Planting a seed for the future

Nevertheless, renovation is only an urgent operation to "cure" the problem. To keep healthy, gardens need regular maintenance, in which modern science plays a key role.

For example, with support of big data analysis and scientific evaluation of impact brought by tourism, specific caps of visitor numbers－within a day or even an hour－is set for every key site to create a comfortable experience for both tourists and the gardens.

"And, for a Suzhou garden, the waterscape is its core," says Shen Feng, deputy director of administration of Lion Grove Garden. "How to deal with problems related to water is thus crucial. We've referred to studies of natural sciences to maintain a stable water level, which is for the stability of surrounding rockeries and constructions, and its cleanness."