Weipu Garden

Weipu Garden

Weipu Garden is a cultural heritage conservation unit of Jiangsu Province.

Weipu Garden is located at No. 6 Fanchuang Lane, Guangling District, Yangzhou City. It was originally a residence of the Chen family during the late Qing and early Republican period, later owned by the Xu family. The residence faces south and is divided into eastern and western sections, with a fire lane in between. It covers an area of over 1,700 square meters, with a built-up area of more than 1,000 square meters. The western section consists of a five-bay longitudinal structure with four courtyards remaining. The first courtyard features a five-bay gatehouse, with an eight-character patterned brick archway, flanked by a pair of stone drums, and a straight screen wall opposite. Inside the gatehouse, there are two north-facing rooms on each side. Entering further, there is a courtyard, with a round door in the northeast corner inscribed with the name “Weipu” (Weipu Garden). Along the eastern side of the garden, there is a three-bay corridor along the wall, leading north to the second courtyard flower hall. In the southwest corner of the garden, there is a hip-and-gable style pavilion with upturned eaves and ornamental railings. The walls of the pavilion feature brick carvings of crabapple blossom frames, inlaid with carvings of Buddha’s hand fruit, peaches, pomegranates, and grapes, symbolizing blessings, longevity, and many descendants. Below the pavilion lies a winding pond that never dries up, where fish swim. The pond is surrounded by white stone railings, and near the railings there are rockeries enclosing a small area planted with cypress trees and flowers. Against the northern wall, there is a man-made lake rockery hill, commonly known as “Dragon and Phoenix Hill.” The courtyard garden includes peaks, caves, water features, fish, flowers, and plants, all arranged exquisitely. It was designed by Yu Jizhi, a renowned Yangzhou painter and master of rockery design. The second courtyard flower hall has a width of five bays, with a rolled shed in front, lattice doors with square-patterned woodwork inside, a screen door at the back, and square brick flooring. The third, fourth, and fifth courtyards all feature a typical structure of three bright rooms and five hidden ones, with a depth of seven rafters. Behind the fifth courtyard is a small inner courtyard connected via a gate to the residences on the eastern axis. The original eastern section had seven courtyards, but these have been destroyed. The overall architectural complex is mainly residential, complemented by a garden, with a regular and rigorous layout, and exquisitely constructed.

On December 19, 2011, the People's Government of Jiangsu Province listed it as part of the seventh batch of provincial-level cultural heritage conservation units.

Further reading:

· Municipal Cultural Heritage Conservation Units of Yangzhou City (First to Third Batches)

· Seventh Batch of Provincial Cultural Heritage Conservation Units of Jiangsu Province