Jichang Garden

寄畅园

A Ming-dynasty private garden built by the Qin family and one of the Four Great Gardens of Jiangnan. It frames the Longguang Pagoda on Xishan and the Huishan hills within its views, while the Bayin Ravine channels water from the Second Spring into winding streams. The Qianlong Emperor later had a version built in the Summer Palace in Beijing.

Jichang Garden lies within the Xihui Scenic Area of Huishan Ancient Town, next to Huishan Temple. In 1520, in the Zhengde era of the Ming dynasty, Qin Jin, Minister of War, built the garden on the former site of the Ouyu Room at Huishan Temple. Over four hundred years of management by the Qin family, and in the early Qing period, the renowned garden designers Zhang Lian (Zhang Nanyuan) and his nephew Zhang Shu reshaped it into its present layout. Together with the Humble Administrator's Garden and the Lingering Garden in Suzhou and the Zhan Garden in Nanjing, it is known as one of the Four Great Gardens of Jiangnan. The garden covers about one hectare, centered on the pond 'Jinhui Yi', with buildings on the east bank and rockeries on the west. Its most remarkable feature is 'borrowed scenery': the garden has no high walls, and instead incorporates the Longguang Pagoda on Xishan and the silhouette of Huishan into its views. The classic compositions are the reflections of the pagoda seen from the Zhiyu Railing and the Hanbi Pavilion. In the rockeries, the 'Bayin Ravine' channels water from the Second Spring of Huishan into the garden, where it tumbles over stones with different sounds, hailed as the finest water engineering in Jiangnan. The Qixing Bridge, Hebu Shoal and Yupan Pavilion each have their own picturesque charm. The Kangxi and Qianlong emperors stopped here many times during their southern tours. Qianlong then ordered a replica built in the Qingyi Garden (today's Summer Palace) in Beijing, known as the Huishan Garden or Xiequ Garden, a leading example of imperial gardens imitating Jiangnan styles. The garden is not large; allow about an hour to see it properly. Admission is about RMB 70 with the Xihui Scenic Area ticket, or about RMB 30 for entry alone. Getting there: Huishan Ancient Town station on Metro Line 1, then about a 15-minute walk. Notes: drones are prohibited in the garden. Autumn foliage and ginkgo seasons draw large crowds, so it is best to arrive when the garden opens. After leaving, you can continue on to Huishan Temple and the Second Spring.

Jichang Garden

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