The intensification of urbanization worldwide, particularly in China, has led to significant challenges in maintaining sustainable urban environments, primarily due to the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect. This effect exacerbates urban thermal stress, leading to increased energy consumption, poor air quality, and heightened health risks. In response, urban green spaces are recognized for their role in ameliorating urban heat and enhancing environmental resilience. This paper has studied the microclimate regulation effects of three representative classical gardens in Suzhou—the Humble Administrator’s Garden, the Lingering Garden and the Canglang Pavilion. It aims to explore the specific impacts of water bodies, vegetation and architectural features on the air temperature and relative humidity within the gardens. With the help of Geographic Information System (GIS) technology and the Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) spatial interpolation method, this study has analyzed the microclimate regulation mechanisms in the designs of these traditional gardens. The results show that water bodies and lush vegetation have significant effects on reducing temperature and increasing humidity, while the architectural structures and rocks have affected the distribution and retention of heat to some extent. These findings not only enrich our understanding of the role of the design principles of classical gardens in climate adaptability but also provide important theoretical basis and practical guidance for the design of modern urban parks and the planning of sustainable urban environments. In addition, the study highlights GIS-based spatial interpolation as a valuable tool for visualizing and optimizing thermal comfort in urban landscapes, providing insights for developing resilient urban green spaces.

Climate and vegetation are variables of the physical space that have a dynamic and interdependent relationship. Flora modifies climatic elements and gives rise to a microclimate whose characterization is a function of regional climatic conditions and vegetation structure. The objective of this work was to compare the climatic variations (inside and outside) of the Caldén Forest in the Parque Luro Provincial Reserve. Temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, wind direction and precipitation data from two meteorological stations for 2012 were analyzed and statistically compared. The influence of the forest on climatic parameters was demonstrated and it was found that the greatest variations were in wind speed, daily temperature and precipitation.