Li Qingzhao, a female poet of the Song Dynasty, is hailed as the ‘Queen of Ci’ and was renowned for her poetic prowess that overshadowed the south and surpassed the north. Since the Ming Dynasty, China has seen the establishment of four ‘Li Qingzhao Memorial Halls’ and numerous ‘Lotus God Temples’. Among them, the most significant and upscale is the ‘Qingzhao Ciyuan’, located in Mingshui Town, Zhangqiu City, Shandong Province, by the hundred springs of Bai Mai. Designed by the renowned landscape architect, Mr. Zhou Peizheng, the garden spans an area of 18,000 square meters with a construction area of 1,300 square meters, comprising 15 architectural groups including Yinfeng Pavilion, Wenshuzhai, Shuyu Hall, Haitang Pavilion, Yanqingsuixiang, Stele Corridor, and Yi’an Tower.
This ‘Qingzhao Garden’ in Zhangqiu absorbs the essence of Suzhou gardens while exhibiting distinct Song Dynasty architectural styles. Since its opening to the public in May 1997, it has been lauded by many visitors as a dazzling pearl of Song Dynasty Jiangnan residential architecture embedded in northern China and serves as an important base for academic research on Li Qingzhao. It is the largest among the existing four Li Qingzhao memorial halls in China (Jinan, Qingzhou, Jinhua, Zhangqiu). Qingzhao Ciyuan is constructed based on the poetic imagery and the customs of Li Qingzhao’s era, with a design philosophy of ‘modern skeleton, national soul, natural attire’. It features four main themes: ‘Qingyin Wind’, ‘Mudan Flower’, ‘Courtyard Snow’, and ‘Hometown Moon’, collectively known as ‘Wind, Flower, Snow, and Moon’. Inside the garden stands a statue of Li Qingzhao, facing west and southwest, gazing at Qingzhao Garden, conveying three layers of meaning: her nostalgia for her hometown, the inspiration from her book and the lively spring of plum blossoms symbolizing a fountain of literary thoughts, and the sense of stepping on clouds and flying, suggesting that the entire scenic area, though man-made, seems as if it were naturally formed. The opening hours and specific business status are subject to the daily opening conditions.Qingzhao Ciyuan: A Cultural Gem in Jinan, Shandong
Li Qingzhao, a female poet of the Song Dynasty, is hailed as the ‘Queen of Ci’ and was r[...]
