Private gardens south of the Yangtze River are represented by those of Suzhou, Yangzhou, Wuxi, Zhenjiang and Hangzhou.

During the Ming and Qing periods, the feudal culture reached its peak in Suzhou, and the art of garden construction reached maturity. A large number of garden artists appeared, and the practice of garden construction flourished.

Gardens in Suzhou, with their intricacy and precision of design, reflect a mood created from nature but surpassing nature, a mood unique to Chinese culture. Out of these gardens, the Lion Forests, the Humble Administrator’s Garden, the lingering Garden, the Master-of-nets Garden and the Canglang Pavilion have been listed as the World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.

Gardens in Yangzhou were mostly residential gardens, scattered all along streets and alleys in their prime times, and are easily found along suburban river banks.

By the Qianlong Period of the Qing Dynasty, the famous “Slender West Lake” garden area was already formed, with its famous 24 scenes. Yangzhou was the proud owner of more gardens than Suzhou, and was renowned for “having the best of gardens under heaven”.

source: arts.cultural-china.com