Little Pan Valley

Little Pan Valley

Little Pan Valley is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Little Pan Valley is now a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit, located at No. 58 Dashu Lane in the city center. Originally the residential garden of Zhou Fu, who served as the Viceroy of Liangjiang and Liangguang during the Guangxu era of the Qing Dynasty, it covers an area of approximately 5,000 square meters. The garden is situated to the east of the residence and is divided into eastern and western sections by a corridor and flower wall. To the south lies a set of rockeries, while to the north there is an L-shaped floral hall with three rooms, surrounded by corridors on three sides. In the courtyard south of the hall, there is a group of lake stones forming a hill, interspersed with trees and flowers. Behind the hall is a large pond, connected by a corridor to a waterside pavilion on the west side of the pond; the pavilion is surrounded by water on three sides and faces the lake stone Pan Valley hills on the east side of the pond across the water. The east bank of the pond features undulating hills, with one peak rising prominently, its rugged lake stones resembling a group of lions, hence known as the "Nine Lions Picture Hill." Below the hill lies a cave valley, accessible from the cave entrance via a stone bridge to the north bank, with another cave entrance leading to the garden’s southeast corridor. On the hill sits a small pavilion, offering a view of the garden’s eastern and western sections. To the northwest of the pond stands a three-bay building facing south. The eastern part of the garden features a three-room butterfly hall adorned with flowers, plants, and rocks. The entire layout is compact, achieving a sense of spaciousness within a small area. The western part of the garden houses the residence, arranged along east and west axes, each with three courtyards front and back, with a total floor area of about 2,000 square meters. It was renovated in 2010, and the garden section has been opened to the public.

"Pan Valley" is an ideal retreat for those seeking seclusion. The term originates from Han Yu’s "Preface to Li Yuan’s Retirement to Pan Valley," which describes: "South of the Taihang Mountains lies Pan Valley, where the springs are sweet, the soil fertile, the vegetation lush, and the inhabitants few." Zhou Fu named his garden "Little Pan Valley" to express his aspiration for a reclusive life.

The residence has both central and western sections, with halls at the front. The garden lies to the east of the residence. The garden gate faces west and is designed in a round moon shape, with the lintel inscribed in clerical script with the three characters “小盘谷” (Little Pan Valley). Inside the garden, the lake stone rockeries feature towering peaks, perilous paths, deep valleys, and winding stone trails. The garden is divided into eastern and western sections by flower walls and corridors. The western section is the essence of the garden. Upon entering, there is an L-shaped floral hall facing south. Walking around the back of the hall from the east, you will find a large pond in the garden. In the middle of the western part of the pond stands a pavilion, surrounded by water on three sides, facing the lake stone Pan Valley hills on the eastern side of the pond across the water. The eastern side of the pond features undulating hills, with a particularly prominent peak in the center, rugged lake stones resembling lions, hence called the "Nine Lions Picture Hill." The caves and valleys in the hills are deep and spacious, with another cave entrance to the north, below which stone steps cross the water. At the cave entrance is a stone plaque inscribed with “水流云在” (Flowing Water and Lingering Clouds). From there, heading north leads to the end of the hill, where a hexagonal pavilion with a pointed roof, the “Wind Pavilion,” is built. Descending the steps along the eastern corridor from the pavilion leads to the eastern part of the garden, whose entrance is an exquisite peach-shaped round gate, leading to a three-room floral hall inside. Professor Chen Congzhou, in his book *Yangzhou Gardens*, commented on the rockeries of Little Pan Valley as follows: “...The hill rises abruptly from the ground, majestic, named Nine Lions Picture Hill, with peaks over nine meters high. Unfortunately, during the renovation in the early Republic of China, some of its original form was slightly compromised. The rockeries of this garden are among the finest works in Yangzhou’s gardens... The rockery stacking technique is particularly excellent, comparable to that of the Mountain Villa with Embracing Beauty in Suzhou, clearly the work of master craftsmen. According to Volume Twelve of the *Jiangdu County Continued Annals* from the 12th year of the Guangxu reign in the Qing Dynasty, it is recorded: 'The garden is best known for its lake stones, with nine lions carved, exuding an exquisite and lively charm.' Analyzing the composition of the rockeries in Little Pan Valley, it seems to take the Mountain Villa with Embracing Beauty as its prototype, while also drawing inspiration and refining techniques from other fine works."

An exhibition on the historical materials of the Zhou family is displayed in the halls of Little Pan Valley, briefly introducing the historical connection between Zhou Fu and the garden. In August 1897, Zhou Fu, his wife, and their eldest son officially moved into their new home in Little Pan Valley at Dashu Lane. Zhou Fu’s wife, Madam Wu, resided in Little Pan Valley for the rest of her life and passed away there at the age of 73 in late 1907. However, Zhou Fu’s wish to spend his twilight years in Little Pan Valley was not fulfilled. In November of that year, he was urged by Li Hongzhang to return to service and was appointed as the Governor of Sichuan. In the 30th year of the Guangxu reign (1904), he served as acting Viceroy of Liangjiang, and in November 1906, he was appointed Viceroy of Liangguang in Guangzhou. During his tenure as Viceroy of Liangguang, Empress Dowager Cixi and Emperor Guangxu bestowed birthday honors upon Zhou Fu. Cixi granted a plaque inscribed with “风清南服” (Clear Winds over the Southern Territories) and a couplet reading “粤海波澄(原为澄的异体字)资上略，蓬山春霭眷长年” (The waves of the Guangdong sea calm, thanks to your superior strategy; the spring mists of Penglai Mountain linger, blessing your long life), along with a central painting of peonies, a scroll with the character “寿” (longevity), a statue of the Buddha of Infinite Life, and a jade ruyi (scepter). Emperor Guangxu also conferred additional gifts. According to Zhou Youling, Zhou Fu’s great-granddaughter, when Zhou Fu retired from his post as Viceroy of Liangguang, he hung the plaque inscribed “风清南服” and the couplet bestowed by Cixi, as well as plaques with the characters “福” (blessing) and “寿” (longevity), in the hall of the residence at Dashu Lane. In the spring of 2010, a replica of Cixi’s plaque “风清南服” was installed in the hall.

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Sixth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units