Xitang Xiyuan Garden

Xitang Xiyuan Garden

Xitang Xiyuan Garden is a cultural heritage site protected by Jiashan County.

The original site of Xiyuan Garden was located in Jijia Lane on West Street. It was originally a private villa of the Zhu family during the Ming Dynasty and was later sold to the Sun family. The garden features trees, flowers, rockeries, pavilions, and ponds, offering beautiful scenery. On the eastern rockery stands the "Listening to the Waves Pavilion" teahouse, named after a tall white pine tree on the rockery that rustles loudly in the wind.

In the winter of 1920, poet Liu Yazi visited Xitang and stayed at Xiyuan Garden. He took a commemorative photo with fellow members of the Nanshe Literary Society at Xiyuan Garden. Imitating the "Elegant Gathering" painting by Li Gonglin of the Northern Song Dynasty, which depicts a gathering of literati such as Su Shi, Mi Fu, and Huang Tingjian, the photo was titled "Second Elegant Gathering at Xiyuan Garden."

Xiyuan Garden

The garden now houses several exhibition halls, including the "Zhu Nianci Calligraphy Art Museum on Fan Surfaces," the "Hundred Seals Museum," and the "Nanshe Exhibition Room." The "Zhu Nianci Calligraphy Art Museum on Fan Surfaces" displays over a hundred exquisite fan artworks by Zhu Nianci, a nationally recognized master of arts and crafts. The "Hundred Seals Museum" exhibits one hundred seals reflecting the scenery and style of Xitang, created by one hundred seal engravers from both China and abroad under the organization of the Xiling Seal Art Society of Hangzhou. These include seal impressions and inscriptions. The hundred seals represent one hundred scenic views of Xitang.

Eighteen members of the Nanshe Literary Society were active in Xitang, including Yu Shiméi, Li Ximou, Yu Zuomei, Shen Yuzhong, and Jiang Xuecheng. The poems, essays, and articles they left behind commented on current affairs and expressed revolutionary ideals, reflecting the true sentiments of the town’s literati at the time. After Liu Yazi traveled south to Guangzhou, he gradually distanced himself from his friends in Xitang, and the Nanshe Society fell apart amidst the tide of revolution. However, a group of former members in Xitang re-established the Xushe Society, with Jiang Xuecheng as its leader. With unchanged goals and membership, it can be seen as an extension of Nanshe in Xitang. Most of their literary works have been preserved.

Suggested Duration

30 minutes

Transportation

Within walking distance

Ticket

Individual ticket: 10.00 RMB

Combined scenic area ticket: 100.00 RMB (includes 11 attractions)

Opening Hours

8:00-17:00

Location

Sujiakan, Xitang Ancient Town, Jiashan County, Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province

Xijie Community: Located in the center of Xitang Town, Xijie Community stretches from the Seed Farm in the south to Yingxiu Bridge in the west, with the city river forming its northeastern boundary. It covers an area of 0.9 square kilometers and consists of 27 residential groups, with 850 registered households and a population of 1,914. The community party branch includes two sub-branches, with 82 registered party members and 15 in-service party members. Services provided include social assistance, labor security, public security mediation, and women's rights advocacy. In recent years, it has been awarded honors such as Provincial Standardized Aging Community, Provincial Advanced Urban Sports Community, Provincial Green Community, and Provincial Fitness Club. … Xijie Community detailed information++