Discovering Chinese Gardens

Anyone traveling to a city in China will almost certainly have the opportunity to visit a yuán (a garden). At this point you may already be wondering: why go all the way to China to see a garden? They exist all over the world, even in Europe, right? In reality, yuán, classic Chinese gardens, are a fundamental element of local culture and have very little to do with the European concept of a garden.

By Alessandra Ivaldi / 21.08.2026

I must confess that one of the first questions I asked myself during my first trip to China was this: how can you live without going crazy in such chaotic megalopolises, where unimaginable numbers of inhabitants have to live together in confined spaces and at a frenetic pace? The idea of spending a lifetime in cities as large as entire European regions, but much more populated, initially seemed to me a nightmare come true. Now, however, I can say that I have found some answers to that initial question. Among the various strategies that can be developed to adapt to the seemingly inhuman environment of a megalopolis, we can find fundamental help precisely in the aforementioned yuán.

Let’s clarify one significant detail right away: yuán, even the smallest, are gardens of impressive size for a European, accustomed to the spaces of our cities, which have nothing to do with Asian megalopolises. If you enter a Chinese garden with the intention of “visiting it from top to bottom”, then be prepared to spend several hours inside. And maybe even prepare for a possible final surrender, as you are about to face a huge maze!

Every Chinese city has multiple gardens within it and it certainly doesn’t take a scientist to understand the obvious benefits of large green spaces, which disrupt the grey, oppressive landscape of skyscrapers and scorching asphalt and purify the air poisoned by exhaust fumes, at least partially refreshing the city atmosphere.

The primary function of the yuán in modern megalopolises is precisely to give their inhabitants a place to breathe freely, stroll or sit among the greenery and simply let their time pass, contemplating the beauty of the garden, finding a place suitable for reflection and temporarily forgetting the worries of everyday life.

A glimpse into Lord Bao's garden in Hefei

Yuán boast very ancient origins. The first Chinese gardens are thought to have been built more than 3000 years ago, perhaps under the Shang Dynasty, which reigned in China between 1600 and 1046 BC. Initially, they were private property of the emperor and his family members. They represented places of pleasure and at the same time a spectacular status symbol, clear evidence of the well-being and wealth of the imperial family. Later, the yuán fashion spread and other social groups also began to build their own private gardens. Of course, we are always talking about very wealthy individuals: imperial governors and officials, intellectuals and merchants. It was realized very early on what importance a garden could have in the lives of its owners. The family gathered there to rest, sip tea in peace or invite prestigious guests, also organizing shows and games. It is no coincidence that classic Chinese gardens are divided into very distinct spaces, each dedicated to a specific activity and organized according to aesthetic but also practical canons.

For a European, the first visit to a Chinese garden can be a wonderful experience, but also a little disconcerting. You feel like you’re admiring something beautiful and at the same time you’re not able to fully understand it. This is because nothing within the yuán is left to chance. Every element, even the most seemingly insignificant, has its own meaning. It’s like being in front of a huge book full of symbols that you need to learn to read, to fully enjoy the meaning of the final message. Visiting a Chinese garden does not have to be a passive experience. The visitor is called to exercise his or her reflection skills and meditate on everything around him or her, in order to create not only physical but also intellectual “contact” with the yuán.

Picture of the Yuyuán in Shanghai

But now let’s analyse in more detail the various components of a yuán. European gardens are based on precise aesthetic canons linked to principles of balance and symmetry. Forget about finding the same principles in a Chinese garden. Yuán must not follow rules of symmetry, because the surprise factor is fundamental within it. We could say that a Chinese garden must present a series of “scenes”. The visitor clearly perceives himself moving between scenes as he proceeds along a winding path, crosses a bridge or emerges from a cave. The landscape varies continuously, gradually revealing itself to the viewer. Each element is designed to make its dramatic appearance at a specific moment in the visit: at the turn of a path, on the shore of a lake, through a door or window… To fully enjoy such beauty, the visitor must be curious and not afraid to venture into exploring the garden.

