A girl makes a lacquer fan at the Lion Grove Garden in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, Feb. 26, 2025.

Suzhou is known as a city of gardens, with its numerous classical gardens considered some of the most beautiful in the country, and nine of them serving as UNESCO world heritage sites.

Throughout history, the garden design has always been intertwined with Chinese literature and the art of landscape painting.

The protection and restoration of Suzhou's old city and classical gardens have been carried on for decades. The height of buildings in the ancient city is kept below 24 meters so as to preserve historical skylines. Hundreds of ancient buildings and classical gardens have also been effectively protected. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)