苏州市园林和绿化管理局 - Suzhou Gardens and Landscaping Administration Bureau

Public horticulture is a term that is often hard to define - it often varies depending on who you ask. However, in the U.S. and many other countries more and more types of horticulture are being recognized as part of the public horticulture profession. For example, in addition to the traditional institutions such as botanical gardens and parks, places such as cemeteries, zoos, golf courses, hotels, and even amusement parks are increasingly considered to be important sites of public horticulture, due to their quality of display, seasonal changes, and visitation resulting from their horticultural efforts. Therefore, in addition to the many botanical gardens I visited in China, I wanted to be sure to meet with those responsible for the preservation and care of the beautiful and highly visited gardens in Suzhou.


My contacts in Shanghai graciously helped to arrange a meeting for me at the Suzhou Gardens and Landscaping Administration Bureau. I had the opportunity to meet with the Deputy Director, Mr. YANG Hui, and several members of his staff regarding the exchange program I am proposing. I was also able to learn more about the incredible work the bureau does in preserving not merely the physical spaces of the gardens, but specifically in preserving the intended aesthetic of the gardens. Mr. Yang believed that the type of exchange program I am proposing would prove beneficial to his staff and had several important suggestions regarding its structure. He explained that they already have received individuals from abroad to study at the gardens under his jurisdiction and those experiences could definitely yield additional insights regarding this matter.



As you can see from the slide show above, the headquarters for the bureau was quite beautiful on its own right.