Shihu Yuan is a miniature garden architecture in Northern China, originally constructed during the Ming Dynasty and was the former residence of Hu Bangzuo, a minister in the Ministry of Justice during the Jiajing period. Later, in the 11th year of the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty (AD 1885), it was purchased by Ding Shanbao, the wealthiest man in Wei County, and came to be known as the ‘Ding Family Garden’.
Shihu Yuan, facing north to south, is characterized by its blue bricks and grey tiles with a main structure made of brick and wood, covering an area of approximately 2000 square meters. It derives its name from its small size, likened to the area of ten traditional Chinese tablets. The layout of Shihu Yuan is rectangular, with a rigorous and well-balanced design, featuring artificial hills, corridors, ponds, buildings, curved bridges, pavilions, studies, and guest rooms, among six minor architectural landscapes. The garden is composed of three courtyards: central, eastern, and western, with the central part being the main garden area and the eastern and western parts serving as residential areas. Shihu Yuan is unique among northern gardens, combining the styles of both southern and northern gardens, with a compact layout that avoids any sense of crowding. It is acclaimed as the ‘Pearl of Eastern Shandong’ by renowned Chinese garden experts. Opening hours are from 09:00 to 17:00 all year round. Weifang Shihu Yuan Museum: Open from 09:00 to 17:00 (ticket sales end at 16:30, and no entry after that time). General admission tickets for Shihu Yuan stop being sold at 15:00, and tickets for Guan Yu Temple end at 16:00. Preferential policies include free entry for children under 1.4 meters (inclusive), and students from 1.4 meters (exclusive) to full-time undergraduate students and below with a valid student ID can purchase student tickets. Active military personnel with valid identification enter for free, as do medical staff with valid documentation. Elderly individuals aged 60 and above enter for free, as do retired military personnel with a retirement certificate. Disabled individuals with a disability certificate also enter for free. Please note that the above information is for reference only, and specific details are subject to the information disclosed by the scenic area on the day of visit. Service facilities include a parking lot: [Shihu Yuan Parking Lot] with a reference price of free; located at No. 49 Hu Jia Pai Fang Street, Weifang City, Shandong Province; with 50 parking spaces.Shihu Yuan – A Miniature Northern Chinese Garden
Shihu Yuan is a miniature garden architecture in Northern China, originally constructed during the M[...]
