Humble Administrators Garden

Today was our first full day in Suzhou. Our guide picked us up at 9:30 am from the hotel and we went straight to the Humble Administrators Garden. It was built over 500 years ago by a former court official who had accumulated a huge fortune through corruption. While he was charged with corruption and lost his position, he was allowed to keep his wealth.

The garden is one of the three most famous gardens in China and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Today, there were a lot of Chinese tourists, so it wasn't a peaceful visit to the garden.

There are a variety of pavilions in the garden, each serving a specific purpose (painting, receiving guests, resting, etc.). All the entrances have high thresholds to prevent evil spirits from entering, as they cannot jump high. The bridges in the garden are also designed in a zigzag pattern to deter the spirits, as they can only walk in straight lines.

There is a large section dedicated to bonsai trees, which we learned are a Chinese invention. Each tree has its own dedicated caretaker. This specimen here is over 500 years old.

This vase, standing almost 2 meters tall, is also 500 years old. The glaze still looks brand new.

Every detail in the garden is carefully considered. For example, there are more than 120 windows in the garden wall, each with a unique design. The ground is also adorned with numerous decorations, each with a symbolic meaning. The construction of the garden took 16 years due to the intricate details.