Hanshui Osmanthus Garden

　　The Osmanthus Garden Service Area is situated at the southern end of the Hanjiang Three Gorges Scenic Area, only 12 kilometers from the Xishui Hydropower Station on the Hanjiang River. With a total area of 3,574.29 square meters, the garden features 37 various rooms, all decorated in a classic Chinese antique style. It serves as one of the key nodes of the Hanjiang Yanxiang Cave Scenic Area, primarily offering visitors services such as leisure, dining, accommodation, and shopping.

　　Xishui was historically known as “Meihu.” In his work *Miscellaneous Poems of Shiquan*, Ma Guohan, the magistrate of Shiquan County during the Qing Dynasty, wrote: “Tea Town connects to the western tail, Meihu meets the head of the Han; / A water journey of over a hundred li, carrying boats that come and go.” Today, the Osmanthus Garden quietly sits by the shores of Meihu, welcoming and seeing off guests from near and far. At some point in time, several osmanthus trees were planted in the courtyard, which have now grown into lush canopies that provide ample shade. During a literary outing, scholars and poets named the place “Osmanthus Garden.” Nestled against the mountains and beside the water, the garden enjoys a tranquil environment. Each autumn, the sweet fragrance of osmanthus fills the air, creating a delightful and refreshing ambiance. Along both banks of the Hanjiang River, the rich scent of osmanthus lingers in the misty air, evoking poetic lines such as “Osmanthus petals fall from the moon, / Celestial fragrance drifts beyond the clouds,” or “Not of earthly seed, but transplanted from the moon.” Lush green hills, crystal-clear waters, fragrant osmanthus blossoms, and the sounds of fishermen’s songs surround visitors who may choose to sip tea, enjoy a drink, chat leisurely, read a book, fish, take a cruise along the Hanjiang River, or row a small boat. Being here naturally brings on the feeling of “not knowing of the Han, let alone the Wei and Jin dynasties.”

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