Qingyan Garden in Huai'an, Jiangsu, is known as the 'First Garden of Jianghuai'

Qingyan Garden is located in Qingjiangpu District, Huai'an City. It was originally the office of the Ministry of Households, the earliest institution established when Qingjiangpu was opened in the 13th year of Yongle in the Ming Dynasty (1415). During the Qing Dynasty, it was changed to the Governor's Office of River Channels and began to build gardens and dig ponds. After several renovations and expansions, the name changed several times with the replacement of the Governor of River Channels, and finally named 'Qingyan Garden'. Qingyan Garden is a government office garden, without the luxury and grandeur of the royal gardens, nor the exquisite intricacy of private gardens. The construction method and architectural style are more moderate, calm and composed, with a kind of indifferent temperament of official gardens. After crossing the curved bridge, you can reach the hexagonal pavilion in the middle of the pond. The pavilion is delicate and small, adding a bit of liveliness and spirit to the entire garden. The garden is not too large in area, mainly including He Fang Academy, Huai Xiang Hall, Jiao Yin Pavilion, Jin Lai Yu Xuan, Rose Garden and other ancient buildings, most of which have been restored, maintaining the architectural style of the Ming and Qing Dynasties without showing signs of decay. A pink wall encloses the Wisteria Flower Pavilion, where there is an ancient vine over 300 years old. When the spring is warm and the flowers bloom, the wisteria also blooms beautiful flowers, elegant in posture, and has been loved by literati and ink guests since ancient times. Walking in the garden, it seems to be always in silence. It is the cold winter season, there are not many people visiting the garden, the sky is clear and distant, the trees, bridges, and pavilions on the shore cast their shadows in the water, dyeing the pool green and deep. Through the garden gate, you enter the Governor's Mansion. During the Qing Dynasty, the Governor of River Channels was also known as the River Platform and River Marshal, and the main job was often the second rank or the first rank, and the deputy was the third rank. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the canal transportation was developed, and officials, wealthy merchants, and salt merchants gathered in Huai'an. The establishment of the Governor's Mansion here also shows the importance of the court. The architectural style of the Imperial Stele Garden is more solemn and serious than that of the garden. It preserves 13 genuine imperial steles bestowed by emperors of all dynasties to the river governors, which are quite precious. The square pond is located in the C position of the garden. The buildings are built by the water, dignified and elegant, and are interspersed with pavilions, pools, pavilions, painting boats, and curved bridges, high and low, orderly, like a melodious and graceful music slowly playing. There are many gardens in Jiangnan, but Qingyan Garden is the only well-preserved government office garden in the whole Jiangnan, even the whole country. Touring in it, there is the natural beauty of mountains, waters, flowers and trees, and the cultural interest of pavilions, towers and pavilions, isn't it fun?