Qianyuan Garden

Qianyuan Garden

Qianyuan Garden is located on Jianshe Road in Huzhou, sharing the same grounds as Lianhuazhuang Garden.

On the eastern side of the garden’s main gate, painted on a wall with gray tiles and white plaster, are the two large Chinese characters for “Qianyuan” (潜园), calligraphed by Professor Chen Congzhou from Tongji University. Upon entering the gate, you’ll find an artificial rockery made from over a thousand tons of Taihu rocks. On the southern side of the rockery stands a small pavilion with wooden pillars and brown tiles, inside of which is inscribed the name “Xiaopenglai” (Little Penglai) written by the renowned Huzhou calligrapher Tan Jiancheng. On the eastern side of the rockery is a stele commemorating the donation of books by the Lu family, in honor of Lu Xinyuan’s contribution.

The garden also features the Baixuan Corridor, adorned with plants such as stone bamboos, flowers, banana trees, and camphor trees. There is also a pond beside which stand five Taihu rocks, one of which is called “Lotus Peak” and has been listed as a municipal cultural relic. Overall, the garden is exquisitely elegant, filled with fine features, making it a wonderful place for sightseeing and relaxation.

Background: Originally built in the early years of the Guangxu reign during the Qing Dynasty, it was a private garden created by book collector Lu Xinyuan, hence the original name “Lu Family Garden.” It was later renamed “Qianyuan Garden” after Lu Xinyuan referred to himself as the “Old Man of Qianyuan.” Following the February Revolution, the theoretician Dai Jitao once lived here, enjoying a period of reclusive life akin to a paradise on earth.

When first built, Qianyuan Garden featured 16 scenic spots including the “Shouxian Pavilion,” “Sihaijing She,” and “Wushitang Hall.” Most of the structures were destroyed during the Anti-Japanese War.