Abstract: There exists the difference between the theory of garden rockery making in academic circles and conditions in the history, heritages and contemporary practices. This requires us to rethink the models of rockery and garden making. Based on Cao Xun’s study, this paper discusses the problems confronting Zhang Nanyuan, a rockery and garden making master, and his solutions. It points out that Zhang, aiming at the real mountain realms, applied the method of “doing more with less” to reach the artistic inspiration of “conception beyond image” and the experience of “garden in mountain”. In this way, he ideally fulfilled the dream of the literati to dwell on the mountain and water. Zhang’s rockery making was of great significance in Chinese garden history, as it achieved marvelous artistic merits in the art of gardening, led to revolution in landscape architecture styles, reached a height in pursuit of garden making, and the excellent matching of the innovative approach to this goal. Zhang's rockery making was of the highest artistic aesthetic value and practical operationality that was attainable at that time in the history of Chinese gardens. It set an outstanding example for the later generations. Later, many garden making masters inherited and developed Zhang’s idea and method, providing guidance for contemporary garden rockery making with high quality.