[3] This garden, meant to express his fine taste, received close attention from the renowned artist, Suzhou native, and friend, Wen Zhengming.

[4] This verse symbolized Wang's desire to retire from politics and adopt a hermit's life in the manner of Tao Yuanming.

[3] Wang's son lost the garden to pay gambling debts, and it has changed hands many times since.

In 1631 the eastern garden was divided from the rest and purchased by Wang Xinyi, Vice Minister of the Justice Board.

In 1860, it became the residence of a Taiping prince, Li Xiucheng, and it was remodelled, and the current aspect of the garden is said to be inherited from this period.

[4] In 1949 all three parts of the garden were rejoined by the Chinese government and subsequently opened to the public, then restored in 1952.

Cao Xueqin, author of the Dream of the Red Chamber, is supposed to have lived at the garden during his teenage years – around 1735.

[5] According to Lou Qingxi [zh], compared with the layout from the Zhenghe period in the Ming dynasty, the garden "now has more buildings and islets", and although lacks a "lofty" feeling, it is "still a masterpiece of meticulous work".

[2] Liu Dunzhen judged that the arrangement of rocks and water in the ponds of the central third may have its origins in the early Qing.

[a] But Clunas believes that even this is unreasonably optimistic, and he underlines that Liu Dunzhen and others tend to imply that, "despite the vicissitudes of history, there is continuity at the much more important level of essence".

At one corner in the Humble Administrator's Garden, rocks cutthrough the wall, making viewers feel like they are exploring a mountain, despite the fact that they are in the middle of the city.

A square pavilion open on two sides, sited atop a hill in front of the Fragrant Sorghum Hall.

An attached square pavilion with hipped gable roofline and flying eves built in front of the main entry to the central garden.

The hall is sited to capture the scent of Lotus blossoms on Surging Wave Pond, as well as frame views of the islands.

The hall is named after a verse by the Neo-confucianist poet Zhou Dunyi, " Though growing out of the filthy mub, she remains unstained.

Named after a Chinese folk expression, "Where there are bamboo groves there are houses," and "With a Parasol tree (Firmiana simplex) in his yard, one is assured of a phoniex's coming and good fortune."

A landboat structure, named for the smell of the lotus blossoms in Surging Wave Pond The interior part of a two gatehouse composed of two gates connected by a passage.

Also called the Pavilion of Exqusitiness, it is inspired by a verse by Su Shunqin, "Autumn drops in and tinges the dark woods red; moonlight pours down and grants the bamboo groves an exquisite look".

A three bay terrace hall with portico built on piers over the water to create the illusion of an unseen source feeding Surging Wave Pond, after which it is named.

The name of the pond alludes to a quote by Mencius, "when the water is clean I wash my Imperial Ribbon, when the water is dirty I wash my muddy feet", itself an allusion to the correct behavior of a civil servant in a corrupt government.

It is named for a verse by Li Hongyi, "Green willow foliage connects twin bridges; gentle breeze sends in lotus scent from around".

Named for a verse by Tao Yuanming, "As I pick chrysanthemums on the eastern fence, my eyes fall leisurely on the southern mountain".

The inscription of this pavilion by Wang Ji, "The shrill of cicadas enhances the serenity of the woods, The twitter of birds lends tranquility to the hillsides."

It is sited atop an island in the pond and along the main entry axis passing through Distant Fragrance Hall.

It is sited on top of a yellowstone rockery and forms an ideal vantage point for viewing the islands.

Named after a verse by Bai Juyi, "The bright moon shines over the hermits farmstead; the green willow proclaims the approach of spring to both families".

It is a typical mandrian duck hall but with four attached pavilions at the corners in Shanghai garden style.

Named after a verse by Li Shangyin, "Autumn gloom doesn't clear up yet and fall frost gets delayed; withered lotus leaves are left in the pond to hear the patter of rain".