The Shaping Process and Mechanism of Guilin Landscape Gardens from the Perspective of Space and Time

Guilin landscape gardens, an excellent representative of regional landscape construction under karst landform, embody the living concept of harmonious coexistence of urban, human and landscape elements. Through the interpretation of ancient literature and analysis of geographical space and time, this paper explores the shaping process and internal mechanism of Guilin landscape gardens under the interactions of humanity and nature. The research shows that: 1) Guilin landscape gardens are constructed on the basis of the unique landscape with karst characteristics. The number and scale of construction continued to increase from Tang Dynasty to Qing Dynasty, hitting the peak during the Song and Yuan Dynasties. The types of gardens were gradually enriched and improved over time, and public gardens dominated for a long period. 2) In terms of time, the shaping process of Guilin landscape gardens can be divided into two stages, which were the initial construction of landscape gardens from Tang Dynasty to Song Dynasty and the improvement of the garden system in Ming and Qing dynasties, eventually forming a regional garden system with diverse types and distinct styles. In terms of space, it gradually transformed from scattered development to integrated development of urban landscape, shaping a landscape that integrated the city and gardens. 3) The karst regional landscape system in Guilin is formed by the joint effects of the landscape environment, political and economic influence, urban construction and development, and the promotion of sightseeing culture. It is characterized by real mountains and water, diversified types, integration of urban scenery, openness and sharing. The research is promotive to the protection of characteristic regional landscape and cultural heritage, with considerable reference values to the landscape construction of contemporary landscape cities.