West Garden

After we arrived at the inn, the innkeeper gave us a map. We followed the map and did not miss any of the places.

This is the West Garden. It's not large, but like the Suzhou gardens, it still has all the essential elements. There's a small pond and rockery. The saying "small but complete" rings true here, and the West Garden exemplifies that.

It's closed and you can't get in. Just take a look at the introduction at the door.

The former site of Xitang West Garden, located within Jijia Lane on West Street, was once the Zhu family's second estate during the Ming Dynasty and later sold to the Sun family. The garden boasts beautiful scenery, featuring trees, flowers, rockery, pavilions, and ponds. Atop the eastern rockery stands the "Tingtaoxuan" teahouse, named after a white pine tree several feet tall, which chirps in the wind. The entrance to the garden features a small bridge over flowing water and a stone lion foyer. The garden is surrounded by brick-paved corridors, waterside pavilions, a curved bridge, rockery, pavilions, and an artificial waterfall. Xitang West Garden is the largest private garden in Xitang Ancient Town. Its former site was within Jijia Lane on West Street, but the current Xiyuan, a newly constructed park built in 1993, is no longer the site of the original Nanshe poetry recitation. The new Xiyuan houses exhibition halls such as the Zhu Nianci Fan Calligraphy Art Museum, the Hundred Seals Gallery, and the Nanshe Exhibition Room. The trees, flowers, plants, rockery, pavilions and pools are scattered in the garden. There is a hexagonal pavilion on the rockery named "Zuixue Pavilion". One of the eight scenic spots of Xitang, "Small Hill Drunk Snow", is here.

The largest private garden in Xitang is a rebuilt one, and one of the eight scenic spots is "Small Hill Drunk with Snow".

West Garden is the former residence of Hu Wenzhao, a fourth-rank official in Kaifeng, Henan! The gate, shaped like an eight-character gatehouse, exudes a sense of grandeur! The garden embraces the scenery, and the scenery embraces the garden!

It was the largest private residence in Xitang in the past. It has a large back garden with a seal museum and a fan museum.

As for the place where I went to trace Nanshe, I was actually a little disappointed.

A very beautiful spot, you should come here to take pictures.

Exit Zhongfu Hall and head east to Xiyuan. Originally a Ming Dynasty residence, Xiyuan was designated a park in March 1990. The park retains its name in commemoration of the winter of 1920, when Liu Yazi and his friends visited the area, reciting poems and taking a photo together. The photo was titled "Xiyuan Elegant Gathering, Second Picture."



Records indicate that Liu Yazi's friends included Chen Chaonan, Yu Shimei, Cai Shaosheng, and Chen Jueshu, all of whom were considered prominent figures in the area. However, looking back at the first painting of Li Gonglin's "Gathering in the Western Garden," the figures depict Wang Shen and his 15 friends: Su Shi, Su Zhe, Huang Luzhi, Qin Guan, Li Gonglin, Mi Fu, Cai Zhao, Li Zhiyi, Zheng Jinglao, Zhang Lei, Wang Qinchen, Liu Jing, Huang Buzhi, as well as the monk Yuantong and the Taoist Chen Bixu. I'm truly amazed and impressed by the audacity of Liu Yazi and his peers to compare themselves to him!



The garden itself is quite nice, with its brick carvings on the gatehouse, pavilions, and waterside terraces. The name "Yangzhuoju" is quite evocative, and the fan paintings on display are also quite impressive.

The most beautiful of the many independent attractions in Xitang.



This house and garden is located on West Street, which is the richest and most prosperous place in the ancient town. It can be seen that the owner of this garden should be a person of some reputation.



The garden is very delicately decorated, with trees, flowers, rockery, pavilions, ponds and other standard furnishings of Jiangnan gardens. My favorite is the white pine on the rockery, which is very tall and strong, and looks quite old. When the wind blows, the sound of it chirping is very pleasant.



