Spoon Lake Garden, with its clear waters, long bridges, painted boats, pavilions, and stele gardens, creates a harmonious and splendid scene. The Wen Tong Pagoda stands tall by the lake, casting its reflection, shimmering waves, and birdsong, adding a cultural depth to the garden. Named for its spoon-like shape, Spoon Lake covers an area of 114 acres of water and 40 acres of land. It has been a renowned scenic spot in Huai’an since ancient times. It is said that from the Sui and Tang dynasties, famous monasteries were built here, attracting visitors and worshippers all year round. The park was established half a century ago, and a great contemporary figure left his footprints here in his childhood (note), which enhances the interest of visitors. Upon entering the ‘Wen Tong Pagoda Garden’, the first thing that catches the eye is the twin pavilions and the surrounding corridor. After passing the Wen Tong Pagoda, you step onto the Spoon Lake dam, with the rippling green lake water on the left and the white-walled, blue-eaved cloud wall adjacent to the Huai Zhong campus on the right. Looking northeast from here, you can clearly see two exquisite and delicate archways in the distance, evoking a sense of a fragrant path leading to a secluded spot. Although it may not be as beautiful as the delicately adorned West Lake in Hangzhou, it is by no means inferior to other gardens in the Jiangnan region. Beyond the two archways, the garden’s antique buildings come into view. These structures,顺应地形水势, vary in style, and are pleasing in their soft colors, solemn yet elegant. On the original site of the Great Compassion Pavilion on the lake island, a new hall has been built, with a water-hugging corridor on the east side and a fan-shaped waterside pavilion. A stone boat has been constructed in the lake, with two-story pavilions on it, from which one can overlook the entire lake. The lake island is connected to the mainland by a red bridge to the north and south. The Spoon Lake Academy, where the Ming dynasty scholar Ruan Kui once lectured, has been restored in the architectural style of the Ming dynasty, with an additional Spring Breeze Pavilion on the west side for visitors to rest. Looking out from the bridge, you can see two or three yachts cutting through the blue sky reflected in the water, creating a unique scene. The garden is open all year round from 07:30 to 18:00.
Spoon Lake Garden: A Cultural and Scenic Gem in Yancheng, Jiangsu
Spoon Lake Garden, with its clear waters, long bridges, painted boats, pavilions, and stele gardens,[...]
