This is the eldest of the Suzhou gardens preserved today. It occupies an area of 1.1 hectares,and was built during the Northern Song’s Qingli period (1044 A.D.). The poet Su Shunqin was dismissed from office, and came to Suzhou because he felt that the location of the planned garden had fresh air, quietute and natural streams. He spent 40,000 units of old style money to buy the location, and started to build the garden next to the water. He called it the Surging Waves Pavilion ; it went through both splendour and decay several times, but was restored during the 35th year of the Kangxi period of the Qing dynasty (1696 A.D.). At that time its location was moved into the fields; terraces, corridors and other buildings were constructed. Next to the pond a stone bridge was built forming the entrance. This is the basic foundation of the garden in its present stage.
The Surging Waves Pavilion is simple and unsophisticated,quiet and secluded, and among Suzhou gardens, it has its own style. Most Suzhou gardens are surrounded by a high wall, with hills and pools. But the
Surging Waves Pavilion is situated next to a big pond, and the water streaming from this pond surronds half the garden and departs from the south. Adjacent to the water are winding corridors, rockeries and old trees. This type of layout mixes views from outside and inside the garden, and borrows the water surface of 2-2.7 hectares in order to expand its space, giving a feeling of remoteness and spaciousness. Next to the water are mountains and rocks; behind these are trees, then more mountains and rocks-unending, but gradually diminishing; expressing forceful, deep, simple and unsophisticated feelings.
The Surging Waves Pavilion offers beautiful views in all seasons for enjoyment. During springtime one can sit on the green grass and enjoy the bamboo; during summertime one can sit in pavilions and enjoy the lotus blossoms; during the autum one can sit in a studio and smell the fragrance of sweet-scented osmanthus; in the winter one can sit in a room and enjoy the plum blossoms. Rockeries, flower-covered walls and tablets add much beauty to this ancient garden.
