Yiyuan Garden, the private garden of Pang Yuanji—a renowned modern connoisseur and collector of calligraphy and painting—is situated at the former site of Lumen Villa in the east gate of Nanxun Town. Completed in 1918, this garden spans over 20 mu and faces south. It is positioned in front of East Street and extends to Xianfendou at the back, adjacent to Zhang Songxian’s Dongyuan Garden. Yiyuan Garden stands out among the private gardens of several generations in Nanxun for its distinctive characteristics.
Zhu Zumou, a master of ci poetry, eloquently described the garden: “Spring is suitable for flowers, autumn for the moon, summer for cool breeze, and winter for fine snow. The scenery and inspiration meet, and the sentiment is in line with the time. There is nothing that is not suitable. Hence, it is named ‘Yiyuan.'” Yiyuan Garden is divided into an outer and an inner garden, each with its own unique design approach due to the surrounding building environment. The outer garden, slightly smaller due to space constraints, is compact and winding. It is segmented into several courtyards with distinct artistic conceptions by means of corridors, rockeries, and cloud walls. Pavilions, verandas, halls, and rooms are interconnected by these winding corridors, creating a path that meanders through secluded spots and offers ever-changing scenery, capturing the essence of garden layouts in the south of the Yangtze River.
The inner garden, on the other hand, is located amidst the fields and boasts a more spacious layout. It is designed and treated with a different method, tailored to the local conditions, ensuring that both the outer and inner gardens harmoniously coexist, each showcasing their own charm and reflecting the ingenuity of their creator.The inner garden borrows natural scenery and gains the charm of the countryside. Springs are led into the pool. There is an island in the pool. Curved bridges lie on the waves. Buildings and boats accompany the pool. Stones are piled along the pool. Mountains are piled up to form a screen. Around the pool are buildings, platforms, pavilions, and attics. The sparse corridors are well-arranged, and the scene and sentiment blend, obtaining the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.
Opening hours: Open all year round from 08:00 to 16:30.
