Gardens in the City of Suzhou 12. The Master of Nets Garden While many rich officials and merchants built gardens simply to entertain, the more scholarly and poetic among the rich wanted to create contemplative retreats. The most perfect of these retreats, is Wang Shi Yuan, the Master of Nets Garden, a masterpiece of landscape compression. Founded by a retired politician, who claimed he had given up public life to become a fisherman, it covers barely more than one acre. Smallest of all Suzhou's gardens, it is situated right in the center of town. ⇦ Back to Page 11 On to Page 13 ⇨Hi-Res Pic (233K) Back to Suzhou - Page 2 |