Shimei Garden

Shimei Garden

Shimei Garden is a newly built classical-style garden, located at the ancient Shimei site and the former site of Baiyi Nunnery on the southeastern foothills of Yu Mountain. It neighbors the Reading Terrace of Crown Prince Xiao Tong of the Liang Dynasty and the current Shuotai Park, and serves as a recreational venue for retired cadres.

The garden follows the contours of the mountain, with pathways carved through the rocks, layered pavilions and towers, open corridors and bright pavilions, real mountains inside the buildings, and dripping springs. Perched high above, it offers a uniquely beautiful view. Blending artificial and natural beauty, it serves retired cadres and has earned praise from both domestic and international visitors. It was awarded the only provincial medal issued by the Washington D.C.-based Sino-American Art Exchange Center. This garden represents a unique innovation in the garden design of the Yu region in the new era.

There is a legend about Shimei. It is said that during the Han Dynasty, the immortal Huang Pubing visited this place and tossed plum pits onto the rocky slopes. Overnight, they grew into plum trees. When the immortal left and the plum trees were gone, later generations carved seven plum blossoms into the rock face, giving the place its name “Shimei” (Stone Plum). Today, the stone-carved plum blossoms are no longer there, but the two seal-script characters “Shi Mou” (Stone Something) inscribed by Gu Guangyao of Xishan on the cliff face are still clearly visible. The nearby Shimei Street, Shimei Primary School, and Shimei Square are all named after this site.