Creating “Suzhou Gardens”
The famous Emperor Qianlong (r. 1735–1796) of the Qing dynasty (1644–1911) loved to travel and made six southern inspection tours. As a saying goes, “Gardens in Jiangnan are the finest, and Suzhou gardens are the best in Jiangnan.” Indeed, Emperor Qianlong was captivated by Suzhou’s gardens as soon as he arrived in Jiangnan.
Upon returning to the imperial palace, Emperor Qianlong ordered the construction of the garden of the Palace of Tranquil Longevity (Ningshou gong), modelled after classical gardens in Suzhou, as a retreat for his retirement. Located in the northwest corner of the Palace of Tranquil Longevity area, this garden is also known as the “Qianlong Garden”. Filled with pavilions, towers and terraces of varied designs, vibrant roofs of yellow, green, blue, purple, and teal, and decorative rocks and interior elements brought directly from Jiangnan, this garden’s lively elegance stands out amid the solemn majesty of the Forbidden City.
In the Qianlong Garden, the emperor incorporated his love for Suzhou’s plum blossoms and evergreens like pine and bamboo, decorating and naming buildings after these plants, such as the Studio of Bamboo Fragrance and the Pavilion of the Three Friends. Plum trees were also planted in the open air, and during Beijing’s harsh winters, warming shelters were built to protect them. As spring breezes returned, the plum and peach trees would bloom together, creating a beautiful scene.
Bringing in Suzhou Chefs
Each time the emperor journeyed south, local officials would hire skilled chefs to prepare speciality feasts. Suzhou cuisine, with its emphasis on colour, aroma, taste, and appearance, often draws on techniques from painting, calligraphy, and sculpture, making the dishes visually pleasing and richly flavoured. In 1765, during his fourth southern inspection tour, Emperor Qianlong tasted Suzhou dishes prepared by Chef Zhang Dongguan and was so impressed that he brought the chef back to Beijing.
From then on, Suzhou dishes and snacks became regulars on the emperor’s dining table. Dishes like Sautéed Sacrificial Pork and Cherry Pork became Emperor Qianlong’s favourites. Even the sweets and preserved fruits enjoyed by the emperor’s consorts were flavoured with Suzhou specialities. Over time, Suzhou cuisine gradually became the mainstay of the Qing court’s culinary repertoire.
Using Suzhou-Made Goods
The Palace Museum currently houses over 1.8 million pieces (sets) of cultural relics, many of which come from Suzhou, including furniture, jade carvings, and clocks. Among these treasures, Suzhou Embroidery stands out.
Since the beginning of the reign of Emperor Shunzhi (r. 1643–1661), ceremonial robes and casual garments for the emperor, empress, princes, and princesses had been produced by the “Three Imperial Textile Manufactories” in Jiangnan. These three manufactories, established in Nanjing, Suzhou, and Hangzhou, supplied the court and government officials with textile products. Among them, the Suzhou Textile Manufactory was renowned for Suzhou Embroidery, which features diverse stitching techniques, intricate craftsmanship, and refined colours. Many imperial embroidery items—from clothing and opera costumes to quilt covers, pillowcases, curtains, cushions, shoe uppers, sachets, and fan cases—were crafted by the famed embroiderers of Suzhou.
Suzhou Embroidery later evolved to include the exquisite technique known as “Double-Sided Embroidery”, where two identical (in outline) yet distinct images are stitched onto a single piece of fabric, displaying the same beauty and precision on both sides. One example is the embroidered screen in the Pavilion of Wishes Fulfilled (Fuwang ge) in the Qianlong Garden, which showcases this intricate craft.
This bright-yellow ceremonial robe of the empress, worn for grand ceremonies and her birthday celebrations, was made with none other than Suzhou’s exquisite embroidery.
Moreover, the floors of the Forbidden City were paved with “Golden Bricks” from Suzhou; Suzhou-made furniture adorned the palaces; landscape paintings by Suzhou painters hung on the walls; variously shaped lanterns from Suzhou decorated the roofs; Suzhou doctors served the emperor and his consorts; and Suzhou artisans were selected to serve in the palace workshops, leaving behind numerous masterpieces. What else in the Forbidden City might have come from Suzhou? If you’re curious, fish them out!