The most famous attraction here is the Drunken Snow Pavilion on the rockery. For many years, the locals of the ancient town had only heard of the "Drunken Snow Pavilion" but had never seen it. It just so happened that Zhejiang had just had a heavy snowfall when I went there, so locals and tourists alike were scrambling to enjoy the snowy scenery. In fact, I didn't see much of it, but it's rare after all, so I didn't want to be disappointed and stopped for a while.



The buildings in the park are crisscrossed and clearly more magnificent than the common people's earthen houses. The uniquely designed windows offer views of the deep scenery of West Street, which shows the designer's thoughtfulness.



Xitang is a beautiful ancient town, so you must visit it.

It has a typical Jiangnan garden style, with some Suzhou garden style, and there are still many Taihu stones.

It tells the story of the literati of the Nanshe Society, a revolutionary literary group. Its key leaders, including Chen Qubing and Liu Yazi, founded the Pingchuan (Pingchuan) school, which had a profound impact on Chinese society at the time. One of the 11 small scenic spots in Xitang Ancient Town, the West Garden is relatively small. A quick tour revealed it to be similar to other gardens, with ancient buildings, rockery, and lush greenery, reminiscent of a Jiangnan garden.

The Jiangnan water town is unique and worth a visit.

I came here during the Dragon Boat Festival in 2012. I heard it is the largest private garden.

Xiyuan is the largest private garden in Xitang Ancient Town. Formerly located in Jijia Lane on West Street, it was once the Zhu family's second estate during the Ming Dynasty and later sold to the Sun family. The current Xiyuan, a newly constructed park in 1993, is no longer the site of the original Nanshe poetry recitation scene.

The garden is too small, just take a look around, it is also a tourist attraction anyway

I came here in mid-July, it was 41 degrees Celsius, and there was no ventilation upstairs, it was so hot!!

Xiyuan was built by a wealthy family in Jiangnan during the Ming Dynasty. It is currently the largest garden attraction in Xitang. It is also well-known for its collection of precious materials about the Southern Society.

I visited Xitang on a road trip in April 2008. Back then, it was still a relatively newly developed old town, with simple folk customs. In the mornings, the town seemed even more tranquil and elegant. Walking through the narrow bluestone-paved alleys in the rain, the faint fragrance of rapeseed flowers wafting through the damp air, I was deeply intoxicated by this ancient town.



Here are the photos I took at that time. You can see how much it has changed.

We stopped by West Garden along the way and took a look. The azalea display upstairs was quite nice, but again, it was packed. I think I'll try visiting the ancient town on a weekday next time, so it's less crowded! I snapped a few photos and then left! We saw some girls in exquisite Hanfu costumes strolling through the gardens. While it's a good idea to take beautiful photos that blend in with the scenery, it's probably difficult to do given the sheer number of people!

The environment is good, but compared to that, I am still used to the ancient houses in Suzhou... Anyway, you need to pay for tickets, so it's good to go in and take a look! Also, there is a small rockery at the exit, which is good for taking pictures.

Xiyuan is the largest private garden in Xitang Ancient Town. Its former site was in Jijia Lane, West Street, and is now in Sujia Lane. It was the second home of the Zhu family in the Ming Dynasty and was later sold to the Sun family.

The trees, flowers, plants, rockery, pavilions and pools are scattered in the garden. There is a hexagonal pavilion on the rockery named "Zuixue Pavilion". "Small Hill Drunk Snow", one of the eight scenic spots in Xitang, is here.

A scenic spot in the ancient town, which shows the courtyard structure of the wealthy families in Jiangnan, is quite good.

The trees, flowers, plants, rockery, pavilions and pools are scattered in the garden. There is a hexagonal pavilion on the rockery named "Zuixue Pavilion". One of the eight scenic spots of Xitang, "Small Hill Drunk Snow", is here.

This is just okay, nothing special.

Xiyuan is the only private garden in Xitang. It is not very large and not very beautiful. There are only a few photos of Nanshe on display, including Mr. Liu Yazi.

Xiyuan is a large house in Xitang, with a very Jiangnan style. We took a photo in Hanfu here.

