Garden of Return · Sai Jinhua Scenic Area

Garden of Return · Sai Jinhua Scenic Area

The Garden of Return · Sai Jinhua Scenic Area is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction and a cultural tourism destination.

The Hui-style garden "Garden of Return," also known as the Garden of Return Scenic Area, was restored and renovated in 2003 on the site of Sai Jinhua’s former residence, hence its name. It is located between two UNESCO World Heritage Sites — Xidi and Hongcun. The area officially opened to visitors in May 2004. The scenic area features Sai’s former home, her study, the well she used, the crabapple trees she planted herself, and more. The Sai Jinhua Former Residence Exhibition Hall displays a large collection of historical materials acquired from both domestic and international sources, photos of Sai Jinhua from different periods, as well as comments on her by notable figures such as Liu Bannong, Lu Xun, and Xia Yan, fully showcasing the mysterious and eventful life of Sai Jinhua.

The Sai Jinhua Former Residence Scenic Area lies between Huangshan and the World Heritage villages of Xidi and Hongcun. During its restoration, traditional Huizhou garden design techniques were employed. Its rockeries, water features, architecture, and plant arrangements differ significantly from those of classical gardens in Suzhou and Yangzhou. It incorporates many elements of Huizhou culture and the former residence of Sai Jinhua.

Blending seamlessly with the idyllic natural beauty of Yi County, the garden was designed to harmonize with its surroundings, skillfully integrating the landscape into the man-made environment. It represents a perfect combination of an artificial landscape garden and a natural one, offering high tourism and aesthetic value. Key scenic spots within the garden include Pear Blossoms with Moonlight, Twin Bridges Trimming Spring, Still Retreat Fishing Spot, Distant Breeze Over Lofty Peaks, and Emerald Hues All Around. From the perspectives of history, culture, and tourism, it is a valuable treasure.

Architectural Features

The design skillfully incorporates the surrounding views. Through parapet walls and lattice windows, the beauty of distant mountains, tree lines, and rural scenery is brought into full view, allowing visitors to appreciate the perfect harmony between the man-made garden and the idyllic natural landscape. The garden’s pavilions, terraces, artificial hills, ponds, bridges, winding paths, lattice windows, slender bamboos, ancient camphor trees, and corridors built along the water — including straight, winding, and slope corridors — together paint a captivating picture of Jiangnan-style landscape artistry. Among them, the rockery “Soyi Peak” features peaks, ridges, caves, valleys, streams, and springs that complement each other beautifully. The stacking technique is ingenious, and the construction is uniquely creative. Climbing to the top of the peak offers a panoramic view of the entire Garden of Return. From here, one can see distant green mountains, nearby fields, surrounding ancient residential villages, all blending naturally and harmoniously with the scenic area.

Sai Jinhua was a rather controversial figure in modern Chinese history. Her life was full of ups and downs — in her early years, she fell into hardship, but later she became the wife of a top imperial scholar and traveled to Europe as his consort, enjoying great fame. After the death of the scholar Hong Jun, she was expelled from the Hong family. Forced by circumstances, she returned to her former profession and gained widespread notoriety, earning titles such as the “Queen of Courtesans” and “Champion of Beauty.” During the Boxer Rebellion, Sai Jinhua transformed into “Madame Sai,” who was able to negotiate with the commander of the Allied forces, von Waldersee, and became famous in Beijing for her role in the “Ketteler Memorial Arch” incident. Unfortunately, her life grew increasingly difficult afterward. Two marriages in Shanghai failed to bring her happiness... More detailed information about Sai Jinhua ++