distant Fragrance.It is separated by an undulating wall from the rest of the garden.There is a moon gate connecting the two sections（Page 87）.Jia Shi Ting（Loquat Pavilion,嘉实亭）and Ling Long Guan（Hall of Elegance,玲珑馆）are both situated in the front portion of the Court.Sitting in the Courtyard and looking at the Snow-Like Fragrant Prunus Mume Pavilion through the moon gate one has the impression that the pavilion is embedded in a ring.This is among the best in paired scenery（对景,Page 88）.It seems as if we were sitting within a painting,with the tall scholar tree and pavilions by the low wall fore-grounded indeed.This is an extremely good use of scene borrowing（借景）.The courtyard ground is paved with cobblestones in an elegant fashion.Unfortunately the rockery along the wall has lost its original shape during reconstruction;the upper part of the undulating wall lacks the traditional ending,and the turn in the wall lacks finesse（Page 87）.

A winding veranda on the side of the Hall of Elegance leads to Hai Tang Chun Wu（Malus Spectabilis Garden Court,海棠春坞,Page 92）.This is only a two bay wide building（Page 93）.Standing by the steps are an aged tree,a crabapple,and some scattered pieces of rockery;surrounding the Court is a veranda;veiled behind the tracery windows are pavilions and bowers,water and rock（Page 94-95）.With such careful arrangements in a closed and confined space,the Court looks delicate and elegant at every point,and spacious and smooth in every direction.This demonstrates the ingenuity of Chinese garden design,which enables sparsity artistically spaced with density and multum in parvo.

A wall was built between the west and center sections when the Humble Administrator’s Garden was split to two gardens.Tracery windows were added in the wall after these two sections were united.Some minor modifications had been made in the west section when it was split out,in order to create an independent entity.A winding verandah over the water was built along the wall.The veranda rises and falls while snaking along the water,making people feel like treading the water waves while walking through the veranda（Page 132）.This is the best touring veranda design amongst all found in Suzhou gardens.

The San Shi Liu Yuan Yang Guan（Hall of Thirty-six Pairs of Mandarin Ducks,三十六鸳鸯馆）and Shi Ba Man Tuo Luo Hua Guan（Hall of Eighteen Camellias十八曼陀罗花馆）is a twin hall（Page 141）.This is the main structure in the west section,three bays wide,with a gable-on-hip roof at exterior.But there is no roof ridge seen in the interior.Instead,four fold arc ceilings（卷棚四卷,Page 317）are used.Additionally,there are four rooms with individual pyramid roofs at the four corners of the building.As a result its design is unique in the country.

This twin hall was built when the west section was split out,out of the need of a main structure in a stand-alone garden.In order to fit such a big hall into a constrained space,it was necessary to downsize the front portion of the halland extend the rear of the hall over the water.Consequently,the water surface is reduced.The short distance to the hills across the pond and the limited clearing around the building makes the hall inconsistent with the rest of the garden to a certain degree.These are the defects in an otherwise perfect design.

This hall was used by the owner to dine and entertain guests.The special interior roof structure enhances its acoustic effects.The rooms at four corners provide not only a way to reduce the wind rush while people entering and leaving the hall,but also a space for the servants in waiting on call,or for the performers as a temporary backstage.The designer has taken all things into consideration when designing the structure.Its interior decorations along with those found in another building,Liu Ting Ge（Stay and Listen Pavilion,留听阁）are among the most ornate found in Suzhou.The Hall of Eighteen Camellias is an ideal spot for enjoying mandragora flowers during early spring.And in the Hall of Thirtysix Pairs of Mandarin Ducks watching mandarin ducks playing amongst the lotus is a favorite pastime during summer.It is fitting to have these two halls with one facing the south and the other the north.

The Fu Cui Ge（Floating Green Tower,浮翠阁）sits aside the water from the twin hall.It is a two storey octagonal structure.A bird’s eye view of the garden is provided from the top of the building.It is unfortunate the structure is un-proportionately tall and does not fit in scale with the rest of the garden.Down from the Floating Green Tower and across a creek,two small pavilions are crouching on a small hill.They are Li Ting（Indus Calamus Pavilion,笠亭,Page 144）and Shan Ting（Fan Pavilion,扇面亭,Page 145）.Fan Pavilion is also called“With Whom Shall I Sit?”Pavilion（与谁同坐轩）.Being located at a bend of a slender stream,this Pavilion fits for leisure and relaxation.

