This is one out of four famed Suzhou gardens, and is representative of their artistic characteristics and cultural value.
The Master-of-Nets Garden is a typical private garden which combines with a residence. The residential area has three parts; first from the main gate to the sedan chair hall; then the Hall of Scrolls, and finally the Beauty Within Reach Tower. These three sections open up along a middle axis. The Hall of Scrolls is the main hall; a wide room, high under the ceiling, and beautifully decorated. In front of this is a richly encarved door of excellent handicraft-one of its kind in the south-east; an antique piece of high artistic value. The entire residential area is very laid out rigorously and according to rules; not very large, but with rich atmosphere, contrasting the calm and reserve of the garden area.
The Master-of-Nets Garden's area is not big; approximately 0.47 hectare (including its residence).It is made up of main and auxiliary parts. The main areas are based on water; each landscape is arranged around water. South of the pond we find such views as the Small Hill and Osmanthus Fragrance Pavilion,the Washing my Ribbon Pavilion over the water, the cloudy Ridge, etc. In the northern area they are the 99 Watching Pines and Appreciating Paintings Studio, the Prunus Mume Pavilion. In the eastern part we find the Duck Shooting Corridor. In the west we find the Moon Comes with Breeze Pavilion. The entire main area is very exact in its proportions; the handling of closed or open space and the enveloping or openness of the gardens' construction make this small garden like a unique poem-of few words; a garden in a garden, a view in a view, giving unforgettable memories.