Ge Garden

Ge Garden

Ge Garden is a National AAAA-level Tourist Attraction, a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Ge Garden is located on Dongguan Street in the suburbs of Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province.

Ge Garden was originally built as Shouzhi Garden in the early Qing Dynasty. It is said that the stacked rocks in Shouzhi Garden were the masterpiece of the monk Shi Tao. During the Jiaqing and Daoguang reigns of the Qing Dynasty, Huang Zhiyun, a salt merchant from the Two Huai regions, purchased the garden and renovated it. He planted thousands of bamboo plants in the garden, and taking half of the character "bamboo" (竹), along with the meaning of Su Shi’s verse “I would rather eat no meat than live without bamboo — for without meat I may grow thin, but without bamboo I will surely grow vulgar,” he named it “Ge Garden.” The layout of the garden is compact, renowned for its dramatic rockeries and majestic design, especially famous for its "Four Seasons Rockery."

The Spring Mountain is represented by the moon gate of Ge Garden, above which a stone-carved character “个” (resembling three bamboo leaves) is mounted. Upon entering the gate, you are greeted by slender bamboos and staggered stone bamboos, forming a spring scene painted on a white wall canvas — using fake elements to highlight real beauty, reminiscent of "bamboo shoots after the rain." Passing through the moon gate to the north is the Osmanthus Hall, fronted by lush osmanthus bushes and backed by a clear pond. A stone bridge over the pond leads directly to the seven-bay long building in the north of the garden. Below the building are tall phoenix trees, accented by clusters of banana plants.

The Summer Mountain is a crystal-clear, exquisite rockery built around the Osmanthus Hall using Taihu rocks. The lake stone mountain stands by the pond, featuring cave streams, winding shores, secluded caves, and stalactite-like formations. The rocky peaks resemble summer clouds, and under sunlight, the sharp contrast of light and shadow evokes a true summer atmosphere. The mountaintop is shaded by lush pines and cypresses, while the area below features murmuring streams and deep valleys, fresh and dripping with verdancy, creating a picturesque scene.

The Autumn Mountain is accessed via a covered walkway and a path leading to the yellow stone mountain on the east. This mountain encircles about half the garden, stretching approximately twenty zhang (about 66 meters) in length. The rugged, steep yellow rocks form an imposing landscape, with spiraling caves that offer ever-changing views as you walk through. The mountain also includes rock chambers and bridges constructed along its slopes, and a pavilion stands proudly at the summit. As the sun sets in the west, the golden glow reflects off the yellow stones and crimson maples, intensifying the autumn feel — hence the name Autumn Mountain.

The Winter Mountain is made of Xuan stones (snow stones) stacked from the eastern peak of the yellow stone mountain down to the southern wall beneath the “Zhaofeng Louyue Pavilion” (Wind-Inviting Moon-Viewing Pavilion). These stones resemble winter snow. Though artificially piled, they create the illusion of lingering snow. Some peaks ingeniously use the quartz glint in the Xuan stones to mimic ice and snow under sunlight — a rare and ingenious gardening technique in China.

The garden also features structures such as the Yiyu Pavilion, Baoshan Building, Fuyun Pavilion, Zhuqiu Pavilion, and Touyue Pavilion, all complementing the rockeries, ponds, ancient trees, and famous plants, adding to the garden’s classic elegance. (National Cultural Heritage Administration)

Address: No. 10, Yian East Road, Guangling District, Yangzhou

Type: Garden/Historic Site / World Cultural Heritage

Rating: AAAA

Recommended Visit Duration: 1–2 hours

Phone: 0514-87347428

Official Website: http://php.ge-garden.net/index.php

Opening Hours: 7:30–17:15

Ticket Information: Peak season (March–June, September–November): 45 RMB; Off-peak season (July–August, December–February): 30 RMB.

Huang Zhiyun (1770–1838), also known as Huang Yingtai, with the courtesy names Yunfen and Getianyuan. Originally from Zhejiang, he became a registered resident of Ganquan County, Yangzhou Prefecture, due to his involvement in the Two Huai salt trade, and was one of the Eight Great Salt Merchants during the Jiaqing and Daoguang reigns. Born in the 35th year of Qianlong (1770) and died in the 18th year of Daoguang (1838). Because his father served as an official in Zhaozhou, Huang Zhiyun was born there in 1770, present-day Zhao County, Hebei. When he was a teenager, his father passed away, and the family property was taken. A few years later, he rode alone to the capital on a donkey, relying on... [More details on Huang Zhiyun++]

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Third Batch of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level