Qushui Garden

Qushui Garden

Qushui Garden is a national AA-level tourist attraction and a Shanghai municipal cultural relics protection unit.

Qushui Garden is situated at the eastern end of Chengzhong East Road and the western end of Gongyuan Road in Qingpu Town, Qingpu District on the outskirts of Shanghai. It faces Ying River to the east and leans against the Town God’s Temple (now the Qingpu District Museum) to the west. The garden was initially constructed in the 10th year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1745 AD), originally as an auxiliary garden to the local town god’s temple (City God’s Temple), and was once called Lingyuan. With a history of more than 230 years, it holds significant artistic value in terms of Jiangnan-style garden architecture. Qushui Garden is renowned alongside Shanghai’s other four classical gardens—Yuyuan Garden, Gucun Park’s Guyi Garden, Jiading’s Qiuxia Pu, and Songjiang’s Zui Bai Chi—and is recognized as one of Shanghai’s five major classical gardens. It is also a county-level cultural relics protection unit.

The garden is oriented from north to south and covers an area of approximately thirty acres (1.82 hectares), with water bodies making up 15% of the total space. It is known for its exquisite charm and classic elegance. The entire garden features twenty-four scenic spots, where every rock, pool, pavilion, and tower contributes to its delightful scenery. Towering ginkgo trees, winding vines, ancient woods, and seasonal flowers ensure constant blooms. The garden structures are built with blue tiles, white walls, and gray bricks. Lush foliage, abundant blossoms, and plentiful fruits have earned it the reputation of “cherry blossoms vying in spring, lotus flowers emerging in summer, osmanthus fragrant in autumn, and wintersweet shining brilliantly in winter,” truly “with seasonal blooms, osmanthus reigns supreme, and golden chestnuts fill the garden with fragrance.”

After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, continuous renovations and expansions created a well-arranged complex of classical buildings. The garden includes 24 scenic spots: Yingxian Pavilion, Yingxi Pavilion, Jingxin Cottage, Tian Guang Yun Ying (Reflection of Sky and Clouds), Huang Dui Fei Lai (Illusion of Flying In), Xiao Hao Liang, Po Xian Pavilion, Er Qiao (Two Bridges), Zhuo Jin Ji, Qiu Long Cave, Yu Zi Pavilion, Mi Bai Stone, Huan Bi Lou (Surrounded by Greenery Tower), Hua Shen Ci (Flower God Shrine), Qing Xu Jing Tai (Tranquil and Peaceful), Xi Yu Bridge, Zhou Ju Fei Shui (Boat Living Not on Water), Xi Yang Hong Ban Lou (Sunset Red Half Tower), De Yue Xuan (Moon-Appreciating Pavilion), You Jue Tang (Awakening Hall), Qing Su Shan Fang (Clear and Secluded Mountain House), Bai Yun Wu (White Cloud Valley), and Ning He Tang (Harmonious Hall). In 1980, the garden’s original name, Qushui Garden, was restored.

From 1983 to 1986, the Shanghai Municipal Gardens Management Office allocated 800,000 yuan for a comprehensive renovation of the garden. Two new rockeries were built, and open spaces were divided by whitewashed walls connected by winding corridors, creating a subtle and refined layout. Qushui Garden is one of Shanghai’s five major ancient gardens. It was listed as a county-level cultural relics protection unit in 1959 and as a municipal-level one in 2014.

Address: No. 612 Gongyuan Road, Qingpu District, Shanghai

Type: Garden

Recommended visiting time: 1–2 hours

Phone: 021-59732996

Opening Hours:

May 1 – September 30: 6:00–17:00; October 1 – April 30 of the following year: 6:00–16:30

Ticket Information:

Gate Price: 5.0 RMB

Transportation

Bus route from No. 36 Songshan Road to Qingpu County Town: 5:45–17:00, Hu-Zhu Line.