Shuixizhuang

　　Shuixizhuang is situated in the southwest of Hongqiao District, on the southern bank of the South Grand Canal, in the area now between Jieyuan Dike and Jieyuan Water Plant. It was built around the first year of the Yongzheng reign (1723) and got its name because it lies to the west of the Wei River (South Grand Canal). The natural environment and landscape of Shuixizhuang are exquisitely elegant, with scenery ingeniously integrated with the river—truly a masterpiece of design. Its layout reflects a high level of garden design artistry. The pavilions and towers within the garden bear poetic names such as Lan Cui Xuan (Veranda for Embracing Greenery), Ou Xiang Xie (Lotus Fragrance Pavilion), Zhen Xi Lang (Streamside Corridor), Hua Ying An (Flower Shadow Hermitage), Shu Fan Tai (Sail-Counting Terrace), and Bo Yue Fang (Moon-Berthing Boat), all hinting at a rich cultural heritage. Hearing their names and seeing their sights is like immersing oneself in poetry and painting—"suddenly freeing the mind from worldly thoughts, as if strolling through a painting." A poem praises it: "Tianjin is splendid, where poetry and wine inspire high spirits. Elegant verses are compiled in the Collection of Gongshang, and misty waves bring visitors to Shuixizhuang. Drunk on flowers and moonlight, a thousand feasts unfold."

　　Shuixizhuang was built by the wealthy salt merchants of Tianjin during the Qing Dynasty, the father-and-son duo Zha Riqian (1667–1741) and Zha Weiren (1694–1749). The Zha family originally came from Anhui but later moved to Haining, Zhejiang. After the Ming Dynasty established its capital in Beijing, the Haining Zha family expanded their salt business to the Beijing-Tianjin area and also made advancements in official careers, becoming prominent and affluent figures in the capital, enjoying great prestige for a time. During the infamous “Wei Min Suo Zhi” literary inquisition of the Qing Dynasty, the Zha family also suffered a major catastrophe, but they continued their salt trade and remained wealthy. Shuixizhuang faces the Wei River and backs onto the countryside, enjoying convenient transportation and a tranquil environment. Covering an area of hundreds of acres, it features dense woods and vast waters. The Zha father and son were erudite, refined, and hospitable, befriending famous scholars from all over and gathering them in the estate to compose poetry and paint. “Celebrated gatherings and poetic recitals were a daily affair,” reflecting the thriving scene of literati from both north and south converging in Tianjin at that time.

　　Emperor Qianlong visited Shuixizhuang four times during his southern tours, with the first “imperial stay” taking place in 1748, which greatly boosted the reputation of Shuixizhuang. In 1758, Zha Weiren’s younger brother, Zha Weiyi, built another garden to the right of Shuixizhuang, initially named “Jieyuan.” Later, Emperor Qianlong stayed there three more times (in 1771, 1773, and 1776). On one occasion, during the transition between spring and summer, the purple mustard flowers in the garden were in full bloom, filling the air with a delicate fragrance. Pleased by the sight, he named it “Jieyuan” (Mustard Garden). This is the origin of the place name “Jieyuan.” When Emperor Qianlong first stayed at Shuixizhuang, he was only 38 years old, but by his fourth visit, he was already 66—an indication of his enduring fondness for Shuixizhuang, which only grew stronger with age.

　　The Qing Dynasty writer Yuan Mei, in his book Suiyuan Shihua (Remarks on Poetry from the Sui Garden), listed Tianjin’s “Shuixizhuang,” Yangzhou’s “Xiaolinglong Shan Guan,” and Hangzhou’s “Xiaoshan Tang” as the three great private gardens of the Qing Dynasty. By the Tongzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty, the grounds of Shuixizhuang had shrunk, and its pavilions and towers had fallen into disrepair. By the end of the Guangxu reign, it was occupied by others, its plants trampled and relics vanished without a trace. In 1912, a water company was built on the site. The once bustling and glamorous Shuixizhuang no longer exists today.