02 · THE GARDENS OF SUZHOU
The Gardens of Suzhou
Whitewashed walls, grey tile roofs, leak windows and moon gates — a summer walk through the classical gardens of Suzhou, the city of water and scholars.
84 photographs
6 themes
Suzhou · Summer 2026
01 · WHITEWASH AND GREY TILE
Whitewash and Grey Tile
The signature Suzhou palette: lime-white walls capped with dark tile, stepped gables and vine-clad courtyards.
Rooftops Over Wall
Stepped white gable wall with dark tiled roofs behind.
Wall Planter
Tiled ledge on whitewashed wall holding green banana-like plants.
Tree Against White Wall
Leafy tree branches before whitewashed wall, roof tile visible.
Wavy Roof Wall
Serpentine tiled wall with two decorative lattice windows and ivy.
Wall with Three Windows
Wavy tiled wall with three lattice windows and vines.
Pruned Garden Tree
Sculpted evergreen tree against white wall with tiled coping.
Whitewashed Wall Window
White wall with carved lattice window and tile roof above.
Wall Lattice Patterns
Decorative pierced brick patterns along whitewashed wall.
Curved Tiled Eave
Sweeping grey tile roofline against sky above white wall.
02 · LEAK WINDOWS
Leak Windows
Lattice and pierced brick that open views between courtyards — framing borrowed scenery, never all at once.
Lattice Window
Dark wooden lattice window set in white wall.
Honeycomb Lattice Window
White hexagonal honeycomb lattice window in wall.
Shaded Garden Corner
Dark trees and rockery beside white wall with round window.
Perforated Wall Window
White geometric lattice window beside rocks and plants on wall.
Wall with Flowering Vines
White wall with lattice windows covered in red flowers and greenery.
Carved Lattice Window
Close-up of ornate white openwork lattice window with bamboo behind.
Carved Lattice Window
Ornate carved lattice window in white wall.
Stucco Lattice Window
Decorative stucco lattice window framed in white wall.
Square Lattice Window
Square lattice window set in whitewashed wall.
View Through Lattice Door
Dark wooden lattice frame with greenery beyond.
Lattice Window Detail
Geometric lattice window silhouetted against bright sky.
Lattice Pattern Close-Up
Dark lattice window with light shining through openings.
Lattice Door Detail
Dark wooden door with intricate geometric lattice panes.
Glowing Lattice Window
Close-up of wooden latticework window glowing with candlelight.
Pierced Window Pattern
Greenery seen through flower-shaped openwork wall window.
Pierced Window Pattern
Foliage viewed through ornate openwork lattice window.
03 · ROOFS AND EAVES
Roofs and Eaves
Sweeping tile ridges and upturned eave corners, read against sky and foliage.
Roof Behind Foliage
Tiled roof gable hidden among green leaves and tree branch.
Roof and Branches
Similar view of tiled roofline under tree canopy.
Carved Beam Detail
Decorative carved timber bracket on whitewashed wall corner.
Dark Roof Corner
Upturned eave of dark tiled roof under green trees.
Eave Against Sky
Curving tiled roof ridge seen from below with foliage.
Tiled Roof Corner
Grey tiled roof edge above dark wooden lattice windows.
Tiled Roofline Overhanging
Wide grey tiled roof edge against bright white sky.
Wavy Tiles Silhouette
Dark silhouette of rippled roof tiles against pale sky.
Roof Tiles Over Walkway
Dark corrugated tile roof edge above shaded path.
Tile Roof Eave
Close-up of dark curved tile roof ends and ridge.
Walkway Over Roofline
Covered corridor path beside tiled roof, trees and visitors beyond.
Tile Roof Eave
Close-up of dark tiled roof with rounded tile ends.
Pavilion Gable
Ornate dark pavilion gable over rows of curved roof tiles.
Pavilion Rooftops
Ornate dark pavilion gable over tiled roof with trees behind.
Gabled Rooftop
Tiled gable roof peeking above lush green trees.