On West Street, there is a private courtyard of an ancient wealthy family. You need to buy a pass to enter the ancient town. The interior design is quite good.

The former site of Xitang Xiyuan is located in Jijia Lane, West Street. It was the second estate of the Zhu family in the Ming Dynasty and was later sold to the Sun family. The garden is beautiful with trees, flowers, rockery, pavilions and ponds. There is a teahouse called "Tingtaoxuan" on the rockery on the east side. It was named because there is a white pine tree several feet high on the rockery, which makes a rustling sound when the wind blows.

It's a cute little garden. If you have plenty of time, you can go in and play.

The small garden in Jiangnan has nice scenery. You can go and have a look.

Xiyuan is a typical private garden in the south of the Yangtze River, with pavilions, towers, bridges and flowing water. The architectural style in the garden is restrained, and the common green plants are arranged compactly and neatly, which always looks so perfect in this small garden.

Small scene in the scene, a relatively unique place with elegant environment

In fact, the scenic spots in the Jiangnan water towns are all similar, and the various ancient buildings and gardens look similar.

I personally think that the West Garden is the most worthwhile of the 11 attractions included in the ticket. The small courtyard is exquisite and detailed. Although it can't be compared with the large garden, it is still very interesting.

In this garden, with this feeling, this view, and this person... don't miss the ordinary flavor! It shares the same origin as the Suzhou Gardens, and although it may be small, it has everything. It is a great place to travel!

Xiyuan is a very small garden, and the name is quite nice.

My overall impression was this: when I came back and sorted through my photos, I thought, "Huh? I've been to West Garden?" There wasn't anything particularly memorable. Later, when I recalled it, I realized the small garden was actually quite well done, with interesting transitions between small spaces. It's just that the styles of Jiangnan gardens are all very similar. If I were just a tourist, with a limited memory like mine, I'd forget everything after a quick glance.

The former site of Xitang West Garden is located in Jijia Lane on West Street. The garden is home to trees, flowers, rockery, pavilions, and ponds, creating a beautiful landscape.

The West Garden has trees, flowers, rockery, pavilions and ponds, and has beautiful scenery.

This place is great! Well worth the visit!! Great.

You wouldn’t have thought that there is a garden in Xitang. It is quite large and you can walk around it.

Originally built in the Ming Dynasty as the Zhu family's second home, this garden is a typical Jiangnan garden and now serves as a museum. The garden has few pavilions and a small lotus pond, but the surrounding corridors, waterside pavilions, curved bridges, rockery, and pavilions are all exquisitely designed and feature stories about Liu Yazi.

Located in Xitang Ancient Town, West Garden is a paid attraction requiring a separate ticket. However, a combined 100-yuan ticket includes access to West Garden. This is a typical Jiangnan private garden, featuring carved wooden doors and windows, ponds, rockery, pavilions, old houses, and corridors. Of course, the courtyard also features trees, flowers, and plants. The garden is small and can generally be explored in about half an hour.

Xitang's Xiyuan is located on West Street and is the largest private garden in Xitang. The current house was newly built in recent years and is mainly used to display some fans and photos introducing Xitang celebrities. Not bad, not bad!

Small and exquisite, this is the infinite charm that gardens give us

Go and take a look at the architectural features of the wealthy families here.

The ancient buildings in Xitang give people a very special feeling. I wonder how people in ancient times lived in such buildings. If modern lamps were removed, would this place have a more ancient flavor?

Beautiful, very nice environment. Beautiful, very nice environment.

West Garden was the private residence of the Zhu family in the Ming Dynasty. It was built for a wealthy family in Jiangnan. The pavilions, rockery, fish pond, corridors, waterside pavilions, green bamboo and pink peach trees in the garden were the most beautiful scenery in the town at that time. The west side is a pure wooden living hall with exquisitely carved doors and windows and a sophisticated layout. Great effort has been put into every detail, showing the cultural heritage of the Jiangnan family. After reconstruction in 1993, it has become the largest garden in Xitang Ancient Town. In addition to the original gardens and residences, new exhibition halls have been opened, such as the "Zhu Nianci Fan Calligraphy Art Museum", "Hundred Seals Hall", "Oil Painting Exhibition", and "Nanshe Exhibition Hall", so that visitors can have a deeper understanding of the history and culture closely related to West Garden.

