The Great Chinese Gardens

The Great Chinese Gardens Synopsis

Gardens designed for refined pleasure and spiritual relaxation were first perfected in ancient China. Western travellers from Marco Polo onwards saw them and marvelled at their intricacy, their elaborate construction, their nuanced design, and their careful use of plants, water, and natural materials. Yet for many centuries, Westerners found them hard to understand and could not use the skills and concepts reflected in them. The Great Chinese Gardens captures the visual splendour of China's finest gardens through stunning original photography and full text. The author is Fang Xiaofeng, professor at the Academy of Arts & Design of Tsinghua University and Editor-in-Chief of the magazine Decor. This book will edify gardeners, architects and designers as they gain a deeper understanding of China's garden heritage and maybe even inspiration to create their own dramatic effects.