留园 - The Lingering Garden

The Lingering Garden (留园), encompassing 2.3 hectares (or a little less than 6 acres) is my favorite garden in Suzhou. I had the opportunity to first visit this garden 2 1/2 years ago during a winter session study abroad trip, but was delighted to have the occasion during the growing season to return to this wonderful garden.



The Lingering Garden, or Liu Yuan, is considered to be the finest example of a traditional scholar's garden in Suzhou and is one of the four most famous gardens in all of China. Originally built in 1593 A.D. by a Ming official named Xu Taishi (徐泰时), it was then called the East Garden (东园). Later falling into disrepair, during the Qing Dynasty the garden was rebuilt by the Liu (刘) family and was commonly known as Liu Yuan, referencing the surname of the family. During the 19th century, when the garden was restored, its name was changed to Liu Yuan (留园) - meaning "The Lingering Garden" which is homophonous to its earlier name. The garden today is famous for its use and successful exploitation of space - garden rooms, flowing transitions between inside and outside, and contrasting scale make the garden feel much larger than it is in reality. I think that the accompanying photographs will convey to you the timeless quality of these concepts as fittingly exhibited at the Lingering Garden.