Ying Garden

　　Ying Garden was the residential garden of Chen Xiong, one of the so-called “Eight Bulls” of the Qing Dynasty in Nanxun, and is located by the Huangyu River, covering an area of 11.07 mu. It was first built in the first year of the Tongzhi reign during the Qing Dynasty (1862), took thirteen years to complete, and was finished in the sixth year of the Guangxu reign (1875). It is now largely well-preserved and is a cultural heritage site under the protection of Nanxun Town.

　　The garden is shaded by ancient trees, including magnolia, fragrant catalpa, and wisteria that are over a hundred years old. Pavilions and towers are built along the pond, with exquisitely arranged Taihu rockeries, winding paths leading to secluded spots, and stairways to climb up. The “Moon Appreciation Tower” stands on one side of the pond, featuring rows of purple-red glass windows, painted beams, and carved pillars, all exuding an antique charm.

　　On the north side of the pond stands a building with black tiles and white walls called the “Heart-Nourishing Studio,” which was once where Chen Xiong composed poetry, painted, played chess, and practiced the violin. The “Jade Fragrance Pavilion” is also built on the west side of the pond, constructed with brick, tile, and wood. Its lines are clean and its design unique. From the top floor, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the garden.

　　Ying Garden is also known for its various carvings. It features nearly every kind of carving—brick, stone, and wood—making it almost a small art gallery of carving crafts. For example, the doors and windows of the “Heart-Nourishing Studio” are adorned with exquisite boxwood carvings, each with vivid designs and lifelike forms, accompanied by calligraphy from notable figures.

　　One such piece is the “Farming and Weaving Picture,” portraying men farming and women weaving, combining boldness with delicacy, with the images rendered in strikingly lifelike detail. The floor-to-ceiling windows of the “Qingfeng Studio,” once used for receiving guests by the Chen family, still preserve parts of boxwood carvings depicting scenes from The Romance of the Western Chamber. On both sides of the hall are stone-carved lattice windows embedded in the brick walls, combining artistic beauty with ventilation.

　　The small pavilion on the rockery is called the Plum Stone Pavilion. In the center of the pavilion is a plum stone stele, 138 cm tall and 79 cm wide. The plum and stone painting on the stele is the late-life masterpiece of Wang Li (1813–1879), a renowned calligrapher of the Qing Dynasty. The stone carving is vigorous and powerful, representing a superior example of stone carving art. The inscription on the stele reads: “Imitating the brushwork of Sun Leijushi, the Prefect of Hanyang. Created by Wang Li on the third day before the Beginning of Autumn in the Year of Yi Hai.”

　　After the liberation, Ying Garden underwent several renovations, and its main sights have been well preserved. The famous ancient garden expert Professor Chen Congzhou once praised Ying Garden in his article “Splendor of Water Towns,” saying: “Chen’s Garden encircles the pond with a pavilion and a tower, reflecting their graceful forms in the clear water. It possesses the charm of Suzhou’s Lion Grove Garden.”