Yuyuan Garden, originally a private estate of Xu Dao, a descendant of the Ming Dynasty’s Prince of Zhongshan, was later owned by the Huizhou merchant Wang family and then by Wu Yongguang. After the Qianlong period, the garden gradually fell into decline. In the twelfth year of the Tongzhi era, Hu Enxian, a renowned figure of the Qing Dynasty, retired and purchased the former site of Xiyuan. In the second year of the Guangxu era, Hu Enxian, in order to provide for his mother, resigned from office and built the garden, naming it Yuyuan, which covered more than 50 acres and featured 36 scenic spots.
It included Qingyuantang, Chunhuitan, Shuishiju, Wuyingjingshe, Fenyinxuan, Songyan Pavilion, Qingshanbandu Building, Miju Corridor, Yiqinbaishi Hermitage, Jingli Furong, Ji’an, Chengshi Shanlin, Jiyun Pavilion, Yanqing Pavilion, Rongan Cottage, Qiushui Jianjia Pavilion, Qiyun Pavilion, Chunshui Xuan, Liu’an Boll, Ke Geng Thatched Cottage, Xiaotai, Yangsi Mountain Villa, Zai Shui Yi Fang, Shuyu, Xiao Canglang, Zhuwu, Xiaoshan Jia, Anwo, Qi Ting, Mu Ting, Xipu, Mei An, Yuhu, Luping, Jiehua Bridge, and Duhe Bridge, totaling thirty-six scenic spots, marking the garden’s peak period and earning the title ‘Lion Grove of Jinling’. In 1915, Hu Enxian’s son, Hu Guanguo, expanded the garden, adding 34 more scenic spots, resulting in a total of seventy scenic spots. After the Xinhai Revolution, Yuyuan was occupied by Zhang Xun’s pigtail soldiers and was destroyed during the Third Revolution. Although it was later restored, it was again destroyed during the Anti-Japanese War, leaving behind only a pond and some ruins. Around 2010, the School of Architecture at Southeast University, using Mr. Tong Jun’s handwritten map ‘Jiangnan Garden Records’ as a blueprint and supplemented by historical materials and old photos, began the restoration and protection of Yuyuan, and restored thirty-two scenic spots based on the current remains and historical information. On May 1, 2016, after five years of restoration, Yuyuan officially opened to the public, becoming a representative scenic spot in the Laomen West area of Nanjing and the Old City South area. The opening hours are from 09:00 to 17:30 all year round. Preferential policies for children: free for children under 1.4 meters (inclusive) or under 6 years old (inclusive); for children/students: applicable for children over 1.4 meters (exclusive) and school students, student ID required upon use, postgraduates and adult education students are not eligible. For the elderly: free for those 70 years old (inclusive) and above with ID or senior citizen card; half price for those 60 years old (inclusive) to 69 years old (inclusive). For military personnel: free with a soldier’s ID or officer’s ID. For disabled people: free with a disability card issued by the civil affairs department (1-2 accompanying personnel for severely disabled individuals are also free). Additional information: The above information is for reference only, and the actual policies on the day of the visit at the scenic spot shall prevail.Yuyuan Garden
Yuyuan Garden, originally a private estate of Xu Dao, a descendant of the Ming Dynasty’s Prince of Zhongshan, was later […]
