Xiaomi Garden

Xiaomi Garden

Xiaomi Garden is a cultural heritage site protected by the city of Hangzhou.

Initially, No. 16 Mapo Lane in Shangcheng District of Hangzhou was a traditional Chinese-style residence purchased during the Qing Dynasty by Wang Huai, a tribute scholar from Tongxiang. The garden originally featured a pond, a zigzag bridge, rockeries, and more. It was named "Xiaomai" (literally “Little Rice”) due to the legend that Mi Fu, a renowned calligrapher of the Northern Song Dynasty, had left behind relics here through his son, and thus it came to be called "Xiaomai Shanfang" (Xiaomai Mountain House), commonly known as Xiaomi Garden.

In the 53rd year of the Qianlong reign (1788), Gong Tishen, an official of the Grand Council, resigned from his court position and returned to his hometown of Hangzhou. At that time, the Wang family was in decline, and he took the opportunity to purchase Xiaomai Shanfang as his residence for his remaining years. His grandson, Gong Zizhen, was born and received his early education in Xiaomi Garden. Gong Zizhen’s father, Gong Lizheng, was an accomplished historian who authored works such as "Annotations on Guoyu by Wei Zhao." His mother was also a well-educated lady from a distinguished family, and his maternal grandfather, Duan Yucai, was a renowned philologist with important works including "Commentary on Shuowen Jiezi," "Exegesis on Mao Shi," "Divergences in Ancient Texts of the Book of Documents," "Phonetic Tables of the Six Scripts," "Han Pronunciation Studies of the Rites of Zhou," "Han Pronunciation Studies of the Rites of Yi Li," and "Collection from the Jingyun Tower," showcasing profound and extensive scholarship. Within just a few years after Gong Lizheng passed the imperial examination during the Jiaqing era, his three sons — Jing Shen, Zi Zhen, and Zao Shen — all successively passed the provincial exams, and later during the Daoguang era, they also passed the metropolitan exams, earning the collective title of the "Three Gongs of East City" in Hangzhou.

Gong Zizhen was not only born in Hangzhou, but also returned to his hometown in his later years to serve as head of the Ziyang Academy in Hangzhou. After centuries of decline, Xiaomi Garden was reduced to ruins with only a remaining hall. In 1988, it was restored and opened to the public as the "Gong Zizhen Memorial Hall." Covering an area of over 600 square meters, the two-story building has five bays on each floor, along with wing rooms, featuring carved beams and painted rafters, all in a classic and elegant style. The main hall houses a half-length bronze statue of Gong Zizhen, surrounded by plaques and couplets inscribed by renowned figures such as Sha Menghai and Zhao Puchu. Four exhibition rooms display Gong Zizhen’s biographical introduction, chronology, historical materials, genealogical records, poetry selections, and research collections by later scholars. The courtyard features small bridges, flowing water, rockeries, and pavilions, complemented by greenery, embodying the charm of a classical Jiangnan garden. The memorial hall faces east, with a stone gate adorned with a plaque inscribed with the words "Gong Zizhen Memorial Hall," written by Mr. Zhao Puchu. Outside the gate stands a stone tablet engraved with "Xiaomi Garden: Municipal Cultural Heritage Site of Hangzhou," visible just over 100 meters down Mapo Lane.