Yu Garden

Yu Garden

Yu Garden is situated within the Second People’s Hospital of Changzhou on Xinglong Lane, covering an area of nearly 0.67 hectares. Commonly known as the Zhao Family Garden, it was originally a deer park during the Ming Dynasty. In the early years of the Qianlong reign in the Qing Dynasty, it served as the private villa of official Xie ?, called Xie Garden. It was later bought by Zhao Qi, the grandson of Qing historian and poet Zhao Yi, who reconstructed and refurbished it in the 26th year of the Daoguang reign (1846), naming it Yu Garden, which implies "roughly formed garden." It flourished during the Daoguang and Xianfeng eras, boasting the most extraordinary rockeries and stones in the entire region. In its prime, the garden featured lush flowers and trees, meandering clear streams, and rockeries lining the pond, each inscribed with a unique name such as “Spiritual Cliff,” “Wrinkled Jade,” “Jade Lotus,” “Lone Towering Peak,” “Witch Gorge,” “Immortal’s Palm,” “Kunshan Fragment,” “Jade Screen,” “Puffy Cloud,” “Dancing Sleeve,” “Camel Hump,” and “Flying Corner.” Together, these formed the famous Twelve Peaks of Yu Garden. The garden was broadly divided into three scenic areas: the western part was an islet surrounded by water, formerly known as “West Garden Autumn Harvest”; the eastern section, home to the essence of Yu Garden and occupying about two-thirds of the area, centered around a pond with stone embankments connecting various attractions into a stunning chain of pearls, referred to as “East Pond Spring Bloom”; between the West Garden and East Pond stood a man-made hill built from yellow stones, encircled by streams on three sides and shaded by ancient trees, which Zhao Qi named “South Mountain Surging with Greenery.”

Within the pond, rocks were piled to form a hill resembling a jade island, connected by a winding arched bridge. Amid the rugged rocks, a wisteria vine twisted upward from a crevice in a massive boulder, resembling an emerald canopy from afar—offering a uniquely charming sight. Zhao Qi composed twenty-four scenic spots, including “Plum Grove Charm,” “Crabapple Spring Pavilion,” “Moon Viewing Pavilion,” and “City Corner Sails,” writing a poem for each, all compiled in his Yu Garden Poetry Collection. The corridors were inlaid with stone carvings of calligraphy by renowned artists such as Yun Nantian.

In the 10th year of the Xianfeng reign (1860), the Taiping Army captured Changzhou, and Yu Garden was destroyed, leaving no pavilions or towers intact. In the late Guangxu period, Zhao Qi’s great-great-grandson and his wife, Xu Xiaoxian, borrowed extensively to renovate the garden. After several years, the restoration was completed, though it never regained its former glory. By the early Republican era, only three or five of the original Twelve Peaks remained, lying scattered in the grass by the stream. In the 1930s, the site was repurposed as Wujin County Hospital. During the 1950s and 1960s, railings were added around the pond, trees and flowers planted, and the embankments repaired to beautify the garden. In 1983, a traditional pavilion with a fish-dragon ridge roof was built on the small island in the pond, along with a decorative fountain and ornamental fish such as goldfish and carp, transforming Yu Garden into a pleasant leisure spot for visitors. The garden is celebrated for its serene forests and valleys, gaining fame across southern Jiangsu. In December 1987, it was designated as a municipal cultural heritage site. Though it no longer boasts the grandeur of its heyday, today’s Yu Garden remains embraced by weeping willows, gently rippling waters, arched bridges, bamboo groves, and fragrant blossoms—truly living up to its name as “Yu” (roughly formed) Garden. Upon entering, one sees a pool of clear water. Rocks are stacked in the pond to form a hill crowned with a pavilion, surrounded by peculiar stones and connected by a curved bridge. The pavilion’s roof ridge features two lifelike large carp, seemingly leaping toward the dragon gate. Its upturned eaves are adorned with various auspicious animals like small antelopes, each with distinct and lively expressions. Among the uniquely shaped rocks by the water and on the hill, some are stacked naturally—slender, porous, hollow, and translucent—resembling cavernous mountain cliffs. Others resemble a mischievous monkey perched atop an old tree root, or a frog crouching by the water, or even a coiled dragon or a lion, or a giant brush pointing to the sky. Amid the jagged rocks, a wisteria vine winds up from a crevice, draping over the top of a massive boulder like a grand headdress—an amusing sight. The pond connects with a winding stream, encircling the space. Several arched bridges link across the stream, lined with ancient trees along the banks, while the stream’s head is dotted with pale, scattered rocks. In the northwest corner stands a massive solitary mound, surrounded by a small stream and shaded by towering old trees. In summer and autumn, the garden is shaded by lush greenery, radiating a tranquil and elegant atmosphere, remaining a serene destination nestled within beautiful forests and valleys.