Walking northward along the winding verandah over the water one reaches Dao Ying Lou（Tower of Reflection,倒影楼,Page 135）.This is a two storey building with a gable-on-hip roof.Sitting opposite to its south is a hexagonal pyramid-shape roofed pavilion,Yi Liang Ting（Good for Both Families Pavilion,宜两亭,Page 137）.The beautiful reflections of both buildings in the water form a perfect scene pairing.

Another scene pairing of similar type can be found to the west of the twin hall.In this case,on the south is the pavilion Ta Ying Ting（Pagoda Reflection Pavilion,塔影亭,Page 149）while on the north is the building Liu Ting Ge（Stay and Listen Pavilion,留听阁,Page 148）.Both sets of building and pavilion pairs are astride a narrow body of water.The exterior shapes of the two pairs are extremely similar although the latter pair is located on lower ground than the former.

When the west section was split off from the garden,a new entrance was opened at the south side of the Pagoda Reflection Pavilion,which serves also as a passage to Zhang residence.

The east side of the garden has long since fallen to disrepair.Its rebuilding is being planned,and will not be discussed here.（Note by Translator:The east section has been rebuilt and opened to public.Indeed,the entrance to the garden is now in the east section.）

The Lingering Garden is located on Lingering Garden Road just outside of city gate Chang（阊门）.It was originally known as East Garden of Xu Taishi（徐泰时）during the Ming dynasty.During the reign of Emperor Jia Qing（嘉庆）of the Qing dynasty（circa 1800AD）this garden was rebuilt by Liu Shu（刘恕）.It was called Han Bi Shan Zhuang（寒碧山庄）at this time,but was commonly known as the Garden of Liu.There were twelve rockery peaks in this garden which were crafted from the best lake stones found in the Tai Hu Lake（太湖）.This garden then became the possession of Sheng Kang（盛康）in 2nd year of Emperor Gaung Xu’s reign（光绪,1876 AD）and renamed as Lingering Garden.Occupying an area of fifty Mu,it is the largest garden in Suzhou（Page 325）.

This garden is divided into four parts,i.e.center,east,west,and north in light of their respective locations.The center section consists of a large pond surrounded by hills,rockeries,and buildings,which are stringed together by a series of verandas and bridges.The east section features its variety of buildings.In this part large and magnificent halls are accentuated by small studies and lined by rugged rockeries,resulting in a layout full of variation.The west section is mainly a man-made hill covered by a maple tree grove and dotted with a few pavilions.The south side of the hill is ringed by water to imitate Tao Yuanof Wu Ling of the Jing dynasty（晋人武陵桃源）.This section is partitioned from the center section by an undulating wall.The red leaves poking above the pale white walls look like red clouds sailing from distant sky.It forms the best borrowing scene（借景）in the center section.The structures currently found in the north part are all recent reconstruction.These buildings lack character in design.This section will not be discussed in detail.

Center Section:Entering the garden’s front gate and passing through two small courtyards,one arrives at Lu Ying（Green Shade Pavilion,绿荫,Page 155）.Through the tracery windows on the north side,one has a dim view of the hills and buildings in the garden.Going westward one reaches the main building of the center section,Han Bi Shan Fang（Hanbi（Be imbued with the green）Mountain Villa 涵碧山房,Page 157）.This is a three bays wide building,with a gabled roof with flushing purlins（硬山造）.On its south side is a small courtyard with a peony flower bed in the center while on its north side is a terrace bordering a lotus pond.Abutting against the Villa on the east is Ming Se Lou（Pellucid Tower,明瑟楼,Page 159）.This is an ornate two storey building with a single sided gable-on-hip roof（单面歇山顶,Page 333,upper）.The second story can be reached via a scaling stair.

Continuing west from the Hanbi Mountain Villa and climbing up a veranda,one ascends to Wen Mu Xi Xiang Xuan（Osmanthus Fragrance Pavilion,闻木樨香轩,Page 163）.This location affords a panoramic view of the center section and the surrounding areas.On the east side there is a spectacular array of buildings such as Qu Xi Lou（Winding Stream Tower,曲谿楼）,Xi Lou（Western Tower,西楼）,Qing Feng Chi Guan（Refreshing Breeze Pavilion by the Lake,清风池馆）,Ji Gu De Geng Chu（Study of Enlightenment,汲古得绠处）and Yuan Cui Ge（Distant Green Tower,远翠阁）.These buildings,high or low and nestling among or snuggling against trees and rocks,enhance each other’s beauty like a charm.

