Zhuo Boat Garden

Zhuo Boat Garden

Zhuo Boat Garden is a national AAA-level tourist attraction.

Baoying’s Zhuo Boat Garden is located at the intersection of Ye Ting Road and Anyi Road in the city center of Baoying, covering an area of 68 mu. Surrounded by water on three sides, it boasts an elegant and refined charm, with a unique character. The Qing Dynasty scholar Pan Lei wrote in his “Record of Zhuo Boat Garden”: “Where water accumulates, it is made into ponds; where it flows, into canals; where it is flat, into pools; where it winds, into streams; where it rushes, into springs; and where it spreads gently, into ponds and marshes.” “Zhuo” means to row or float, and “boat” refers to vessels — making it the perfect place for literati to sail on the water, cultivate their minds, and nurture their spirits.

During the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty, Qiao Lai, an academician of the Hanlin Academy, was disgusted by the corruption of officialdom. After resigning from his post, he returned to his hometown and built a private garden, naming it Zhuo Boat Garden, where he could devote himself to reading, poetry, and painting. In the mid-Qing Dynasty, his descendants donated part of the land to establish Huachuan Academy. By the late Qing and early Republican period, it was converted into Anyi School and a public education center, then occupied by Japanese forces during the war, leading to damage to the garden. After liberation, the local government renovated the garden extensively, establishing it as Baoying County People’s Park until 1982, when it reverted to its original name — Zhuo Boat Garden.

Above the main gate of Zhuo Boat Garden hangs a plaque inscribed with the garden’s name, written by Zhao Puchu, former president of the Buddhist Association of China. Flanking the gate are a pair of majestic, snow-white stone lions. Legend has it that in the early days, there was a tofu shop north of the city. Every evening, the shop owner would prepare two vats of soybean curd for sale the next day, but one vat would mysteriously “disappear” by morning. To uncover the truth, the owner hid behind a vat one night. As dawn approached and the stars faded, he saw two huge creatures approach silently, crouch over the vat, and devour the curd. Enraged, the owner grabbed an iron rod and struck fiercely, hitting one creature’s paw, which let out a roar before fleeing. The next morning, the owner found a broken stone lion paw by the vat. After searching the city, he discovered that one of the stone lions in front of Taishan Temple was missing a paw. During the Cultural Revolution, the temple was destroyed, and the lions were buried underground by locals for protection. Later, during the construction of Ye Ting Road, road workers unearthed the two intact lions near the former entrance of Baoying Middle School and moved them to the front of Zhuo Boat Garden as guardian treasures.

Upon entering the garden gate, visitors are greeted with scenes of verdant pines hiding pavilions, pavilions and terraces reflected in the water, fragrant lotus flowers, and swaying willows — a delightful sight. Passing through a winding corridor, one crosses a stone bridge over a clear stream, with rockeries standing prominently ahead. Walking along shaded paths westward, you’ll soon come upon a pavilion where visitors can rest and admire the garden scenery. Turning north leads to the famous Babao Pavilion.

The Babao Pavilion stands atop a height, exuding grandeur. Its original location was by the Debao River on South County Street, but it was relocated here in 1983.

West of the Babao Pavilion, across an arched bridge, lies a small island in Qi Family Pond. On the island stands Qi-Wang Pavilion, also known as “The Hall of Deep Bamboo and Clean Lotus.” Inside Qi-Wang Pavilion, visitors can admire calligraphy left by literati gatherings, enjoy tea, or try their hand at writing or painting — a warm and elegant scene. Purple wisteria flowers bloom in front of the hall like clouds, while surrounding pines, bamboos, plums, and willows cast dancing shadows.

North of the Babao Pavilion are exquisite lake stones forming a rockery with delicate caves. Visitors can climb “cliffs,” cross water stone pillars, or simply enjoy the fun at their leisure. Further north lies a yellow-stone rockery called Jian Song Pavilion, topped with a hexagonal double-eave roof. On the southwestern and southeastern sides of the jade-like Qi Family Pond are white-marble-style railings. The northern side features “Huachuan Scenic View,” a building in traditional Chinese architectural style.

In the Ming Dynasty, Qi Family Pond was originally a reed marsh. A family surnamed Qi lived by the pond. On the wedding night of their eldest son, the son accidentally fell into the water and drowned while seeing guests off. Overcome with grief, the bride wrote a poem: “Though I painted a tiger, I left its spots undone; a hundred years as man and wife cut short in just one night. Joy had not yet faded when sorrow arose; guests who came to congratulate now come to mourn. Behind the peacock screen, lamps glow dimly; on the mandarin duck pillow, tears flow silently. I never even saw my husband’s face, yet I’ve brought false fame upon this world.” She then drowned herself to uphold her chastity. In the 27th year of Emperor Qianlong’s reign (1762), when the emperor passed through Baoying during his third southern tour and heard the story, he was deeply moved and wrote a poem: “Not having seen her husband’s face, she followed him in death — not the act of an ordinary chaste woman. Even the elderly cling to life, yet how could youth forsake its prime? Her soul roams the netherworld, vast as heaven and earth; her bones rest on the mountain, fragrant among grass and trees. My tears have seldom fallen, but today I weep to uphold eternal virtue.” The original owner of the garden, Qiao Lai, often rowed with friends on the pond, sipping tea, discussing the past and present, composing poetry, or singing joyfully. The top imperial scholar Wang Shidan once visited and wrote: “Here, one becomes a little immortal of leisure, with a crane calling its mate down from Penglai Bridge.”

Today, the pond is filled with fragrant lotus blossoms. Every summer, broad lotus leaves sway in the breeze, and thousands of lotus flowers bloom delicately. Visitors come to enjoy the cool, row boats, and revel in the pleasure. Along the pond’s willow-lined shores, the sounds of insects, frogs, and birds create a vibrant scene, making it a favorite spot for tourists to appreciate the garden’s beauty.