In Chinese culture, gardens play an important cultural role, and are just as important as any other part of the house. They are a place in which residents can spend a quiet day, away from everything else. Chinese gardens are a place for man to "contemplate nature", and often include the use of garden statues, such as this piece: "Dreaming of the Tiger."
Yuyuan Garden, a koi pond. Most Chinese gardens incorporate water, either moving or still. Usually, they would have a pond, and perhaps a few off-shooting streams, home to a variety of fish, such as carp or goldfish. Sometimes they would be home to a few mandarin ducks. The water has a calming effect that boosts that feeling of serenity the gardens are made for.
This is the Hangzhou Pagoda Bridge, a lovely complement to the surrounding natural beauty of this place.
This is the former house of Hu Xueyan in Hangzhou. It was built in 1872 and utilizes Taihu rocks which represent both wisdom and immortality.
Pavilions and pagodas are a common sight in Chinese gardens, such as this lovely garden - the Jichang Yuan garden.
Mountains possess a magical quality in Chinese culture, and the rocks in the Chinese garden often represent mountains. This is Flower Basket Hall in the Lion Forest Garden.
The imperial gardens at the Summer Palace.
An incredible bonsai forest - Yunyan Ta China.
Li garden, an old classic Chinese garden with a pavilion.
West Lake, Hangzhou, China.
Beautiful Yuyuan Garden, in the old city of Shanghai, is seen by many as one of the most stunning and lavish gardens of the region. The garden was reportedly first created in 1559 as a private garden created by Pan Yunduan, who spent almost 20 years building a garden to please his father.
An entrance to Yuyuan Gardens.
Another stunning photo of Yuyuan Gardens. In reality, this garden would probably be filled with visitors who come to enjoy the colors and beauty it is adorned with.
A classic piece in Chinese gardens is the curved bridge, as captured here.
Right beneath Yu Long Snow Mountain, rises Helong Tan Park, seen here on a clear, beautiful morning.
