Even earlier, the Travels of Marco Polo had recorded the scenery, lakes and fishing scenes of the Southern Song dynasty gardens. Although he had not spent a lot of energy on describing China's "most beautiful and pleasing gardens in the world," he had captured the attention of the Europeans.
而早在流傳於十五世紀的《馬可波羅遊記》裡，就記載了南宋園林裡的果樹、湖泊與游魚，「中國有世界上最美麗且娛人的園囿」，雖然沒有費力描繪，已經引起了歐洲人的注意。