On the south side of the Osmanthus Fragrance Pavilion,pavilions and towers adjoin verandas and latticed window walls one after another along the water.The Pellucid Tower juts out to the water slightly,while the north terrace of the Hanbi Mountain Villa protrudes into the pond even further.This layeredarrangement seems embosoming the water in the center and leaves a beautiful reflection of scene in the lucid pond.

The veranda north of the Osmanthus Fragrance Pavilion turns eastward at the north end of the garden and leads to the Distant Green Tower located in the northeast corner of the center section（Page 169）.This tower serves the same purpose as the Mountain-In-View Tower in the Humble Administrator’s Garden,though this building sits on land while the other by the water.Being located next to the east section of the garden and separated only by a wall adorned with latticed windows,the Distant Green Tower provides the east section with a magnificent borrowed scene（Page 168）.

Standing in the middle of the water is Xiao Peng Lai（Small Fairy Isle,小蓬莱）,with Hao Pu Ting（Hao Pu Pavilion,濠濮亭,Page 169）across the pond.Both of them are at the water level,which provides a significant contrast in height to the nearby hills and towers.The west wall of ground floor of the Winding Stream Tower is lined with brick-framed tracery windows（Page 170）.Picturesque views through these widows keep varying while walking along the wall,creating fantastic and kaleidoscopic sceneries.In particular,when autumn comes,dark red maple leaves on the hill of the west section ebb and flow behind the undulating wall,making everyone thrilled.

Returning to Pellucid Tower and looking north,the hexagon shaped pavilion Ke Ting（Passable Pavilion,可亭,Page 162）stands atop the hill across the lotus pond,with the long veranda leading towards the Distant Green Tower at the back（Page 166）.

East Section:There are two major buildings in the east section.The first building is Wu Feng Xian Guan（Celestial Hall of Five Peaks,五峰仙馆,or Hall of Nanmu,Page 173）.This is a five bay wide hall with a gable roof with flushing purlins（硬山造）.The interior decoration of this building is especially delicate and ornate（Page 174）.It is one of the best old style halls in the region Southof-Yangtze.The courtyards on all four sides vary in size.There are rockeries in both the front and the back courtyards,which makes one feel as if he is facing cliffs when sitting in the hall.This design was not appreciated by Ji Chen of the Ming dynasty.He noted in the book Yuan Ye（Craft of Gardens,园冶）that“everybody wants to build rockeries in front of a hall.Having three high peaks stand and line up in a limited courtyard is funny indeed.”　In the Celestial Hall of Five Peaks,there are five rockeries in the front yard,making the court look overly crowded and devoid of lively interest.Under these conditions Ji Chen said also that one should“either put only small and exquisite rockeries amongst fine trees,or embed the rockeries within the wall,or plant some ivy or grass atop rockeries,in order to enhance perception of depth.”　This would be a more viable design practice in my own opinion.In the backyard,there is a limpid spring in front of the rockery,which provides an extremely quiet environment.It is unfortunate the spring has lost its source,and become intermittent.A veranda runs along the walls of this backyard.This veranda can lead to various directions and hence might disorient a person arriving at this point for the first time.The Distant Green Tower is clearly visible when looking left from this backyard.The yonder pavilion further demonstrates spaciousness of the garden（Page 168）.

The building Ji Gu De Geng Chu（Study of Enlightenment,汲古得绠处）is a one bay room adjacent to the Celestial Hall of Five Peaks.This structure has open void on all four walls,which provides a view of the sceneries in the center section.A flourishing umbrella shaped Chinese parasol tree stands erect in its courtyard adjoining the Celestial Hall of Five Peaks.This is a case of ingenious treatment of small space in design.

The buildings Huan Wo Do Shu Chu（The Return-to-Read Study,还我读书处）and Yi Feng Xuan（The Worshipping Stone Pavilion,揖峰轩）are both small courts on the east side of the Celestial Hall of Five Peaks.These two buildings serve as a transition in the space between the Celestial Hall of Five Peaks and Lin Quan Qi Shuo Zhi Guan（The Old Hermit Scholars’ Hall,林泉耆硕之馆）.Here one can observe the full applications of small court design（Page 178-183）.These small courts are surrounded by verandas and separated by hollow walls with brick framed windows.Inside the courts are arrayed fine trees accompanied with slender bamboos,as well as day lilies around slabs of rockery.All things here are well matched in size and in space,making the layout of the courts neat and tidy.One draws a lot of fun and enjoyment from these still objects and is often reluctant to depart.

