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Classical Gardens of Suzhou

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China
Date of Inscription: 1997
Extension: 2000
Criteria: (i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)
Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province
N31 19 36.2 E120 37 32.3
Ref: 813bis

Brief Description

Classical Chinese garden design, which seeks to recreate natural landscapes in miniature, is nowhere better illustrated than in the nine gardens in the historic city of Suzhou. They are generally acknowledged to be masterpieces of the genre. Dating from the 11th-19th century, the gardens reflect the profound metaphysical importance of natural beauty in Chinese culture in their meticulous design.

Justification for Inscription

The Committee decided to inscribe this property on the basis of criteria (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) and (v), considering that the four classical gardens of Suzhou are masterpieces of Chinese landscape garden design in which art, nature, and ideas are integrated perfectly to create ensembles of great beauty and peaceful harmony, and four gardens are integral to the entire historic urban plan.

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