The Garden Pond of the Jiang Guards' Residence

The Garden Pond of the Jiang Guards' Residence

The Garden Pond of the Jiang Guards' Residence is a national AA-level tourist attraction and a cultural relic protection unit in Shanxi Province.

The Garden Pond of the Jiang Guards' Residence is a key cultural relic protection unit in Shanxi Province. Located on a highland to the west within the county town, it covers an area of 14,640 square meters and is the only surviving garden from the Sui Dynasty that once belonged to a state-level administrative office.

The garden pond was first built in the 16th year of the Kaihuang era of the Sui Dynasty (596 AD) by Liang Gui, then the Commandant of the Inner Army and Magistrate of Linfen County. He also took note of local conditions and, seeing that the people had difficulty accessing drinking water and that crops suffered from drought, diverted water from the Gudui Spring, located 30 li north of the city, by digging channels to irrigate fields and directing the remaining flow through the inner city to form a pond.

The garden presents distinct scenery in spring, summer, autumn, and winter. To the southwest lies the Tiger and Leopard Gate. Upon entering and descending 29 steps, you reach the Hui Lian Pavilion, which is square-shaped, half on land and half over water, shaded by lush green willows. In midsummer, lotus flowers bloom abundantly in the pond, representing the garden’s “summer scene.” To the west of the Hui Lian Pavilion, a semi-pavilion is built against the wall, flanked by flower walls, with ancient cypresses, bamboos, exotic flowers, and rare plants on both sides, forming the garden’s “winter scene.” To the northeast of the Hui Lian Pavilion is a hill formed from the earth excavated when digging the pond. Both the upper and lower parts of the hill are planted with pagoda trees, cypresses, poplars, and willows. Further east lies the “Meridian Beam” (“Zi Wu Liang”), which runs north-south across the garden, dividing it into eastern and western halves. East of the Meridian Beam is an artificial hill, atop which stands a hexagonal screen wall. Passing through the gate leads to a small pavilion named the “Song Wu Pavilion,” surrounded by many winter jasmine flowers, representing the garden’s “spring scene.” In the northeastern corner of the garden are the Wind Dyke and Moon-Viewing Terrace. The eastern part of the garden houses the Banquet and Festival Tower, and to its south, a winding path leads to the “Thatched Cottage” (or “Humble Cottage”), surrounded by chrysanthemums, peaches, and plums, representing the garden’s “autumn scene.” The garden has been renovated during the Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. Despite more than a thousand years of historical changes, the terrain and landscape of the garden pond remain largely intact.

Source: Local Chronicles Compilation Committee of Yuncheng City

Further Reading:

· First Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units in Shanxi Province