SPbGASU was one of the key academic institutions supporting the publication of the first-ever Russian edition of Chen Congzhou's book "On Chinese Gardens." The book was written by the Chinese architect, a world-renowned expert in ancient Chinese architecture and gardening. The book presentation took place on 2 December at our university's Scientific and Technical Library.

The publication of this work in Russian was a significant event for both the professional landscape community and researchers of Eastern architecture and culture. The publication reveals the traditions of classical Chinese landscape design and introduces readers to a unique gardening philosophy based on the harmony of natural and architectural elements.

Chen Congzhou's work became a landmark in the field of landscape architecture: the author proposed new concepts for organizing space, described the principles of perceiving landscapes in motion and statics, the nuances of creating hills and ponds, the layout of pavilions, and the principles of planting trees and other plants. The book is valuable not only as a classic theoretical study but also as a work of high artistic culture.

The original text is written in traditional Chinese brush calligraphy, which is carefully reproduced in the facsimile edition. The book is accompanied by photographs of the famous gardens of Suzhou and 32 illustrations of ancient Chinese gardens, making it a guide to China's cultural heritage.

Olga Ushakova, Associate Professor at the SPbGASU Department of Architectural and Engineering Constructions and a member of the Union of Artists of Russia, served as the publication's scientific editor and illustrator. Her participation ensured the high quality of the publication's artistic design and scientific support.

The initiators of the translation and publication of the book were Professor Li Shuan of Hangzhou University (China) and Professor Marianna Shevchenko of the Moscow Architectural Institute. Both researchers worked on the translation of the original source, ensuring the accuracy and depth of the transmission of the author's intent.

This publication is of interest to both professionals—landscape architects, restorers, and gardeners—and to a general audience interested in Chinese history and culture. Chen Congzhou's work combines scholarship, artistic expression, and philosophical depth, revealing to the reader the world of the Chinese garden as a space of contemplation, harmony, and dialogue with nature.