The whole Xitang feels very good. The bustling places have their own bustling flavor, and the quiet places have their own quiet flavor.

The garden layout is much more grand than that of Zuiyuan, and is as good as that of Suzhou gardens.

If you have seen the Summer Palace and other large gardens, you don't need to see these.

In fact, these gardens in Suzhou all look similar! ! ! !

Xiyuan is the most worth-seeing place in Xitang besides the small bridges and flowing water.

The classical beauty here is not stunning, but very comfortable.

Xiyuan is a large garden house with a typical Jiangnan garden style. The people who lived here in the past really enjoyed themselves. There are also Zhu Nianci fan calligraphy exhibitions, comic exhibitions, etc.

The former site of Xitang Xiyuan, located in Jijia Lane, West Street, was once the Zhu family's second estate during the Ming Dynasty and later sold to the Sun family. The garden boasts beautiful scenery, including trees, flowers, rockery, pavilions, and ponds. Atop the eastern rockery stands the "Tingtaoxuan" teahouse, named after a several-meter-tall white pine tree that rustles in the wind.



In the winter of 1920, the poet Liu Yazi came to Xitang, stayed in Xiyuan and took photos with his friends from Xitang Nanshe in Xiyuan, titled "The Second Picture of the Elegant Gathering in Xiyuan".



In March 1990, a 16.6-acre park was built in Xishan, the town's west. It was named "Xiyuan" to commemorate Liu Yazi's visit. The park features a small bridge and flowing water at the entrance, a stone lion foyer, and is surrounded by brick-paved corridors, waterside pavilions, curved bridges, rockery, pavilions, and artificial waterfalls.



Xiyuan is the largest private garden in Xitang Ancient Town. Its former site is in Jijia Lane, West Street. It was the second home of Zhu family in Ming Dynasty and was later sold to Sun family.



The current West Garden, newly constructed in 1993, is no longer the original venue for the Nanshe poetry recitation. The new West Garden houses exhibition halls such as the Zhu Nianci Fan Calligraphy Art Museum, the Hundred Seals Gallery, and the Nanshe Exhibition Room. The gardens are meticulously arranged with trees, flowers, rockery, pavilions, and ponds. Atop a rockery stands a hexagonal pavilion called the "Drunk Snow Pavilion," home to "Small Hill Drunk in Snow," one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Xitang.

From the window of the inn, I could see the West Garden. It was very quiet the day I was there.

There are many buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties, which are worth a visit.

It is probably the largest garden, probably the legacy of a wealthy family. It is a nice Jiangnan-style garden, worth a visit.

Xiyuan is located on West Street and is one of the attractions in Xitang. The garden landscape inside is very beautiful and you can feel the greenery inside.

The night tour has a unique artistic conception. When I went there, various azaleas were in full bloom.

After seeing the former wealthy homes, I realized that today’s villas are simply incomparable. That’s what it means to be rich and have taste.

I went to Xitang during the May Day holiday and it was so crowded that it was just a matter of people.

It was a quick visit and that was the feeling.

The ancient private garden has the style of Suzhou gardens, small and elegant with Chinese characteristics.

It's just okay. All the places in Xitang that require tickets are just okay.

I just passed by this place and never went in, so I don't know what it's like.

Xiyuan is one of the small attractions included in the ticket. The exhibition hall of Zhu Nianci Fan Calligraphy Art Museum is very interesting.

It has an ancient flavor, I like the original building

A paid tourist attraction in the ancient town, it is considered to be a relatively large Jiangnan-style house. If you want to go to the small attractions in Xitang, it is recommended to enter this one alone.