Zuiyuan

Zuiyuan was originally a side hall of the Tawan Street residence of the Wang family, a prominent family in Xitang. It consists of four courtyards. It was opened to the public after renovation in 2000, and the "Wang Family Father and Son Printmaking Museum" was set up in the garden to show the inheritance of family culture.

The name Zui Garden has three meanings: first, it is because of the "Zui Jing Tang" - meaning to read scriptures while drunk; second, the scenery in the garden is intoxicating; third, it means being immersed in printmaking art.

If you come to Xitang, you can bring back two prints. They are nice whether you put them at home or give them as gifts.

Come to Xitang and take a stroll here to see the scenery

"Zuiyuan" is the first major scenic courtyard you come across after entering Xitang and walking eastward along the north bank of Yangxiujing River. It is named after the main hall "Zuijing Hall". The "micro-brick arch bridge" in the small garden gives people a delicate feeling. I bought two prints from the owner here.

Passing through Zuijing Hall, you will find the studio of Mr. Wang Heng, the owner of the house. Visitors can buy a print with the flavor of Xitang water town here, which is also signed by the old man himself, and the price is very reasonable.



But what intoxicated me was not the card painting art and rich cultural heritage, but the bonsai-style garden of Zuiyuan, which has ancient brick flower beds and miniature brick arch bridges that are rare even in Jiangnan.

Entering Zuiyuan, you exit from the left and right. Actually, upon entering the corridor, you'll see a small garden through the window. Though only about the size of a room, it possesses all the hallmarks of a Jiangnan garden. A small bridge flows over the water, so small that it can be crossed in one step, yet it has several steps. The pond, though small, is clear and smooth, with a few koi swimming leisurely. The garden south of Zuijing Hall is even smaller, but it boasts a bonsai tree, verdant rockery, and everything in between. I've never found a garden more exquisitely arranged than Zuiyuan, and you can enjoy this exquisite garden without leaving your home. To exaggerate a bit, the entire Zuiyuan feels like a miniature version of the water town of Xitang, more like a large bonsai. Zuiyuan is a place I've recommended to friends many times. Personally, while Xitang boasts eleven smaller attractions, I think Zuiyuan is the most worth visiting. Of course, Zuiyuan is so small that even after walking around it three times, it didn't take us long. Exiting through the right door, we're still on Tawan Street.

A jar in the Drunken Garden. Because there were so many people, I couldn't take any photos. I was pushed along by the crowd and couldn't get a good look.

I visited here during the Dragon Boat Festival holiday in 2012. It was a very small and exquisite garden. In a small space, the rockery, pond and bridge were used to create a sense of layering. The little goldfish hiding under the lotus leaves would blow out a small bubble from time to time, which was very cute and interesting. 😊 Unfortunately, there were too many tourists at that time and I couldn’t take a panoramic photo of the garden.

Zuiyuan, originally a side hall of the Wang family's residence, was a prominent family in Xitang. It consists of four courtyards. Zuiyuan's name has three meanings: first, "Zuijingtang," meaning "drunk Scripture Hall," signifies the reading of Scripture while intoxicated. This hall was built by Wang Zhixi, the ancestor of the Wang family and a renowned calligrapher and painter during the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty. Second, the garden boasts exquisitely carved ponds and rocks, winding corridors, and vibrant bamboo, creating a captivating spectacle. Third, the main hall, "Yixiangzhai," houses prints by Wang Heng and his son, Wang Xiaozheng. Entering the garden, one is captivated by the art of printmaking.

Very good, just stroll slowly in Xitang, don't miss out on anything you can enter

Zuiyuan was originally a side hall of the residence of the Wang family, a prominent family in Xitang. It has four courtyards and a "Wang Family Father and Son Printmaking Museum" is set up in the garden to show the inheritance of family culture.

The name Zui Garden has three meanings: first, "Zuijing Hall" means reading scriptures while drunk. "Zuijing Hall" was built by Wang Zhixi, the ancestor of the Wang family, who was a famous calligrapher and painter during the Qianlong period of Qing Dynasty; second, the garden has exquisite pools and rocks, secluded corridors, lush green bamboos and intoxicating scenery; third, the main hall of the garden, "Yixiang Zhai", displays prints by Wang Heng and his son Wang Xiaozheng. Once you enter the garden, you will be immersed in the art of printmaking.