Often the visitor finds himself at a crossroads and is forced to make a choice: in which direction should the visit continue? What lies at the end of one street or the other? And at the end of the visit, you will invariably have the feeling of having just gone through a huge maze. “Will I have seen everything?” one will ask oneself. But why create such a twisted environment? Because yuán represents a specific vision of life, in which the individual must necessarily play an active role and make decisions at every crossroads in his or her journey. He can never know what he has missed, for better or worse, by choosing one path over another.

I mentioned earlier the presence of lakes and bridges. This is because water is an indispensable component within Chinese gardens. There is no yuán that does not have a lake inside it. Sometimes they are even navigable. The lake’s waters are often covered with large green leaves, among which wonderful lotus flowers or water lilies emerge. Along its shores are strategically placed traditional pavilions, erected in airy and silent places, offering visitors evocative views.

Pavilions are not the only architectural element present, because the principle of balance between nature and man is very important for the construction of a Chinese garden. Inside a yuán natural and artificial beauty must merge together. Therefore, in addition to the pavilions, the visitor will certainly find halls, galleries, towers, kiosks and even temples and museums. It is impossible to describe the emotion you feel when, perhaps emerging from a bamboo forest or wandering around a rocky complex, you suddenly find yourself facing a temple with an ancient and solemn appearance, richly adorned with gold decorations and coloured lacquers.

The "appearance" of a spectacular Buddhist temple inside Hefei's Huiyuán Garden

Connecting the various parts of the garden are numerous bridges, which can be arched or zigzag-shaped. The latter are often located at the entrances to teahouses, pavilions or temples. These are places whose access, according to tradition, would require a certain purity and protection from evil energies. In the past, it was believed that the twisted path of zigzag bridges was an impenetrable defence against evil spirits, since they can only proceed in a straight line and are unable to make angles (and therefore cross a zigzag bridge). However, this type of structure also has a second function. The visitor crossing the bridge in a zigzag pattern cannot reach their destination directly, because they are forced to move slowly, following a path dotted with sharp corners. A straight line, on the other hand, is quick to walk and leaves no time for reflection and meditation. The zigzag shape forces you to slow down, take a breath and reflect before each step. It causes perspective to mutate after every corner, offering the viewer always new points of view. Crossing a zigzag bridge means accepting a fragmented, constantly changing vision of the world… In short, it is yet another life lesson that the yuán intends to pass on to its most attentive visitors.

A zigzag bridge in Lord Bao's garden in Hefei

If you then expect to find traditional European statues inside a Chinese garden, then you will be disappointed. Chinese visitors appreciate the presence of rocks much more. Yuán are filled with rocks, either single or placed within convoluted complexes, reproducing caves or mountain ranges. The most beautiful rocks can also be placed inside a pavilion, sheltered from the elements. The most popular “examples” are porous rocks, which have numerous erosion holes and particularly twisted shapes. The Chinese predilection for rocks appears to be linked to ancient religious beliefs. Since ancient times certain mountains have been venerated in China and were considered the homes of immortals. Rocks, which represent miniature mountains, are linked to the religious world and also symbolize ideals of stability and resistance.

Obviously, no garden can exist without the plant component. Plants are the vital element of yuán, constantly evolving and contrasting with the static nature of rocks and buildings. Again, every tree or flower growing within the garden embodies a precise symbolic meaning.

Today Chinese gardens are visited every day by tourists and ordinary citizens eager to enjoy a quiet break from the daily routine. Families can gather under the pavilions, enjoy the cool and the time together. Many people carry musical instruments with them and play freely between the green vegetation and the blue of the lake. Some sing and some dance, especially in the evening, when after work, people gather at specific points in the yuán and all exercise together to the rhythm of the music. It is not important for the participants to get to know each other. Each one is welcome. It is not just about exercising, healthy for the individual, but also about nurturing that sense of community that would otherwise be nearly impossible to achieve within frenetic megalopolises.

There are Chinese gardens that are very famous all over the world, such as the Shanghai Yuyuán (which I talked about in a previous article of mine) and the Classical Gardens of Suzhou, a beautiful city in Jiangsu province, along the eastern coast of China. However, beyond the most famous locations, every Chinese city has its own yuán and each of them gives the visitor unforgettable experiences. In this regard, tomorrow I will tell you about a series of truly special gardens, but little known among European tourists. Don’t miss my next article!