As representatives of ancient Chinese gardens, the Humble Administrator's Garden and the Lingering Garden in Suzhou are both tourist attractions not to be missed. Although they are both representatives of Suzhou gardens, there are still some differences between them. So, what are the differences between the Humble Administrator’s Garden and the Lingering Garden? Which one is more worth visiting? In this article, we will reveal the answer for you.

1. Historical background

The Humble Administrator's Garden was built during the Qianlong period of the Ming Dynasty by Wang Xifeng, the prefect of Suzhou at the time. The Liuyuan Garden was built by Yu Jingpu during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty. The construction time of the two gardens is not much different, but the construction background is different. The Humble Administrator's Garden was built by Wang Xifeng to celebrate his mother's birthday, while the Lingering Garden was built by Yu Jingpu in memory of his father. Therefore, the construction background and original intention of the two gardens are also different.

2. Garden area

The Humble Administrator’s Garden covers an area of ​​approximately 5.2 hectares, while the Liuyuan Garden covers an area of ​​approximately 3.3 hectares. In terms of area, the Humble Administrator's Garden is larger than the Lingering Garden.

3. Garden style

The style of the Humble Administrator's Garden is characterized by "original architecture with different scenery throughout the seasons", focusing on the diversity of garden landscapes and the uniqueness of the architecture. The Liuyuan Garden takes "beautiful mountains and rivers and natural harmony" as its main characteristics, focusing on the naturalness and harmony of the garden landscape. Therefore, the styles of the two gardens are also different.

4. Garden layout

The layout of the Humble Administrator's Garden is mainly characterized by "two mountains on the east and west, and a pool in the middle". The garden is divided into east and west parts, with a pool in the middle. The Liuyuan Garden is mainly characterized by "one garden, two areas, three mountains and five gardens", which divides the garden into two areas, namely the garden and the landscape garden. Therefore, the layout of the two gardens is also different.

5. Garden Characteristics

The characteristics of the Humble Administrator’s Garden lie in its exquisite architecture and diverse landscapes, including pavilions, terraces, towers, pavilions, corridors, halls and other buildings, as well as flowers and trees. , water features, rockeries and other landscapes. The Liuyuan Garden is famous for its exquisite landscape gardens and exquisite garden architecture, including rockeries, water features, buildings, etc. Therefore, the characteristics of the two gardens are also different.

6. Tour experience

Both gardens are representatives of Suzhou gardens, and both have unique tour experiences. The tour experience of the Humble Administrator's Garden focuses more on the appreciation of architecture and landscape, while the tour experience of the Lingering Garden focuses more on the experience of landscape gardens. Therefore, tourists can choose tours based on their interests and preferences.

7. Summary

Both the Humble Administrator’s Garden and the Liuyuan Garden are representatives of Suzhou gardens. There are some differences between the two gardens. The buildings and landscapes of the Humble Administrator's Garden are more exquisite and diverse, while the Lingering Garden pays more attention to the natural harmony of landscape gardens. Visitors can choose tours based on their interests and preferences. No matter which one you choose, you can feel the unique charm of Suzhou gardens.