There are also many delicious foods here, which must be recommended

Xitang's famous food shop: Mengli Water Village

I want to go to his house for dinner, but there is a queue.

I recommend their white water fish and lotus chicken, they are super delicious

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 purchased e-tickets with our ID cards, so we simply swiped them through the machine and were able to enter. Drunken Garden, located on the other side of the Misty Corridor, is a small garden with a very small bridge, which was quite interesting! I even took photos of the same spot seven years ago, and the comparison is quite interesting!

A very small private garden with unique landscaping and the smallest bridge in Jiangnan

The traditional small private gardens in Jiangnan are not outstanding, but they have the characteristics of traditional Jiangnan gardens.

A tourist attraction in Xitang, one of the two gardens, it has excellent calligraphy and painting, and the small courtyard is also unique.

Located at 31 Tawan Street in Xitang Town, Zuiyuan was first built in the Ming Dynasty. Originally consisting of five courtyards, it served as a side hall of the Tawan Street residence of the Wang family, a prominent Xitang family. Currently, only four remain. The owner's printmaking studio is located deep within Zuiyuan.

The first "drunk" in Zui Garden is the "Drunk Sutra Hall," which symbolizes reading the classics while drunk. It expresses the hope that future generations will be immersed in the poetry and classics. The builder of the Wang family, Wang Zhixi, was a calligrapher and painter during the Qianlong reign. He mastered regular script, running script, and cursive script, and was skilled in poetry and painting, making him a family of scholarly patronage.

The second "drunk" refers to the intoxicating scenery within the garden. Although the area of ​​Drunk Garden is small, the scenery within the garden is fascinating and it is a masterpiece of Jiangnan garden architecture.

The third "drunkenness" refers to the owner's obsession with printmaking. Deep within the Drunk Garden lies a printmaking studio, which also serves as the residence of Mr. Wang Heng. A printmaker, his room is filled with prints of Xitang's waterside landscapes, created by him and his son, Wang Xiaozheng. Now in his 80s, Mr. Wang Heng continues to produce daily. Those who are lucky enough to take home a painting as a Xitang souvenir can do so for a very reasonable price.

Although the garden is small, it is very exquisite, giving the feeling that it is small but has all the necessary facilities.

The garden is small and exquisite, with small bridges, flowing water, rockery and green bamboo.

Although the garden is small, it is very exquisite, giving the feeling that it is small but has everything!

This typical Jiangnan garden was a private residence of a family in the Ming and Qing dynasties. It has several courtyards and many bamboos.

A quiet and worthwhile private garden and printmaking studio.

Zuiyuan, originally a side hall of the Tawan Street residence of the prominent Wang family of Xitang, boasts four courtyards. After renovations in 2000, it was opened to the public and features the Wang Family Woodblock Print Gallery, a tribute to the family's legacy. The name Zuiyuan has three meanings: first, it evokes the "Zuijingtang" (Drunk Scripture Hall), meaning the reading of scriptures while intoxicated; second, the enchanting scenery within the garden; and third, the immersion in printmaking.

Actually, it’s not very big inside, but it has a unique world. This is the exquisite life of people in the south of the Yangtze River!

Zuiyuan is a small courtyard in general. It can’t even be called a small courtyard because it is really too small. However, it is well-built with a unique style. There are also some art and painting exhibitions. It is a good place to stroll around when you have nothing to do.

The owner of Zuiyuan, whose surname is Wang and whose name is Xiang, is eighty years old and famous for his prints.

All paid attractions are just average, there is no need to see them

The old house has an ancient atmosphere and the scenery is unique.

This attraction is the one that impressed me the most. The scenery is beautiful, the people are beautiful, and the layout of the entire space is very beautiful.

Zuiyuan was originally a side hall of the residence of the Wang family, a prominent family in Xitang. It has four courtyards and houses the "Wang Family Woodblock Print Gallery" within the garden to showcase the inheritance of family culture.

Compared with many Suzhou gardens, it is simply pocket-sized. It is a small courtyard, but it contains various micro-landscapes, small bridges and flowing water, pavilions, gardens, and everything else.

