Qinghui Garden of Shunde Foshan: A Value of Tranquility

#chinatraveltips Located in Shunde District, Foshan City, Guangdong Province, China, Qinghui Garden was built in the last period of the Ming Dynasty. Today's Qinghui Garden has turned into a typical traditional South Chinese garden with Lingnan-style construction. The garden is one of the ten famous gardens in China and one of the four famous gardens in Guangdong Province. Three other famous gardens in Guangdong are Liangyuan Garden in Foshan, Sanbangulsa Garden in Panyu District in Guangzhou, and Keyuan Garden in Dongguan. The Qinghui Garden combines the culture of the Ming and Qing dynasties, the ancient Linnan gardening style and the landscapes of Watertown in the Pearl River Delta, being a typical representative of the Linnan gardening culture. Inside the garden there is clean water and a blooming forest. Water, trees, stone hills, small bridges are combined with kiosks and pavilions, creating a unique landscape. Beautiful courtyards have been built inside the garden, and landscapes can be seen behind the scenes. Famous tourist attractions in the garden include the Boat Hall, Bixi Thatched Cottage, Chenyi Pavilion, Rowers Pavilion, Siyin Studio, Zhuwan Hall, Guiji Cottage and Bishenhua Hall. Each of them is well designed, showcasing a unique style. The decorative details might deserve to be enjoyed in the garden. A lot of ceramics, gray plastic, wood, and glass are used as decorations. Brick, wood carvings and stained glass windows are especially beautiful among them. Qinghui Garden was originally the mansion of Huang Shijun, the number one scholar in the supreme imperial examination during the reign of the Wanli Emperor of the Ming Dynasty. During the reign of the Qianlong Emperor of the Qing Dynasty, this garden was bought by Long Yingshi, a famous scientist of the time. Since then, the garden has refined its style to match the carefully thought-out buildings of the Long family. In 1880, or the fifth year of the Jiaqing Dynasty of the Qing Dynasty, Long Yanhuai, the son of Long Yingshi and a member of the Imperial Academy, returned to his hometown after leaving his post and laid out a garden for his mother on the site of Huang Jun's old residence. Later, the garden was renovated and expanded by other descendants of Long. During the Anti-Japanese War, Long's family took refuge abroad, and then the garden fell into disrepair. In 1966, considering the historical, artistic and aesthetic value of the garden, the Shunde District People's Government renovated its appearance and expanded its area from more than 7,000 square meters to 22,000 square meters, and it is open to tourists from local areas and foreign countries.