Resilience Value and Recovery: The Symbiotic Relationship between Classical Gardens of Suzhou and the Historic Urban Water System

A symbiotic relationship between the Classical Gardens of Suzhou (CGS) and the historic urban water system (HUWS) demonstrates significant resilience value, offering a model for enhancing flood and ecological resilience in ancient cities. This relationship, developed over centuries, provides critical insights for urban planners, ecologists, and cultural heritage agencies facing pressures from climate change and rapid urbanization. The study reviews scholarship, field visits, and interviews to analyze this resilience value and summarizes efforts since the 1950s that have revived the symbiotic relationship. It proposes strategies to further leverage this embedded resilience to improve the sustainability of both the gardens and the city of Suzhou.

Ou, Y., Cai, Z., & Wu, Q. (2025). Resilience Value and Recovery: The Symbiotic Relationship between Classical Gardens of Suzhou and the Historic Urban Water System. Blue Papers, 4(2). https://doi.org/10.58981/bluepapers.2025.2.15