Gardens of Suzhou - Garden of the Canglangting Pavilion

The Garden of the Canglangting Pavilion, also situated in the south of the city, is one of the oldest in China. Even in the middle of the 10th C it surrounded a general's villa. A century later a famous poet bought the villa and had a pavilion built in the garden. He gave it the poetic name Pavilion of the Azure Waves. Between the 13th and 14th centuries the estate served as a Buddhist monastery; during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) it reverted to private ownership. Owing to Buddhist influence the two-acre garden offers some features of special interest which distinguish it from other gardens in the city. These include a low surrounding wall with large openings, and a double arcade connecting the inner and outer sections. In the middle of the grounds is an artificial hill on which stands the Pavilion of the Azure Waves.