Nanxiang Tanyuan Garden

Nanxiang Tanyuan Garden

Tanyuan Garden was the former residence of Li Liufang, a renowned scholar of the Ming Dynasty, located at No. 230 Jiefang Street in Nanxiang Town. The original site of Tanyuan Garden was in the northern market area of Nanxiang, covering just over three acres. Qian Daxin, a prominent scholar of the Qing Qianlong–Jiaqing period, once remarked: “There are many fine gardens in Chashang, but Mr. Changheng’s Tanyuan Garden is the finest.” It was planned and built in the 33rd year of the Wanli era (1605) during the Ming Dynasty by Li Liufang, a literary figure, painter, calligrapher, and seal carver of the Ming Dynasty. The garden’s name is derived from his pseudonym. The name Tanyuan comes from two blue sandalwood trees in the garden. These trees have grown together for thousands of years and are also known as the Mandarin Duck Sandalwoods or the Thousand-Year Sandalwoods. They are a unique monotypic plant species in China and a nationally protected rare tree species under second-class state protection, with a history of 1,389 years. They have now been listed in the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Record.

The two characters for “Tanyuan” on the main gate were inscribed by Xiao Xian, a disciple of Kang Youwei, and Qi Gong, a renowned calligrapher. The garden features attractions such as Baizun Hall, Cizui Pavilion, Shanyu Tower, and Furong Pavilion. It served as an important place for Li Liufang to read, care for his mother, compose poetry, paint, and meet with friends. It was a famous literati garden in Chinese history, but unfortunately, it was destroyed during the “Jiading Three Massacres.”

At the turn of the century, with reform and opening-up and the flourishing of the nation, the town government invested heavily in rebuilding Tanyuan Garden to further enhance the cultural depth and charm of the ancient town of Nanxiang. This was done to extend the legacy of the sages to inspire future generations, promote historical garden artistry for the benefit of society. Due to historical reasons, there was almost no textual or pictorial material about Tanyuan Garden available, making it impossible to restore the garden based on its original form. Therefore, the reconstruction creatively drew upon the garden design artistry of many classical gardens in the Jiangnan region, while also considering the aesthetic preferences of modern tourists. The garden culture seeks to reflect the character, sentiment, and artistic achievements of Li Liufang, truly making it a garden of artistic conception and a memorial garden for a notable figure.

The overall layout of the garden is compact and appropriate, exuding a serene, elegant, refined, and grand atmosphere. It inherits the cultural essence of classical gardens in the Jiangnan region while also incorporating a contemporary touch. Adjacent to Tanyuan Garden are the Shanyu Tower and Nanxiang Renjia, both of which are buildings from the Republican era. They preserve and showcase the historical imprints of Nanxiang and provide visitors with additional opportunities to explore the past. The new garden is built within the Shuangta Historical and Cultural Conservation Area.

Tour Route

Tour Route: Hun Tang Lane – Garden Gate – Entrance Hall – Cizui Hall – Buyuhang – Mingwu – Zhao Yin Pavilion – Stone Carvings – Longhan Fangshuo – Gu Yi Yan Yi (Shen Yu Room, Jian Tui Studio) – Baizun Hall – ? ? Pavilion – Waterfall and Flowing Clouds (Yi Studio) – Qinshu Pavilion – Shan Shan Ru Shui, Nanxiang Renjia – Qinghui Pavilion – Exit via Jiefang Street.

Ticket

Ticket: 36 RMB

Opening Hours

08:00—17:00

Location

Tanyuan Garden, No. 5 Huntang Lane, Nanxiang Town, Jiading District, Shanghai (within Nanxiang Old Street)

Li Liufang: (1575–1629) A Ming Dynasty literary figure and painter. His courtesy name was Changheng, and his pseudonyms included Pa’an and Shen’yu Jushi. He was from Jiading (now part of Shanghai). He passed the imperial examination at the provincial level during the Wanli era. When Wei Zhongxian built a shrine for himself, Li refused to pay homage, stating: “To bow is a matter of the moment; not to bow is a matter for all time.” His poetry and prose mostly consisted of scenic and complimentary works, characterized by a fresh and natural style. He excelled in landscape painting, with bold and vigorous brushwork, heavily influenced by Wu Zhen, and was also skilled in calligraphy and seal carving. He was part of the “Four Masters of Jiading” along with Tang Shisheng, Lou Jian, and Cheng Jiasui. His works include “Collected Works of Tanyuan” and “Postscripts to West Lake Strolling Paintings.”

… Li Liufang Detailed Information++