The scenery is nice, it's worth a visit, and the public health is good.

The name Zui Garden has three meanings: first, it is because of the "Zui Jing Tang" - meaning to read scriptures while drunk; second, the scenery in the garden is intoxicating; third, it means being immersed in printmaking art.

Zuiyuan was originally a side hall of the Tawan Street residence of the Wang family, a prominent family in Xitang. It consists of four courtyards. It was opened to the public after renovation in 2000, and the "Wang Family Father and Son Printmaking Museum" was set up in the garden to show the inheritance of family culture.

Zuiyuan, originally a side hall of the Tawan Street residence of the prominent Wang family of Xitang, boasts four courtyards. After renovations in 2000, it was opened to the public and features the Wang Family Woodblock Print Gallery, a tribute to the family's legacy. The name Zuiyuan has three meanings: first, it evokes the "Zuijingtang" (Drunk Scripture Hall), meaning the reading of scriptures while intoxicated; second, the enchanting scenery within the garden; and third, the immersion in printmaking.

You can see Zuiyuan by walking for a while from the main gate. There are always many visitors here. The place is not big, so it will be crowded with many people. There is an old man who draws on the board inside. He is very serious. If you buy his prints, he will carefully wrap them for you in newspaper and sign for you. He is a very nice old man.

Zuiyuan is not big, but it has everything! There are many things on display inside, but my favorite is the lazy cat basking in the sun!

I personally think this is one of the attractions worth visiting in Xitang. There are prints on display and you can buy them. It is quite unique and the scenery in the courtyard is nice.

I visited several big houses in Xitang, each with its own unique features!

Very beautiful, very beautiful, very beautiful, very beautiful, very beautiful

Zuiyuan is a Ming Dynasty building in Xitang and also a residential house with three courtyards. There are many photos on display indoors, as well as the owner's writings. There is a small and exquisite garden outside, with a miniature bridge. Living in this house, you can nourish your heart, body and spirit!

The old house has an ancient atmosphere and the scenery is unique.

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

I really don’t know if I don’t go. I am completely impressed by the smallness of Zuiyuan.

It's a scenic spot within the ticket range, not interesting

The meaning of Zuiyuan is threefold: first, it is because of the "Zuijingtang" - meaning to read the scriptures drunkenly; second, the scenery in the garden is intoxicating; third, it is because of the intoxicating printmaking art. Although the courtyard of Zuiyuan is small, it is elegant, with a pocket pond, a miniature stone bridge, and an exquisite rockery, which is very meaningful.

I still like it! It feels good! Hehe

Zuiyuan, originally built in the Ming Dynasty, originally had five courtyards. It was a side hall of the Tawan Street residence of the Wang family, a prominent Xitang family. Four courtyards remain. The corridor immediately following the main entrance displays information about the Wang family. Zuiyuan's most distinctive feature is its "Three Drunkennesses": the "Drunk Sutra Hall" where one reads sutras while drunk, the garden's enchanting scenery, and the owner's fascination with printmaking.

The name Zui Garden has three meanings: first, it is because of the "Zui Jing Tang" - meaning to read scriptures while drunk; second, the scenery in the garden is intoxicating; third, it means being immersed in printmaking art.

Zuiyuan was originally a side hall of the Tawan Street residence of the Wang family, a prominent Xitang family. It has four courtyards and was opened to the public after renovation in 2000. The "Wang Family Father and Son Printmaking Museum" is also located in the garden to show the inheritance of family culture.

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

It's a small garden like the ones in Suzhou, but very small, and the greening layout feels too complicated and messy.

Xitang is a paid attraction, and there is a pass for it. However, after visiting many gardens in Yangzhou and Suzhou, I don’t want to go in again.

This is an attraction included in the Xitang ticket. It has some historical significance. It is quite interesting to take a quick walk around.

Hahahahahahaha, not bad, worth a visit

The garden is beautiful and really intoxicating.

Xiyuan is a garden house. Although small, it has everything. I don’t know whether it has maintained the previous design or added the Jiangnan garden style later. You need to buy a ticket to enter.

