Things you might not know about China: Chinese gardens rock!

Rocks are a prominent feature in Chinese gardens. In fact, they are often the focus, as you can see in the following photos. Since I love rocks, I'm always fascinated by how many ways they can be used to create interest and texture in a garden. I love Chinese gardens!

















Emma and John on rock outcroppings at the Garden of the Master of the Nets.

















Pathways are always made out of a mosaic of rock, often in intricate patterns, as seen at the Lion Grove Garden






















Rocks from Tai Hu (Tai Lake) are used in the gardens of Suzhou as architecture, as in the labyrinths of Lion Grove Garden, above, and as sculpture, as seen below at the Humble Administrator's Garden.






































Rocks are often cut and framed, their patterns forming a picture. Usually they look like mountains or rivers. This one looks like a river and village to me. I've seen similar rock pictures for sale, and this is one of the main things I would like to aquire here in China.






















This rock specimen has a specially designed stand, which mimics the size and shape of the rock itself. So incredibly beautiful!






















Gardens often use Tai Hu rocks as "bricks" to form tunnels, viewing platforms, and pathways. Here Emma stands at the entrance of a tunnel at the Lion's Grove Garden.



The following are examples of rocks used to create a mountain scene. Notice how much the scale varies. Some even have soil and small plants between the rocks to complete the effect. The first pictures are of rock scenes at Tiger Hill. The last is a modern variation of a mountain scene, located at the Suzhou Museum, designed by I.M. Pei (more on this building in a later post).