Abstract: No matter in practice as well as in theory, Li Yu is one of the gardening design experts in the Ming and Qing dynasties. His gardening design thought is mainly embodied in his book “Xian Qing Ou Ji”. This thought is not only rich and deep, but also extremely individual characteristic. He regarded gardening design activities as art activities, believing that gardening design activities was a kind of art activities in essence. Therefore, his artistic attainment, artistic personality and aesthetic ideals had directly produced positive and far-reaching effects on his gardening thought.