The building east of the Worshipping Stone Pavilion is the second major building in the east section,the Old Hermit Scholars’ Hall（林泉耆硕之馆）.The decoration in this building is extremely elaborate and rich（Page 184）.It is a five bay wide twin hall with a single eave gable-on-hip roof at exterior and two separate arc ceilings for each hall in the interior（Page 349 and 350）.The main hall faces north.Its main beam is made of flat wood decorated with carved patterns.In the south hall,the main beam is a round lumber without any carved decoration.

The north hall of the Old Hermit Scholars’ Hall faces Huan Yun Zhao（The Cloud Bathing Pond,浣云沼）as well as Guan Yun Ting（The Cloud-Capped Pavilion,冠云亭）and Guan Yun Lou（The Cloud-Capped Tower,冠云楼）.Here stand the three most famous rockeries in Suzhou:Guan Yun Feng（The Cloud-Capped Peak,冠云峰,Page 185）,Xiu Yun Feng（The Mountainous Cloud Peak,岫云峰,Page 190 Lower）,and Rui Yun Feng（The Auspicious Cloud Peak,瑞云峰,Page 191）.These three peaks are a part of the original design of the Ming dynasty.They are the largest lake rockeries ever found in Suzhou.

The Cloud-Capped Pavilion is a hexagonal shaped pavilion located on the side of the Cloud-Capped Peak（Page 185 and 187）.There are magnolia trees planted around the Pavilion.By climbing a scaling stair at north side of the Pavilion,one ascends to the Cloud-Capped Tower.At this place one enjoys an open view beyond the garden.The vast cultivated fields crisscrossed with footpaths and the dimly-visible pagoda image of distant Hu Qiu（The Tiger Hill）,all come in sight at the window.

The buildings Zhu Yun An（The Standing Cloud Hut,伫云庵）and Guan Yun Tai（Cloud-Capped Terrace,冠云台）are located on the east and the west sides of the Cloud Bathing Pond,respectively.The Jia Qing Xi Yu Kuai Xue Zhi Ting（The Good-For-Farming Pavilion,佳晴喜雨快雪之亭）is accessible from the Cloud-Capped Terrace through a moon gate.In the Good-For-Farming Pavilion,there is a six-piece Nanmu screen.The carving on the wood screen,rendered extremely intricate,is among the best decorations found in the Central Wu region（Page 192）.Regrettably,the pavilion faces west,and so damages to this screen caused by weather and the sun cannot be avoided.

The southwest corner of the east section is an area of new creation,arrayed with some featureless rockeries,which cannot be compared with the structure of the original garden.

West Section:The west section looks like what remained of the East Garden constructed during the Ming dynasty.The hill is built by compacting earth and placing rocks at selected locations.This is just like the old technique summarized by Li Yu（李渔）as“small hill is built with rocks,while large hill with soil.”　As a result the large grove of maple trees growing on the hill receives sufficient nutrients from the earthen hill.

There are two pavilions situated within the maple grove.One is Shu Xiao Ting（The Free Roaring Pavilion,舒啸亭,Page 193）which has a tapered cone shape roof.The other pavilion is the hexagonal shaped Zhi Le Ting（The Delightful Pavilion,至乐亭,Page 194）.This pavilion is a transformation based on the Imperial Stela Pavilion（御碑亭）found at Fan’s Ancestral Temple（范祠）at the Tian Ping Mountain（天平山）.The Free Roaring Pavilion crouches amongst the maple trees.The Delightful Pavilion snuggles on the northwest slope of the hill.The two pavilions are within sight of each other.

The south side of the hill is surrounded by a clear creek flowing in the shade of peach and willow trees growing along the banks.The original purpose of these arrangements is to create an out of the world environment.But it seems too artificial to be real here.It is not easy to make a man-made scenery to outshine a natural one,especially in a garden.

At the end of the creek is Huo Po Po Di（The Place of Liveliness,活泼泼地,Page 197）.There is a pavilion built astride the water.The creek enters and submerges beneath the pavilion,which creates an illusion that the creek flows onwards.However,the rockeries in this area have lost most of their original outlook after various additions and repairs over the years.

North Section:The original structures in the north section have all been destroyed.And the new buildings in this section do not have any outstanding features.