Dark Eaves Silhouette
Silhouetted upturned eaves against pale sky.
Tiled Roof Ridge
Dark tiled roof ridge against bright sky.
Roofline and Plaque
Tiled roof with small plaque, bright sky above.
Eave Corner
Corner of tiled roof seen against sky.
Roof Ridge Detail
Close-up of curved tiled roof edge with trees behind.
Eave and Pine Branches
Upturned tiled roof corner with tree branches behind.
Roof Eave and Tree
Curved eave corner against tall pine tree.
Roof and Stained Glass
Tiled eave above windows with blue tinted glass panes.
04 · PAVILIONS AND HALLS
Pavilions and Halls
Timber halls and hexagonal pavilions — places to sit, look and linger.
Two-Storey Pavilion
Wooden lattice building with upturned eaves and latticed windows.
Wooden Hall Facade
Dark timber hall with tiled roof and window band.
Courtyard Bonsai Pine
Clipped pine in large pot on paved courtyard beside veranda.
Dark Balcony Windows
Shadowed wooden balcony with lattice window panels above.
Eave Bracket Detail
Dark wooden roof eave and bracket against whitewashed wall.
Courtyard with Pavilion
White pavilion with dark swept roof amid bamboo and plants.
Pavilion Roof Through Trees
Dark traditional pavilion corner with lattice windows above tiled roof.
Hexagonal Pavilion Roof
Dark wooden pavilion with upturned eaves under green trees.
Pavilion Close-Up
Close view of hexagonal pavilion roof and lattice windows.
Two-Storey Pavilion
Tall wooden pavilion rising above dense green foliage.
Pavilion Among Trees
Two-storey pavilion seen through surrounding tree canopy.
Waterside Hall
Wooden lattice-windowed hall beside pond with lotus leaves.
Rock and Roof
Rockery in front of sweeping tiled pavilion roof and trees.
Pavilion Roof
Dark upturned roof of hexagonal pavilion among trees.
Pavilion Among Trees
Hexagonal pavilion with upturned eaves seen from below.
Pavilion Roof Detail
Upturned pavilion roof with finial against sky and trees.
Hexagonal Pavilion
Dark-roofed pavilion with lattice walls beside white wall.
Pavilion with Plaque
Hexagonal pavilion with inscribed plaque under eaves.
Pavilion and Walkway
Tiled pavilion with calligraphy plaque, corridor behind.
Pavilion Over Rockery
Dark pavilion roof rising above bushes and rocks.
Pavilion Behind Tree
Tiled pavilion roof and lattice wall behind pine branches.
05 · WATER AND ROCKERY
Water and Rockery
Ponds, scholar's rocks and stone pagodas — mountains and rivers in miniature.
Rockery Stones
Weathered grey scholar rocks with plants growing among them.
Garden Rocks by Wall
Dark rockery and plants beside white wall with lattice windows.
Stone Pagoda in Pond
Small carved stone pagoda standing in green pond water.
Pagoda Reflection
Small stone pagoda reflected in green pond water.
Covered Walkway
White-walled covered corridor with latticed windows and rocks.
Corridor Exterior
White corridor wall with lattice windows above rockery.
Wavy Roofed Corridor
Undulating tiled corridor roof over white wall and rocks.
Pond Pagoda Ornament
Small stone pagoda in pond among rocks and greenery.
Stone Pagoda and Rockery
Stone pagoda rising from pond beside rockery and white wall.
06 · GATES AND THRESHOLDS
Gates and Thresholds
Moon gates and carved brick entrances that stage each arrival, and each return.
Ornate Doorway
Decorative tiled lintel above carved wooden doors.
Round Moon Gate
Visitor with red bag walking through circular moon gateway.
Moon Gate, Closer
Same moon gate seen closer, person inside garden visible.
Stone Gate Entrance
Grey brick gate with tiled roof and carved panels.
Brick Gate Facade
Ornate grey brick gate with inscribed plaque above entry.
Gate with Plaque
Grey brick gateway topped by inscription plaque and roof.