Zhou Bao-zhu points out that these were enjoyed by common folk as well as the upper crust. After the Ming dynasty, most residents of southern Chinese cities lived in cramped quarters, but they still tried to keep small gardens. Thus gardens have long made the Chinese urban environment more beautiful.
明代以後，在江南城市中，一般市民在狹小的空間一樣追求園林的情致，也使園林長久來美化與保護了中國城市環境。