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Yangzhou has been a famous garden city since long ago and is one of three cities in southern China that are famed for their beauty -- Hangzhou for its lakes and mountains, Suzhou for its shops, Yangzhou for its garden pavilions.
Its salt merchants built many of the gardens for their residences in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912) so they combine southern and northern characteristics in construction and style and can be grand and magnificent and tough and tender in their beauty.
The city was also one of 24 famous historic and cultural cities recognized by the State Council in 1982 and contains 147 cultural protection sites and 30 private gardens, increasing its charm for tourists.
Some of its famous gardens from the Ming and Qing dynasties can be found at Slender West Lake, the Geyuan Garden, and He Garden, which are outstanding examples and can be seen as follows:
Route: Slender West Lake——Bonsai Garden——Geyuan Garden——Hu Garden——Yipu Garden——Wang the Merchant's Residence­——He Garden——Lu Family Mansion——Lotus Pond Park