Shitian Mountain House (Shuanghuai Garden)

Shitian Mountain House (Shuanghuai Garden)

Shitian Mountain House, also known as Shuanghuai Garden, is famed for its lake stones and is the world’s only surviving rockery masterpiece built by Shi Tao, a towering figure in the painting world during the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. Shi Tao, originally named Zhu Ruoji, was an outstanding painter of the late Ming and early Qing periods. He spent his life exploring famous mountains and rivers, “seeking unique peaks to sketch from,” and later settled in Yangzhou in his later years, leaving behind this singular rockery work—the Shitian Mountain House. Hidden within the rockery is a stone chamber, which serves as a perfect retreat from the summer heat. The garden's rockery features a distinctive structure using a method where lower walls support upper peaks. The main peak is piled atop two brick-built “stone chambers.” There are two paths leading to the stone chamber—one from the west that crosses a stream, and another from the east that goes through a cave into the chamber. The mountain form encircles a pool, with the main peak being steep and majestic, while the auxiliary peak is located at the southwestern turn. Between the two peaks, ridges and gullies alternate, creating a sense of continuity without being fully connected, evoking a dynamic, leaping energy. This design captures the painting principle of “mountains that seem to move with enduring momentum,” and aligns with the compositional rule of “urgent on the left, gentle on the right—never balance both sides,” demonstrating an extraordinary sense of layout and artistry.

Opening Hours

7:30~17:15

Location

Huayuan Lane, South of Yangzhou City (south side of Heyuan)