The famous Yuyuan garden in Shanghai lives up to its literal meaning - that is garden of contentment or peace. Visiting the extensive garden located in the north east of the equally intriguing City God Temple should give any visitor a lot of contentment.
The garden is believed to have been constructed by a government officer of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) named Pan Yunduan. The garden was meant to give Pan's parents a place for enjoyment of peace and tranquility especially in their old age. It has however undergone many changes in the four hundred years it has been in existence. It for instance became dilapidated after the downfall of the Ming dynasty.
It also fell into private hands at some point, and was also severely damaged during the opium war. The garden as seen to date is a product of restoration efforts that started in 1956. The five acre Yuyuan garden has six main points of interest i.e. the Sansui Hall, Yuhua Hall, Wanhua Chamber, Huijing Hall, Dianchun Hall, and the Inner Garden which have several scenic spots. Notably, on entering the garden, one is presented with a rockery, the Great Rockery, that stands about fifty feet high. You can get on top of this and get a bird’s eye view of the entire garden. At the foot of the rockery is the Cuixiu Hall surrounded by beautiful plants.
All the other scenic areas or interesting items in the garden have a story or myth attached to them with the most of them shrouded in mystery. Take for instance the Exquisite Jade Rock, which is rumored to have been meant for the imperial palace but was salvaged after the boat sank in Shanghai.
Perhaps, it is these rumors and mystery that make the rock to be the “true treasure of Yuyuan garden.” Yuyuan Garden was established first at Ming dynasty by the mandarin called Pan yunduan who was the Sichuan governor and expanded greatly. Yuyuan Garden was been considered as best garden in the south east China. He enjoyed the history more than 400 years from the first establishment by yunduan who brought happiness & pleasure to his relatives and parents.
It then became headquarters of a dagger association and sword group uprising (uprising at 1853 led by dagger association, secret organization, against foreign imperialists at Shanghai & Xiamen of the Fujian province). Now huge number of home-made coins, weapons, and announcements that were used by dagger association are in display at spring hall of this garden. The big scale restoration of Yuyuan garden was been conducted after establishment of prc & was opened to public formally at 1961.
What you can see
Sansui Hall Named originally "leshou hall", sansui hall was made with 5 commodious rooms at qing dynasty for treating & entertaining their guests. Grand Rockery Grand rockery, made by Zhang nanyan, celebrated rockery artist at Ming dynasty, can be seen as a best treasure of Yu garden and best rockery of south China. Jade Rock Exquisite Jade Rock at Yuhua hall is the 3 known rocks of China. Other two are Suzhou & "Zhouyun Rock" at Hangzhou flower nursery and "Ruiyun Rock" at Liu garden.
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