Duxiu Garden

　　   The garden was first built in 1957 by its founder, Wang Yuehui. Wang Yuehui’s father, Wang Dianyi, once worked as a gardener for the warlord Wu Peifu of the Beiyang Government. After Wu Peifu fell from power, he was summoned by Chiang Kai-shek to work as a gardener at the Presidential Palace in Nanjing. After the liberation of Nanjing, Chiang Kai-shek asked him to go to Taiwan, but he firmly refused and returned to his hometown—Wang Huayuan Village, one kilometer west of the Taihao Mausoleum Temple. Wang Yuehui learned the art of gardening from her father from a young age, and based on what she saw and heard, she created various unique forms of flowers and trees. In 1957, they transplanted the pine and cypress formations from their own home to this location, and developed many new shapes, forming today's uniquely distinctive pine and cypress sculpture park.

　　   [Umbrella-shaped Locust Tree] This formation is called the umbrella-shaped locust tree, commonly known as the upside-down planted locust tree, named for its shape resembling an open umbrella. Currently, the crown covers an area of more than 150 square meters. If not for growth being controlled to prevent branches from breaking in the wind, the crown would continue expanding. This is unique across the country.

　　   [Tree with Roots of All Surnames] This is an ordinary parasol tree, but growing in the spiritually rich Taihao Fuxi Mausoleum, it is extraordinary. It has 56 main branches and over 10,000 smaller branches, symbolizing the unity of China’s 56 ethnic groups and more than 12,000 surnames (currently about 3,000 surnames are in use) under the dragon’s banner. The roots below are vigorous and far-reaching. We call it the “Tree with Roots of All Surnames.”

　　   [Green Dragon Playing with a Pearl] This formation is called Green Dragon Playing with a Pearl. Premier Zhou Enlai once took a photo here. Everyone might as well take a commemorative photo here too.

　　   [Tiananmen Gate] Wang Dianyi had never been to Beijing, but he had seen pictures of Tiananmen Gate and knew that Chairman Mao Zedong had solemnly proclaimed the founding of the People’s Republic of China there. So he selected the trees, designed, and crafted it—it took ten years to complete this scene. This is Tiananmen Gate.

　　   [Hexagonal Pavilion] This is the “Hexagonal Pavilion,” the treasured centerpiece of Duxiu Garden. It was skillfully formed by connecting and pruning six cypress trees. The dense cypress branches form the roof of the pavilion, providing shelter from rain and shade from sun. Even without wind in summer, sitting in this pavilion brings a special coolness.

　　   [Step by Step Higher] This tree is called the “Step by Step Higher Tower,” named by Premier Zhou Enlai. It symbolizes “rising steadily.” Taking a photo under this tree can express your good wishes. Those interested might as well take a commemorative photo here.

　　   [Two Dragons Playing with a Pearl] The archway formation ahead is Duxiu Garden’s famous “Two Dragons Playing with a Pearl” archway. It was shaped by connecting and pruning many cypress trees. The wall is nearly 4 meters high and almost 12 meters long, with a moon gate in the center and diamond- and fan-shaped small windows on both sides. Above, two dragons face each other, playing with a green pearl. The entire archway is uniquely shaped, majestic and dignified, elegant and graceful, and is one of the representative classic formations in Duxiu Garden. Everyone can take a commemorative photo here.

　　   [Love Tree] The ancient locust tree we see now is called the Love Tree. It was planted during the Ming Dynasty by a couple who guarded the mausoleum. To express their mutual affection, they planted two locust trees together. A few years later, the two trees grew into one, never to be separated, symbolizing their unbreakable love.

　　   [Joined Branches] Everyone knows the famous long poem “Song of Everlasting Regret” by the great Tang poet Bai Juyi, which includes these timeless lines: “On high, we’d be two lovebirds flying wing to wing; On earth, two trees with branches twined from spring to spring.” Have you ever seen joined branches? No? Then look up. These are two plane trees whose branches have naturally grown toward each other and joined, forming a stable triangle. On June 26, 1997, Premier Zhou Enlai, holding his wife Lao An’s hand, took a photo here and said, “We’re joined too.”

　　   [Immortal Locust Tree] This is an ancient locust tree from the Ming Dynasty, over 500 years old, with a trunk circumference of 3.6 meters and a crown width of 5 meters. Having withstood hundreds of years of wind, rain, drought, and lightning strikes, it grew new branches the following year from just a single remaining strip of bark—and they flourished. Today, its twisted roots and ancient vigor, covered with sprouting green leaves, present a unique charm. Truly, “a withered locust tree sprouts fresh green, fragrant blossoms fill the spring air.” It is honored as the Immortal Locust Tree.

　　   There is a local legend about the Immortal Locust Tree: no matter what setbacks you face, if you come here to pour out your heart, things will clear up and take a turn for the better, bringing you fortune even in adversity.

　　   Each of these formations goes through stages such as seedling cultivation of pines and cypresses, grafting, weaving, initial shaping, and final forming. It takes years or even over a decade. The entire pruning process requires a balance of trimming and nurturing, meticulous crafting, and exceptional artistry.

　　   Source: Huaiyang Government Affairs Website