Ying Garden, located by the Yu River in Nanxun Town, is the residential garden of Chen Xiong, one of the ‘eight cows’ among the wealthy merchants known as ‘four elephants, eight cows, and seventy-two dogs’ during the Qing Dynasty. It was first established in the first year of the Tongzhi era. The garden is exquisite and serene, often praised for its resemblance to the Lion Grove Garden in Suzhou. Every evening, flocks of birds come to roost within the garden, adding a touch of charm.
At Ying Garden, visitors can admire towering ancient trees, including magnolias, fragrant sticks, and wisteria, many of which are over a hundred years old. One can also appreciate the pavilions built along the pond, climb the meticulously stacked Taihu stone rockeries, and leisurely gaze at the lake views from the antique moon-viewing building’s long glass windows.
Ying Garden is a treasure trove of lifelike brick, stone, and wood carvings, almost like a small sculpture museum. On the floor-to-ceiling windows of the ‘Qingfeng Pian’, where the Chen family used to receive guests, parts of the boxwood carvings of ‘The Romance of the Western Chamber’ are preserved and are a must-see. The brick walls on both sides of this hall are embedded with exquisite and delicate stone carvings, revealing the endless beauty of art in the smallest details of life.
The garden is open all year round from 08:00 to 21:00, with specific operating status subject to the daily opening conditions.
Nanxun Ancient Town – Ying Garden
Ying Garden, located by the Yu River in Nanxun Town, is the residential garden of Chen Xiong, one of the […]
