Little South Garden

Little South Garden

On the south side of West Lake lies a major road called Nanshan Road. Near Changqiao, the road makes a sharp turn, changing direction from north-south to east-west. At this bend sits a small garden named Little South Garden, which is now known as Changqiao Park. Though compact in size, the garden is exquisitely designed. Within its grounds stands a charming Western-style house, famously known as “Ningxiangju.” This building was constructed in the mid-20th century and remains well-preserved to this day.

The owner of Ningxiangju was Guo Linshuang, general manager of Shanghai’s Wing On Company. A patriotic industrialist, in the mid-1930s, amidst a nationwide surge in the movement to support domestic goods, Guo was inspired by the patriotic fervor of the people. He actively sought to expand the supply of Chinese-made products and increase their proportion in his stores. By 1936, selling domestic goods had gained strong momentum in Shanghai. To compete with other businesses, Guo decided to open a large-scale domestic products market in the soon-to-be-completed new Wing On Building at the intersection of Nanjing Road and Zhejiang Road. When the advertisement calling for domestic product submissions was published, within just three months, over a thousand manufacturers responded, and merchandise worth several hundred thousand yuan was purchased — truly an unprecedented success.

In his spare time away from business, Guo often took short breaks in Hangzhou to recharge. Little South Garden, along with the residence within it — Ningxiangju — was his favorite retreat. Ningxiangju is a two-story brick-and-wood building with exposed red brick walls and a black tile roof. Its architectural form is harmonious and well-proportioned, with an appropriately modest and delicate scale. The name “Ningxiangju” is elegantly inscribed on the balcony wall of the second floor at the building’s entrance. The structure faces south with its back to the lake and mountain, offering a beautifully scenic setting. Today, it has been transformed into the “Ningxiangju Teahouse.” Nearby, there are numerous stone tables and benches where visitors can enjoy tea and rest. The area around the building is landscaped with lawns and flowers, and it borrows the backdrop of Nanping Mountain to create a richly layered and exquisite view.

The former “Little South Garden” was also one of Hangzhou’s renowned classical gardens. It featured artificial hills, winding paths, pavilions and towers, lotus ponds and water channels, willow shades and locust blossoms — combining elegance with splendor. After several changes of ownership and renovations, it has now been turned into a public park, namely Changqiao Park. The park is extensively planted with osmanthus, the city flower of Hangzhou, making it another distinctive scenic spot around West Lake.