798 Art Space, Dashanzi,Beijing
The Introduction of Yuyuan Garden, Shanghai
The whole garden uses a 2-hectares area, divided into six different areas:
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Inner Garden – towers, pavilions, a few ponds. Very relaxing.
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Jade Magnificence Hall – typical from the Ming Dynasty. There is rosewood everywhere.
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Ten Thousand-Flower Tower
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Heralding Spring Hall - the Society of Little Swords' headquarters for a while.
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Grand Rockery - rockery made of huangshi stone (12 m high), featuring peaks, cliffs, winding caves and gorges.
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Lotus Pool – a little green pond with a 9-archs zigzag bridge over it that is said to give luck to anybody who would cross it.
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The Yu Gardens, also known as the Yu Yuan Garden, a classical garden in downtown Shanghai, boasts a history over 400 years. Each pavilion, hall, stone and stream in the garden is expressing the quintessence of South China landscape design from Ming and Qing Dynasty. Over forty spots, divided by dragon walls, wound corridors and beautiful flowers, form an unique picture featuring " one step, one beauty; every step, every beauty." The Yu Gardens of China are one of the country's most popular natural landmarks, even going so far to being labeled "an architectural miracle in the region south of Yangtze River". |
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Yu Yuan Garden was first built in 1559 and it took workers almost 20 years to complete. The garden was finished in 1577 by a government officer of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) named Pan Yunduan.Yu in Chinese means pleasing and satisfying, and this garden was specially built for Pan's parents as a place for them to enjoy a tranquil and happy time in their old age. |
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The true treasure of Yuyuan Garden is the Exquisite Jade Rock. Located across from Yuhua Hall, it is one of the three famous rocks in the southern region of the Yangtze River. (The other two are Duanyun Feng in Suzhou and Zhouyun Feng in Hangzhou.) The rock is 3.3 meters (about 10.8 feet) in height and has 72 holes. What is interesting about this rock is that if you burn a joss stick just below the rock, the smoke will magically float out from all of the holes. Similarly, when you pour water into the rock from top, the water will flow out from each hole creating a spectacular sight to see. Pan Yunduan was very fond of the Exquisite Jade Rock, and he built Yuhua Hall facing the rock so it was convenient to sit in the hall and admire it. The furnishings in the hall were made of top grade rosewood of the Ming Dynasty, appearing both natural and graceful. |
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Many visitors head straight for the Five-Dragon Wall, a bounding monument to the storied mythical creature. The original design had each of the dragons with a total of five claws – legend has it that when the wall was first completed, during the reign of the Qing dynasty the feudal ruler regarded the fifth claw as a sign of unmitigated irreverence, since all the royal palaces featured four claw dragons. He then cut one of the claws of each dragon. The Five-Dragon Wall subdivides one of the most beautiful gardens of China into six separate viewpoints,the Grand Rockery, Ten-Thousand-Flower Pavilion, Hall of Heralding Spring, Hall of Jade Magnificence, Inner Garden, and Lotus Pool. |
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Though there is no shortage of tourist attractions in Shanghai, the Yu Gardens is perfect for a relaxing stroll, a chance to get away from the chaos of Shanghai streets. The gardens are certainly worth a visit, especially in the springtime. |
