Suzhou is a famous historical and cultural city and is the national key scenic tourist city. With its natural treasures and outstanding people, Suzhou was praised as "garden city" since the ancient times, and enjoys a good reputation both at home and abroad. The history of Suzhou Classical Gardens stretching more than 2000 years and has its unique historical position and value in the world history of gardening. 

The landscape gardens of Suzhou flourished in the mid-Ming to early-Qing dynasties, resulting in as much as 200 private gardens. Today, there are 69 preserved gardens in Suzhou, and all of them are designated as protected "National Heritage Sites." In 1997 and 2000, eight of the finest gardens in Suzhou were selected by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site to represent the art of Suzhou-style classical gardens.