Abstract: There is a consensus in academic circles that garden rockery should be created from a realistic perspective. However, existing research on rockery layout mainly focuses on the shape and space division role of rockery. It typically advocates large-scale gardening, while paying less attention to creating realistic mountain scenery by adjusting the gardening layout, especially for small-scale gardens with narrow space. Based on literature review, case study and summary of the works of rockery craftsmen, this research discusses, such aspects of realistic mountain scenery as site reconnaissance, site renovation, layout techniques and coordination between rockery and other elements from the realistic perspective of rockery making, and accordingly obtains the following four conclusions: 1) site reconnaissance should start from the main viewing point of the main rockery scenery; 2) site renovation should take “gradual integration into mountains” as the benchmark and “elements in the mountain” as the standard and, in combination with the path planning for “sightseeing in the mountains”, achieve the adjustment purpose of “mountains beyond mountains”; 3) rockery construction should reflect the three-dimensional scale of height, depth and breadth of realistic mountain scenery with different layout techniques; 4) the coordination between other elements and rockery should not only comply with the basic principle of “as in the mountains”, but also effectively complement rockery making. Through discussing relevant problems in the layout of gardening centering around the theme of “realistic mountain scenery”, the research deepens the systematic understanding of traditional gardening and rockery-making techniques and can provide guidance for the conservation of rockery heritage and the practical application of gardening techniques.