Zuiyuan was originally a side hall of the Tawan Street residence of the Wang family, a prominent family in Xitang. It consists of four courtyards. It was opened to the public after renovation in 2000, and the "Wang Family Father and Son Printmaking Museum" was set up in the garden to show the inheritance of family culture.



The name Zui Garden has three meanings: first, it is because of the "Zui Jing Tang" - meaning to read scriptures while drunk; second, the scenery in the garden is intoxicating; third, it means being immersed in printmaking art.



"Zuijingtang" was built by Wang Zhixi, the ancestor of the Wang family. Wang Zhixi was a famous calligrapher and painter during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty. He was proficient in regular script, running script and cursive script, and was good at poetry and painting. His calligraphy can still be seen in the garden.

Wang Heng, the current owner of Zuiyuan, had a father named Wang Muren who was also good at calligraphy. There is a couplet in the garden, "Smoke opens, orchid leaves are fragrant, the wind is warm, peach blossoms on the bank give rise to brocade waves", which is his work.



The main hall of the park, "Yixiangzhai," features prints by Wang Heng and his son Wang Xiaozheng, depicting the waterside scenery of Xitang. Their styles differ somewhat: the father, Wang Heng, employs traditional realism, while Wang Xiaozheng's works are more modern and abstract. These works, available for visitors to appreciate, showcase Xitang's rich family culture.

This is my favorite spot in Xitang. Small but exquisite, the courtyard layout is very clever and worth a visit. As for the rest, Xitang is just a place to eat, drink and hang out, and when the weather is good, find a place to curl up and bask in the sun.

The beauty of Xitang can be summed up in three words: quiet, peaceful and elegant.

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

The name seems poetic, Zuiyuan, the first impression reminds me of a poet, it should be very good

Although small, it has everything, including a small garden, pavilions, rockery, small bridges and flowing water. It would seem very crowded in the north, with no place to turn around. But in the south of the Yangtze River, it is full of uniqueness and exquisiteness.

It's not big inside, but the garden is beautiful with many trees. I like it.

This garden is very small, the bridge is narrow and short, the pond can be crossed in one step, and the pavilion is too small to enter.

Drunken Garden is the garden of the Wang family, a father and son who were both printmakers. They are very famous in Xitang, and it's one of the eleven attractions included in the Xitang combined ticket. They sell prints inside, and Mr. Wang will personally sign and inscribe them. His handwriting is beautiful, and his prints are also excellent, all at reasonable prices. I personally love Mr. Wang's four prints, "Early Summer, Autumn, and Winter." On this visit, I bought a set of postcards, and Mr. Wang was kind enough to inscribe them with the words "A Dream to Xitang" and stamp them with his seal! He's very kind and welcoming. When you visit, consider buying a print and having him write a memorable inscription. It also makes a great gift.

A very small garden in Xitang. Maybe it was because of the rain, but I felt that Zuiyuan was very beautiful. The scenery was so beautiful that it made people intoxicated. It was quiet and low-key, very romantic.

Strolling through Zui Garden, you will see exquisite pools and rocks, secluded corridors, lush green bamboos and intoxicating scenery.

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

I don't know the details, I just walked past the door but never went in.

It's a very exquisite garden, giving people a good feeling.

The garden is exquisite and worth visiting, with surprises everywhere.

A very interesting garden with bamboo forest and rockery

Not bad, the owner of the famous Youyou Road generally visits 11 attractions. It is one of them

Zuiyuan is located at the end of the Misty Corridor. It is a bit remote and less crowded. The garden is small and can be visited in a short time, but you can see that the owner has designed it with great care, with pavilions, towers, small bridges and flowing water.

Similar to the West Garden, the rockery has a unique shape and is very different

As for tourist attractions, I recommend going to Zui Garden. The various landscapes in the garden are so beautiful that they are really fascinating. In the depths of Zui Garden, there are old craftsmen making woodcut paintings. There is no promotion. The masters just live their normal lives, as if the tourists coming and going do not exist.

It’s a small courtyard, but it has all kinds of micro-landscapes, small bridges and flowing water.

When you go to Zuiyuan, you will find many garden scenes with small bridges and flowing water in the south of the Yangtze River. There is a printmaking teacher there, and his printmaking is very good. I personally like it. I bought plum, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum.