Hwa Chong Institution
No Ordinary Garden

Who would have thought that gardens have so much to say about the cultural differences between East and West?

Suzhou's classical gardens (ranging from the the hundreds to the thousands year old) underscore the differences in attitude between Chinese (Eastern) and American (Western) entrepreneurs. Unlike Western gardens which are wide and sweeping, Chinese gardens are guarded, filled with tiny walkways, turns and surprises- even the windows and rocks have a story to tell.

While Westerners often pride themselves in openness and frankness, with the Chinese, you never know what you are going to see next. What looks like a humble house from the outside (even dilapidated) becomes grandiose after you enter- and only when you've made some effort to find your way through the mazes.

Western gardens are also often just that, gardens. For the Chinese, the garden is the home is the garden. You cannot and should not separate one from the other. Much like in business, the Westerners believe in keeping business separate from the personal. Chinese entrepreneurs on the other hand believe that you are who you are- in business or in your family life. Thus they make it a point to meet the family of whoever it is they are working with to understand, be comfortable, trust, and better meet the needs of their business partners.