Yiyuan Garden

Xuyuan Garden

Located to the west of the Heavenly King’s Palace, Xuyuan Garden is also known as the Western Garden, as it was originally part of the palace. Built during the Daoguang reign of the Qing Dynasty (1821–1851), the garden features exquisite architecture and embodies the unique style of classical gardens in China’s Jiangnan region, making it one of the two most famous gardens in Jinling.

Xuyuan Garden is a splendid and distinctive classical garden with Jiangnan characteristics, covering an area of 27 mu, including approximately 3.3 mu of water surface. During the Ming Dynasty, this garden was called “Xuyuan,” and during the Taiping Rebellion, it served as the Western Garden of the Heavenly King’s Palace. The garden is adorned with flowers that bloom in all seasons, filling the air with fragrance, while ancient trees tower overhead and cicadas chirp amid birdsong. Small bridges arch over flowing streams, and mountains reflect in the lake, where koi dart about, bringing the space to life. Delicate pavilions with upturned eaves and dragon motifs winding around their structures create a dynamic yet serene atmosphere. Both the Heavenly King Hong Xiuquan and Dr. Sun Yat-sen, along with leaders of the Nationalist Government, once chose this site for their offices. It offers visitors both aesthetic pleasure and endless reverie...

The garden houses the Tongyin Pavilion, built specifically for listening to the sounds of tung trees. In front of and behind the pavilion are artificial hills to the north and south. On the southern hill stands a hexagonal pavilion, not far from which is the Fangsheng Pavilion — a double-layered square structure whose roof and base seem almost merged yet remain distinct, forming a single entity, also known as the Mandarin Duck Pavilion. Beyond the Mandarin Duck Pavilion lies an artificially excavated pool shaped like a bottle, with a winding bridge across the water. To the south sits a stone boat intricately crafted with lifelike details; the plaque on the boat reads “Unmoored Boat,” originally inscribed by Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty during his southern inspection tours.

Xuyuan Garden is compact and exquisitely designed, with water as its central element. A stone boat is placed to the south and a pavilion to the north, dividing the water scenery into seven interconnected yet independent sections. This layout gives the impression of vastness within compactness, intricacy within simplicity, and a harmonious interplay of reality and illusion, creating a richly layered experience.