Lihu Garden and Fishing Villa

Lihu Garden and Fishing Villa

Lihu Garden and Fishing Villa are listed as cultural heritage conservation units of Jiangsu Province.

Lihu Garden, located on the scenic banks of Lihu Lake, is one of the major sites within the national scenic area “Taihu Lake.” Spanning 123 acres—with approximately two-fifths of the area covered by water—it is famed for its water features. Originally called Qihu or Wuli Lake, the lake is said to have been named after Fan Li, a statesman of the Yue Kingdom in the Spring and Autumn Period, who, legend has it, cruised the waters here with the beauty Xi Shi. The garden, in turn, takes its name from the lake. Surrounded by water on three sides, it offers distant views of rolling green hills and close sounds of waves lapping the shore. In spring, the southern embankment bursts into bloom with peach blossoms and willows turning green; the lakeside corridor shifts scenery with every step; rockeries rise emerald and twist through winding paths; pavilions and towers cast layered reflections on the rippling water. The great modern writer Guo Moruo once penned the verse: “To know the charm of Lihu Garden, ask the youths atop the cliffs.” Moreover, the garden’s rockeries are built in and around the water, brought to life by it, perfectly capturing the boundless allure of “man-made rocks in real water” where landscape and water blend seamlessly.

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Cultural Heritage Conservation Units of Jiangsu Province