Suzhou Li Hongzhang Ancestral Hall (Jingyuan Garden)

Suzhou Li Hongzhang Ancestral Hall (Jingyuan Garden)

The Suzhou Li Hongzhang Ancestral Hall (Jingyuan Garden) is a Suzhou municipal cultural relics protection unit.

The Li Hongzhang Ancestral Hall is located at No. 845 Shantang Street. During the Qianlong era, it was the Tower Shadow Garden of Jiang Chongguang. In the second year of the Jiaqing reign (1797), Magistrate Ren Zhaojiong purchased the site to build the Bai Ancestral Hall in honor of Bai Juyi. In the 28th year of the Guangxu reign (1902), Governor Enshou was ordered by imperial decree to construct this ancestral hall for Li Hongzhang here. It is also known as “Jingyuan.” The ancestral hall has successively been converted into the villa of Wen Zhaoshi (the grandson of Wen Zhengming), the Bai Juyi Ancestral Hall, and the Li Hongzhang Ancestral Hall. As a Suzhou municipal cultural relics protection unit, the ancestral hall is rich in garden ambiance, with elegant architecture, ancient and famous trees, small bridges over flowing water, and rockeries and pavilions forming a unique landscape.

The existing structures of the Li Hongzhang Ancestral Hall include the main gate, ceremonial gate, worship hall, as well as the Mountain-Viewing Pavilion, Tower Shadow Pond, Zigzag Bridge, and rockery...

Main Gate: Three bays wide, in the style of a military gate. The main entrance faces west, toward Shantang Street. Ceremonial Gate: Three bays wide. There is an inscribed stone tablet titled “Record of the Reconstruction of the Tower Shadow Garden.” Shen Deqian once wrote “An Account of the Tower Shadow Garden.” Worship Hall: Currently used as a reading room. Tower Shadow Pond: Standing about one meter south of the “crooked-neck tree” and looking down, you can see what appears to be a reflection of the Tiger Hill Pagoda. Imperial Edict Stele: The stele is about three meters tall and one meter wide. The inscriptions are clear and legible.