Famous Yangzhou Garden: A Single Character Becomes a Major Highlight, Tourists Marvel: 'Intricate'

Hangzhou is renowned for its lake scenery, Suzhou for its markets, and Yangzhou for its gardens. The three are equally celebrated, without distinction.

When it comes to gardens, Suzhou is the first place that comes to mind. However, it is said that Yangzhou gardens were once the best in the world. Due to the fact that Yangzhou salt merchants were incredibly wealthy, they had the financial resources to build extravagant gardens.

Yangzhou's gardens are quite different from those in Suzhou, appearing more grand and of a larger scale. The most historically significant, well-preserved, and artistically valuable garden is located in the northeast corner of Yangzhou's Guangrao District, namely 'Ge Yuan'.Ge YuanGe Yuan was built by Huang Zijing, the head of the Two Hu Salt Merchants Association, on the site of the original 'Shou Zhi Yuan' during the Qing Dynasty's Jiaqing reign. Although the garden isn't very large, it embodies the ingenuity of its creator.

Hearing the name 'Ge Yuan' for the first time, it seemed quite peculiar – why would a garden be named with a character that represents bamboo?

Upon entering the courtyard, the abundance of bamboo immediately revealed the answer. Bamboo has long been a favored subject for Chinese poets and scholars, seen as a symbol of integrity and nobility.

'Ge Yuan Records' states: 'The pool and pavilions in the garden are secluded, with water and music, and ten thousand bamboo shoots are planted, hence the name 'Ge Yuan'.

The tour guide explains that 'Ge' represents half of 'bamboo,' hence the name. Is it truly true that 'Ge Yuan' cultivated ten thousand bamboo shoots? These debates surrounding the garden's name have become a highlight for attracting visitors. Ge Yuan is indeed a garden established by bamboo, with an incredible variety of bamboo species – it's practically a bamboo museum. Walking through the bamboo forest, with a gentle breeze and no music, yet filled with harmony.

Beyond the vibrant green bamboo, in the depths of the bamboo grove, there are also clusters of winter-blooming plum blossoms, standing bravely in the cold, their fragrance filling the air.

Ge Yuan's structure is meticulously designed. Within the garden, there are four artificial hills, pavilions, and towers, all reflecting the owner's clever thought and precise design. Traditionally, Chinese gardens often incorporated one hill, one stone, and one lake. Ge Yuan, within a relatively small space in Yangzhou, which had neither stone nor hills, utilized a variety of materials such as 'zun shi,' 'hu shi,' 'huang shi,' and 'xuan shi' to create four artificial hills. This ingenious stacking of stones, employing the 'spring, summer, autumn, and winter' technique, created four distinct scenes.

The central garden section is the most interesting part of the garden's landscaping. The neatly arranged water pools are separated by the artificial hills, and a wide array of uniquely shaped Taohu Lake stones further showcase the garden's ingenious design. The winding paths and rock-carved scenes within the hills provide endless enjoyment.

Ge Yuan has a slightly Beijing-like feel, with its buildings being solid and well-structured, adhering to strict rules. It is said that during the Qing Dynasty, emperors toured Yangzhou, and salt merchants built many gardens in imitation of Beijing's styles to please the emperors.

The southern section of Ge Yuan is a residential area, with three courtyards connected by a long, narrow alleyway, offering a sense of stepping back in time. Though not particularly ornate or lavish, it still reflects the wealth of the salt merchant family.

The sky was overcast, and a light rain fell steadily, creating a beautiful, misty atmosphere characteristic of a Yangzhou garden in spring. Visiting Yangzhou in March means experiencing both 'fireworks' and fine rain.

I am Qiqing Mu Mu, a young woman born in a small town in Jiangsu Province.

I love pursuing dreams and traveling, allowing me to go further and further.

We are all just fleeting visitors in this world

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This is Qiqing Mu Mu's Travel Horizon, welcome to follow Forever Qiqing Mu Mu

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