Living in a classical garden in Suzhou is a kind of Chinese romance

There is a city with Chinese romance, and I am talking about Suzhou. Every visit to Suzhou brings a new experience, and each garden has its own unique scenery and cultural depth. This time, I visited a Chinese-style hotel hidden in the old town district. This ancient residence is a private courtyard home located next to the Beisi Pagoda in Jingwen Lane, built during the Qianlong era. It was the old house of the architectural master I.M. Pei's uncle, called 'Jia Yuan'. Later, it was reborn through the renovation by Japanese designer Shuhei Aoyama, turning into the current garden hotel. Each window frames a view, integrating mountains and waters into the garden. Although there is no play of light and shadow, under the gentle drizzle and the wind, the natural rhythm of the rain hitting the banana leaves can be slowly appreciated here. The interior is designed with Japanese Zen style, blending with the Chinese elegance of the garden. Walking through the courtyard, corridors, pavilions, and waterside pavilions, one can feel the classical charm of the Jiangnan region. In the afternoon, sitting in the tea room with friends, sipping tea while watching the leaves in the courtyard slowly fall, it feels as if the four seasons are passing by before your eyes. Time seems to pause at your fingertips, looking up at the greenery, with the mountains and waters faintly in sight, infusing the spring of Jiangnan.