The Finest Garden of the Late Qing Dynasty｜Heyuan, Yangzhou

#chinatravel 📍Tucked away on Xuningmen Street in Yangzhou, Heyuan—originally named Jixiao Shanzhuang—was built during the Guangxu reign of the Qing dynasty by He Zhidao. Known as “the No.1 Garden of Late Qing,” this national heritage site is a true gem of classical Chinese landscaping. It houses the Pian Shi Shan Fang, a unique rockery design by master Shitao, treasured in Chinese garden art history. Heyuan is famous for its ingenious double-storey covered walkways, stretching 1,500 meters and linking the East and West gardens as well as the main residence. Garden scholar Luo Zhewen once praised it as the prototype of the modern “interchange bridge” in China. Highlights include the East Garden’s Fu Hai Xuan, with ripple-like stone flooring evoking the feeling of boating, and the West Garden’s Waterside Pavilion, elegantly standing above the water. The Yu Xiu Building harmoniously blends East and West with French shutters and Japanese-style sliding doors. With seasonal charm year-round—peonies in spring, lotus breezes in summer, fiery leaves in autumn, and snow reflections in winter—Heyuan is truly a living painting, embodying harmony between man and nature. #travel #trip #china #staycation #thingstodo #myitinerary