Suzhou garden shines at Global Leaders' Meeting on Women
A 3,000-square-metre “Suzhou Garden” made a stunning debut during the Global Leaders' Meeting on Women, held at the China National Convention Center in Beijing from October 13 to 14.
The garden was created over two years by a team specializing in the Classical Gardens of Suzhou using the Xiangshan Bang traditional architectural craftsmanship, recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage. The project seamlessly integrated the classical garden artistry with modern construction technology. Notably, from timber joinery and clay sculpture to rock formations, waterfalls, and stone pavements, every detail was crafted entirely by hand using traditional methods.
The garden also served as a living museum of intangible heritage. Its flooring was paved with imperial bricks produced through over ten traditional processes such as clay selection, air-drying and kiln-firing. The stone bridges and balustrades were hand-carved by masters of Jinshan stone sculpture, while the interior featured Ming-style rosewood furniture meticulously crafted by skilled artisans. The lantern shades were made using the exquisite Suzhou embroidery technique.