Fushui Mountain Villa is located in Shanghu Scenic Area, on the south side of Hezhou Island. It was the residence of Qian Qianyi, a literati in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, and Liu Rushi, one of the eight beauties of Qinhuai. When Qian Qianyi met Liu Rushi, he was nearly 60 years old, while Liu Rushi was just in her early twenties. The love between the white-haired and the beautiful is a timeless tale.
In fact, the original Fushui Mountain Villa was not in Shanghu, but at the foot of Yushan Mountain. After Qian Qianyi died, he was buried on one side of Fushui Mountain Villa. After Liu Rushi died, she was buried in the courtyard of Qiushui Pavilion in the villa. However, the original Fushui Mountain Villa no longer exists. Now, at the foot of Yushan Mountain, only Qian Qianyi’s tomb and Liu Rushi’s tomb are left. After entering Shanghu from the main (south) entrance of Shanghu Scenic Area, passing Taigong Island and Yueti Embankment, one arrives at Fushui Mountain Villa. The villa is a new building that restores the original villa scenery one by one according to Qian Qianyi’s poems in modern times. The first half is mainly various pavilions and towers, and the second half encloses the lake water and is relatively open. The villa is laid out in the style of a Jiangnan garden, with rockeries piled up. Chaoyang Pavilion, Ougeng Hall, Huaxin Tower, Yanlou, Mingfa Hall, Meipu Xitang, Qiushui Pavilion, which are in good order, plus Yueti Embankment outside the villa, form the ‘eight scenes’ described by Qian Qianyi. There are couplets hanging in front of every house. If you like the poems of Qian Qianyi and Liu Rushi, you can carefully ponder them. Young people or couples can learn about the love story of the two. If you are not interested in either, taking photos and looking at the beautiful scenery where Shanghu’s water and the garden blend is also very pleasant.The specific opening hours can be consulted at the scenic area.
