The Suzhou Gardener

This board game is inspired by my childhood visits to my grandparents’ Suzhou garden-styled house near Taihu Lake, where I spent many weekends and holidays. Every element—whether a wall, tree, or pavilion—can be slid across the board, allowing players to create different walking paths and scene arrangements. Players can either follow my cue cards or design their own gardens.
I created this game to explore why my memories from my grandparents’ place are so much more vivid than those from stays at modern hotels. I began by reading academic research on the subject. Soon after, I began to make a clay model. In the process of deciding where to lay each element, I discovered the fun in rearranging them. Thus, I decided to turn the model into a game, making pieces slidable rather than glued into place.
In college, I will share this game with new friends, inviting them to experience the magic of winding paths and partially obscured views, going on a journey to see what lies beyond.