Suzhou is China's well-known“city of gardens”, which tops all other cities in both the number and the artistry of gardens. Suzhou's art of gardening has undergone a history of 1,500 years. The Ming and Qing Dynasties between the 14th and 20th century were its prime periods of garden building. At one time there were more than 200 private gardens in the city. A lot of them are still preserved in good condition today. The unique charm of these gardens has led to their entry into the list of World Cultural Heritage in 1997.
苏州是中国著名的“园林城市（city of gardens）”，在园林数量和艺术性上都远胜于其他城市。苏州的园林艺术有1500年的历史。14世纪到20世纪之间的明清时期是其园林建筑的黄金时期。这座城市里曾经有超过200家私人园林。它们中的一些今天仍然保存良好。这些园林的独特魅力使它们在1997年被列入世界文化遗产名录（the list of World Cultural Heritage）。
