Jinan Wanzhu Garden

Jinan Wanzhu Garden

Jinan Wanzhu Garden is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Jinan Wanzhu Garden is located adjacent to Baotu Spring to the west. Originally built during the Yuan Dynasty, it earned its name from the bamboo groves within the garden. During the Longqing era of the Ming Dynasty, it was owned by Yin Shidan, a Grand Secretary of the Cabinet and native of Licheng, who renamed it “Tongle Garden,” also known as “Chuanshang Jingshe.” In the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty, Jinan poet Wang Ping took up residence here by leasing the property and named it “Twenty-Four Springs Thatched Cottage,” composing poems such as: “After a hundred years, it finally fell into the hands of a scholar; yet the whole district still calls it the Pavilion of the Elder Statesman,” and “Amidst the chaotic sounds of springs, who treads the path? Amidst the yellow leaves in the woods, I write books alone.” In the early years of the Republic of China, it was occupied by Zhang Huaizhi, a warlord of the Beiyang government who had served as both Military Governor of Shandong and Provincial Governor, who turned it into his private garden. Zhang summoned skilled craftsmen to renovate the garden extensively, resulting in its current form.

The garden covers an area of 1.4 hectares. Architecturally, it incorporates features from Beijing’s princely mansions, southern-style gardens, and Jinan’s traditional courtyard houses. In terms of layout, it employs techniques such as contrast, juxtaposition, and borrowed scenery, using walls, corridors, streams, and bridges to divide space, creating a complex of layered courtyards. There are 13 courtyards and 186 rooms in total, divided into three sections: east, west, and south. The eastern section includes four large courtyards and three small ones, the western section has four large courtyards, with the two sections connected; the southern section consists of two small courtyards. Each courtyard is surrounded by winding corridors, interconnected, with pavilions, towers, and terraces arranged in charming disorder.

At the entrance stands an exquisite rockery adorned with creeping vines and shaded by pine and cypress trees. Inside the courtyard, emerald green bamboo, fiery red pomegranates, and snow-white magnolia create a vibrant scene, complemented by springs such as “Wangshui” and “Donggao.” The springs converge into pools and streams that meander around the buildings and through the corridors, babbling softly. Bridges span the streams, and pavilions sit within the pools, offering visitors views of lotus flowers and fish while seated inside.

The beams, pillars, lintels, stone railings, pedestals, door headers, and walls of the buildings feature exquisitely crafted stone carvings, brick carvings, and wood carvings that are strikingly lifelike. The carvings depict a rich variety of subjects, including rare birds and animals, mythological tales, historical anecdotes, the Four Treasures of the Study (writing brush, ink stick, paper, and inkstone), as well as swords, spears, and traditional plants like pine, bamboo, plum, and orchid.

To the west of the courtyards lies the garden. In the southwest corner of the garden is Baiyun Spring. The spring water flows into a stream, over which a bridge is built, and atop the bridge sits a pavilion. The streambank is adorned with skillfully arranged rocks, creating ever-changing views as one strolls along. To the north of the spring is a pavilion named “Baiyun,” with three bays facing south, featuring bright and spacious glass windows where visitors can enjoy tea and scenic views. A winding corridor connects to the west of the pavilion, ending in a small pavilion with a pool inside, the water so clear that the bottom is visible. The garden is filled with thousands of slender bamboos, blooming flowers, and lush green grass. Though compact in size, the garden offers expansive views, creating an impression of openness and freshness within a small space.

On October 7, 2019, Jinan Wanzhu Garden was included in the eighth batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Location

No. 1 Baotuquan South Road, Lixia District, Jinan City, within the Baotu Spring Scenic Area

Further Reading:

· Second Batch of Shandong Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Eighth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units