Yixin Garden

　　  Yixin Garden is one of the better-preserved ancient buildings in Zhaohua Ancient Town. There are no historical records indicating when it was built. Experts infer from architectural features and craftsmanship that it was likely constructed during the Qing Dynasty by merchants from Shaanxi, featuring a blend of southern and northern Chinese architectural styles, with prominent elements such as double eaves and grey-tiled ridges.

　　    Yixin Garden is divided into four levels from the outside to the inside: the front hall, the courtyard, the middle hall, and the main hall. Behind the front hall lies a rectangular courtyard, flanked by four wing rooms on either side, all with wooden flooring. The middle hall has no main entrance but is accessed through an oval wooden door cover that conceals the interior; the doors are located on the sides. The middle hall, commonly known as the “Dry Boat Courtyard,” resembles a ship-shaped corridor hall. On the left side of the hall, there is a stone fish tank dating back to the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty, accompanied by rust-colored stone potted plants, creating a serene and elegant atmosphere. The main hall is used for receiving guests, and above its door frame hangs a plaque inscribed with “Yangxin Zhai” (Cultivating the Heart Studio).

　　    Yixin Garden was originally the ancestral property of Lu Guanghua, former secretary of the Kuomintang County Party Committee in Zhaohua. During the Qing Dynasty and the Republican era, Zhaohua Ancient Town was home to four prominent local families: the Gu, Lu, Wang, and Zhao families, with the Lu family being one of them. After the liberation, the Lu family’s “Yixin Garden” was confiscated and became collective property of the supply and marketing cooperative. It has now been converted into a folk museum, primarily displaying wooden handicrafts and various antiques.