Thaihuayuan

Thaihuayuan

Thaihuayuan is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

Thaihuayuan Cultural Relics Museum is one of the newly emerging attractions in recent years, housing authentic calligraphy masterpieces and stone engravings from renowned calligraphers throughout history. With its enchanting scenery, it attracts many visitors.

Thaihuayuan is located in the Xiahu Scenic Area of Yanfeng Mountain, Linxi Town, Chaozhou. It is an open-air collection museum initiated by Mr. Guo Fengyuan, a prominent overseas Chinese leader from Teochew in Thailand, and warmly responded to and funded by many distinguished individuals both domestically and internationally.

The entrance features a towering stone memorial archway with a three-bay hip-and-gable roof structure, standing 16 meters high and exuding grandeur. The central plaque reads “Dong Yue Jing Hua” (Essence of Eastern Guangdong), while the sides are inscribed with “Golden Sound” and “Jade Chime,” all handwritten by the master of Chinese studies, Mr. Jao Tsung-I. From the archway to the main hall, there are three tiers of stone steps, and the courtyard is adorned with flower beds surrounding stone carvings of auspicious creatures such as qilin, green lions, coiled dragons, and iron oxen.

The majestic and magnificent main hall features a double-eaved pavilion with flying glazed tiles and four rose-red granite pillars that convey solemnity and stability. The central plaque bears the golden characters “Dan Fu Yuan” (Thaihuayuan), written by Puyi, the younger brother of the last emperor of the Qing Dynasty. The wooden couplet on the door, reading “Gaze afar at the clouds, ascend high to broaden your view,” was personally inscribed by the late Zhao Puchu, former president of the Buddhist Association of China and a renowned calligrapher. The hall houses representative cultural relics of Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism.

Among the highlights for visitors to Thaihuayuan is the “Chinese Calligraphy Stone Forest” on both sides of the main hall’s corridors. Here, authentic masterpieces from calligraphy masters spanning from the Shang and Zhou dynasties to the present day are gathered. In just a moment, visitors can take in five thousand years of calligraphic art; within a few steps, they can admire treasures from around the world—truly invaluable.

Above the stele corridor lies a square where the Jiaotai Hall stands, the main exhibition hall of Thaihuayuan. “Jiaotai” shares its name with the treasure seal hall in the Forbidden City in Beijing, both derived from the meaning of “Heaven and Earth in Harmony” in the Book of Changes (Yi Jing). However, here it also carries the additional significance of cultural exchange between China and Thailand. The hall contains a set of golden statues of the Maha Mongkon Buddha personally bestowed by the King of Thailand, as well as representative cultural relics of Chinese civilization.

On the west side is the Yanfeng Academy, featuring inscriptions by renowned figures such as Huang Miaozhi and Jao Tsung-I. The lecture hall regularly hosts lectures and training sessions on Chinese culture and can also accommodate honored guests. It offers a retreat from the city to nature, from bustle to tranquility, allowing one to enjoy the serene beauty of lush mountains and clear waters.

The surroundings include a hundred-fruit garden, exotic flowers and trees, flying bridges over flowing water, verdant lawns, treasured tripods, and Chaoshan tea delicacies, making it a cultural and leisure destination that serves as a spiritual home for Chinese culture.

Admission

Admission: 40 RMB

Location

Within Yanfeng Park, Hongshan Forest Farm, Chaozhou, China