Humble Administration

China's classic gardens can be divided into two categories: the royal garden such as the Summer Palace in Beijing, or the private garden. Most of Suzhou's classic gardens as its occupation 52,000 sq.meters belong to the latter and the Humble Administration's Garden (Zhuozheng Yuan) covering about 52,000 sq. meters (12.85 acres) is among their best.

Due to its unique designs and ethereal beauty, the garden has garnered many special honors. It was listed as a World Cultural Heritage site and has also been designated as one of the Cultural Relics of National Importance under the Protection of the State as well as a Special Tourist Attraction of China. Along with the Summer Palace in Beijing, the Mountain Resort of Chengde in Hebei Province and the Lingering Garden in Suzhou, it is considered as one of China's four most famous gardens. No other classic garden in the country has been honored more than them.

This garden was built around 1509 AD during the Ming Dynasty by an imperial inspector. He was tired of official life and wanted a garden to retire to. He got the name for the garden from an essay called "To cultivate my garden and sell my vegetable crop is the policy of humble man". And the Humble Administration Garden is the representation of the private garden in the Ming Dynasty.

The graden consists of four parts: the eastern, central, western parts and a dwelling quarter. The dwelling quarter is filled with typical Suzhou architectures which used to be residential houses for the administrator and his family, which now serves as the exhibition halls of the Museum of the Gardens. The eastern part features pine forests and lawns, bamboo groves and flowing water. Many famous attractions here include Orchid Snow Hall, the Celestial spring pavilion, Lotus Flower Waterside Pavilion and much more. In the center part, visitors will find pavilions, mansions, corridors, lush vegetations and willow sheltered ponds. The main attraction in the western part is the 36 Mandarin DucK Hall. Ponds, corridors, terraces also scatter everywhere in this part.