China Stamps - 2003-11, Scott 3286 Suzhou Gardens, the Master-of-Nets Garden - MNH, F-VF - (93286)

China Stamps - 2003-11, Scott 3286 Suzhou Gardens, the Master-of-Nets Garden - MNH, F-VF : The Master-of-Nets Garden is a famed classical Chinese garden on Shiquan Street by Fengmen Gate in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province. It was originally Shi Zhengzhi's Hall of Ten Thousand Volumes during the Southern Song Dynasty, known as "Fisherman's Retreat", and later abandoned. It was reconstructed during the reign of Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty, and renamed the Master-of-Nets Garden to imply "fisherman's retreat". This ancient and well-preserved private garden is divided into residences in the east and a garden in the west. The two parts are harmoniously united to express an integral whole. The wooden buildings, doors, windows, and partition boards were all crafted with great care and artistic flourishes. Every hall has lattices with semi-transparent panes, with artificial hills outside. The pond at the center, surrounded by flowers, trees, artificial hills, rocks and buildings presents the main vista in the garden. The late Spring Cottage in the northwest of the garden, a masterpiece in garden design, is known for its exquisite, graceful courtyard and plain, neat buildings.