Wang’s Courtyard, a residential complex from the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China, was once the home of salt merchant Wang Zhuming, who was originally from Huizhou. Here, you can appreciate the fusion of Huizhou’s three carvings with the architectural style of Jiangnan gardens, complemented by Western-style furniture, which is another distinctive feature. Moreover, you can explore the secrets of the salt merchants, searching for hidden treasure rooms, basements, and numerous other mechanisms.
Located in the Dongjuanmen Historical District, Dongjuanmen is parallel to and not far from Dongguan Street. It is said that while Dongguan Street has a garden, Dongjuanmen boasts Wang’s Courtyard. Unlike the former, Wang’s Courtyard is less crowded, making it an ideal spot for visitors who prefer tranquility. The entrance of the courtyard is unpretentious, but once inside, a new world unfolds.
First, you’ll encounter a beautiful brick-carved Buddhist niche embedded in the wall. Turning right, you’ll find a small garden where pebbles on the ground form various patterns symbolizing happiness, longevity, and health. April to May is the perfect time to visit Yangzhou to admire the Qionghua flowers, and there is a century-old Qionghua tree right in the garden.
Behind the small garden lies the main structure of Wang’s Courtyard, arranged in a nine-grid layout. The central room of the first row, Shude Hall, is where guests are received. The carved beds and wooden door canopies within the rooms of Wang’s Courtyard are exceptionally exquisite.
Between the six ‘grids’ on the left and the three ‘grids’ on the right of the ‘nine-grid’ is a long, narrow brick and stone alley running north to south, giving a sense of depth to the courtyard, which is a favorite spot for tourists to take photos. The buildings on the east route are quite distinctive, as they were rebuilt by Wang Zhuming’s eldest son, Wang Taijie, and his three brothers, showcasing a combination of Chinese and Western elements.
The first room on the east route, Chunhui Room, features a German chandelier. The room behind Chunhui Room has sliding doors and removable glass windows, which can be replaced with gauze windows in the summer. Upon closer inspection, you may discover a 1.5-meter-deep treasure room hidden beneath the wooden floor of one of the side rooms.
Turning right from the east route is the kitchen, where five large pots reveal the prosperity of the Wang family at that time. Exiting the kitchen leads to the backyard, where the ‘Deep Spring in the Small Garden’ eastern garden has a well, followed by servants’ quarters. The bathroom to the west of the servants’ quarters is paved with Western-style tiles, and the bathtub is an imported French product.
In the ‘Deep Spring in the Small Garden’ western garden, there is a basement for the owner to hide, and the study room to the north of the garden is equipped with Western-style stained glass windows. A secret door is hidden behind the mirror in the northwest corner of the room. Directly opposite the study, through the alley, you can see visitors approaching. In case of danger, the owner can escape through various mechanisms.
After viewing the palanquin hall at the west end of the ‘Deep Spring in the Small Garden’ western garden, you can return to the main structure via the west route and visit the central route. From the Qiuxi Pavilion on the west route, you can reach the boat hall in the western alley. Finally, from the boat hall, you can walk to the small garden ‘Keqi’ in the southwest corner of Wang’s Courtyard. Like all Jiangnan gardens, the garden is adorned with artificial mountains. After this tour, you will have seen almost all of Wang’s Courtyard.
Exiting through the back gate of the rear garden ‘Spring in the Small Garden’ in Wang’s Garden leads you directly to the Yangzhou Paper-cutting Museum, which is not part of Wang’s Garden but is free to visit for those interested. It is open all year round from 08:00 to 17:30.
Additional information on preferential policies:
1. Children under 1.2 meters (inclusive) enter for free; other discounts (such as for military personnel, teachers, etc.) apply to active-duty military officers with their service certificates, retired cadres with the ‘People’s Republic of China Retired Cadre Honor Certificate’, and journalists with the ‘Journalist’s Certificate’ issued by the State Press and Publication Administration.
