Zhang Lou

Written By: mike on August 22, 2011 No Comment

Zhang Lou 2 Zhang Lou

Contemplation of Nature – Yuyuan Garden

Yuyuan Garden, or the Garden of Peace and Comfort, was built between 1559 and 1577 for a Ming Dynasty official and was one of the first private gardens to be built in Nanshi currently in down town Shanghai. Designed as a Chinese classical garden its primary aim was to provide a spiritual utopia to connect with nature.

Occupying just 2 ha the garden is divided into six areas and is laid out in the Suzhou style that seeks to create natural landscapes in miniature. The garden appears to be much bigger than the area it covers due to the clever placement of its many undulating walkways, ponds, bridges, rockeries and thirty buildings that occupy the site. The Grand Rockery constructed out of two thousand tons of rare yellow stone evokes peaks, cliffs, winding roads, caves and gorges and stands 14 m high. It is said to have been designed by the renowned garden designer of the Ming Dynasty Zhang Nanyang. The Sansui or the Three Corn Ear Hall is located in this area. It is the largest of the garden’s grand pavilions and had been used as meeting place by local officials and to proclaim imperial announcements.

The Yangshan Tang Hall, a graceful building with upturned eaves, serves as the entrance to the rock garden. The Heralding Spring Hall built in the 19th century is said to have served as the base for a secret society that plotted to join the Taiping Rebellion in 1856. The Inner Garden comprising of ponds, walkways, towers and pavilions was first laid out in 1709 and was recreated in 1956 by combining the east and west gardens. The Hall of Serenity and The Tower of Watching Waves are part of this garden. A magnificent collection of Ming Dynasty rosewood furniture is on display in the glass enclosed Hexu Tang or the Hall of Harmony. The Jade Magnificence Hall opens into a courtyard with a sculpture called the jade rock. This honeycombed slab is said to have been first procured by an emperor of the Northern Song Dynasty in the 12th century. The Lotus Pool, full of gold fish and carp, with a zig zag bridge and a mid lake pavilion with weeping willows reflected in it is one of the many charming features of the garden. A four hundred year old Ginko tree grows in the courtyard of Wanhua Lou or Ten Thousand Flower Tower, one of the other main attractions. The garden areas are separated by dragon walls, undulating gray tile ridges ending in dragon heads.

Visitors to Yuyuan garden will be rewarded by the opportunity to view an exquisite example of Chinese classical garden design for urban areas, laid out to bring visitors close to nature with the clever use and juxtaposition of the natural elements of rocks, water and plants and using architecture, an essential feature from which to view the various aspects of the garden and a method to provide natural scenery in a crowded urban area.

Being a hotel in Nanjing Road close to Shanghai’s many interesting sites, business areas and shopping district, the Langham Yangtze Boutique Shanghai offers its guests the convenience of a great location combined with beautifully decorated public spaces in keeping with its art deco exterior, extremely comfortable accommodation exuding an elegant, contemporary ambience, modern amenities and facilities. As one of luxury spa hotels Shanghai relaxing wellness experiences and spa treatments based on the ancient principals of metal, wood, water, fire and earth together with refreshing and stimulating hydrotherapy, choromatherapy, and aromatherapy are offered to guests. A well equipped fitness centre, steam rooms, sauna, snail showers, ice experience and bespoke spa treatments to pamper guests round off the impressive collection of wellness facilities.

About the Author

Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.

ENSEMBLE ON@MARNI THEATER, BRUSSELS 22/03/2011