Live Your Best Lives
Explore the beautiful landscapes and traditional architecture of Jichang Garden. Relax by the serene ponds, stroll through the well-kept garden paths, and enjoy the classical Chinese garden design that integrates nature with human creativity.
Jichang Garden, a classical garden dating back to the Ming Dynasty, is located on Heng Street in Huishan, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province. The site was originally occupied by two monks' quarters, including the Fuyu House, at Huishan Temple. In the early years of the Ming Jiajing reign (around 1527 AD), Qin Jin, then the Minister of War in Nanjing, discovered the site and converted it into a garden, naming it "Fenggu Villa."
After Qin Jin's death, the garden passed to his nephew Qin Han and his son, Qin Liang, the Jiangxi Provincial Governor. In 1560, Qin Han renovated the garden, carved a pond, and built a hillside, earning it the name "Fenggu Villa." After Qin Liang's death, the garden passed to his nephew, Qin Yao, the Right Deputy Chief Censor of the Censorate and Governor of Huguang. In 1591, Qin Yao was dismissed from his position due to the investigation of his teacher, Zhang Juzheng. Returning to Wuxi, he channeled his melancholy into the landscape, dredging ponds, renovating the garden, and creating twenty garden scenes, each with a poem that exudes the spirit, elegance, and charm of traditional culture.
Climate: Subtropical monsoon climate
Best time to travel: All seasons
Recommended places to visit:
Fengguxingwo
This is the first building upon entering the garden from the Sun and Moon Pond at Huishan Temple. A stone tablet designating it a National Cultural Relic Protection Unit stands in front of the gate. The entrance is a three-room, rustic entrance hall. In the center hangs a plaque inscribed with the words "Fenggu Xingwo" (Phoenix Valley Wo) by Zhu Qizhan. Flanking the columns are couplets, written by Gao Shijia, a reference to Weng Tonghe's former name. The couplet reads: "Trees cast shade, clouds are light and smoke is thin; the wind is clear and refreshing, the air is refreshing and harmonious."
During the Zhengde period of the Ming Dynasty, Qin Jin, the 17th generation descendant of Qin Guan, purchased the monks' quarters built in the Yuan Dynasty at Huishan Temple and used them to build his villa and garden.
Qin Jin was nicknamed Fengshan, and the garden was built in the valley of Huishan. Therefore, Fenggu (Fenggu) has two meanings, including a place name and a person name. Xingwo (Xingwo) is different from the emperor's temporary palace, indicating that this villa was in its early stages, focusing on the wildness of the mountains and forests. Connecting these two, we can understand that the so-called Fenggu Xingwo refers to the villa and garden built by Mr. Fengshan in the valley of Huishan, full of wildness.
Linfan Pavilion
Located next to Huishan Temple, it was originally one of the 20 scenic spots in Qinhuo Zhai Jichang Garden and was rebuilt in 1980. The horizontal plaque "Linfan Pavilion" was written by Nanjing Wei Tianchi. When you climb up to this pavilion, you will see a pool of water below, which is the Anuttara River of Huishan Temple. The panoramic view of Huishan Temple can also be seen from here.
Beauty Stone
Located in the southeast corner of Jichang Garden, it's adjacent to the Fan Pavilion to the east, with a century-old camphor tree beside it, its green shade reaching down to the ground. Inside the pavilion, a stele bears a poem and a painting by Emperor Qianlong, titled "Jie Ru Feng Tu." In front of the pavilion lies a rectangular pond, as smooth as a mirror. To the east, a lake rock leans against the wall, resembling a graceful beauty applying her makeup in the mirror. Hence the name "Beauty Stone" and the pond "Mirror Pond." In 1747, during Emperor Qianlong's second southern tour, he visited the area and, upon seeing the Beauty Stone, renamed it "Jie Ru Feng."
Jin Huiyi
Located at the heart of Jichang Garden, it earns its name from the collection of the garden's magnificent embroidery. The garden's scenery unfolds around a pond, where the shadows of mountains, pagodas, pavilions, terraces, trees, flowers, and birds converge. To the north of the pond, earthen hills, trees, and shrubs merge into the peaks of Huishan Mountain. Looking east from Jiashu Hall, one can see the shadows of "mountains, pond, and pagodas," bringing the Xishan Longguang Pagoda into the garden, a model of borrowed scenery.
Yupan
Located in the southeast corner of Jinhuiyi, the pavilion is hexagonal, with a plaque inscribed "Yu Pan" hanging in its center. The name derives from the line "Rocks and peaks coil and shimmer, clouds and water dance" from Wang Wei's "Wangchuan Garden Map" from the Tang Dynasty. Within the pavilion lies a simple bluestone terrace with four stone drum piers, believed to be a Ming Dynasty Qin family relic. Legend has it that Emperor Qianlong summoned monks from Huishan Temple to play chess there. The monk's exceptional skill overwhelmed Emperor Qianlong, prompting him to feint and pass the game to him. Despite his victory, Emperor Qianlong, feeling deeply daunted by his own shortcomings, decreed the pavilion's name "Yu Pan." The Yupan Corridor, Bingli Hall, and Linfan Pavilion are embedded with 200 steles and 12 volumes of the "Jichangyuan Calligraphy Collection." The first six volumes feature famous calligraphy works from the Tang and Song dynasties, bestowed upon the Qin family, while the last six volumes feature calligraphy works by renowned artists from the Song to Qing dynasties.
Recommended play time: 1~2 hours
Full ticket: RMB 90, including the combined ticket for Xihui Scenic Area
8:00-17:30 (8:30-17:00 in winter)
Jichang Garden is a historic classical garden in Wuxi, built during the Ming Dynasty. It is known for its elegant design and well-preserved architecture, representing traditional Chinese landscape aesthetics and the intellectual culture of the time.
Jichang Garden is located in the downtown area of Wuxi, Jiangsu. You can take a taxi, bus, or metro (Wuxi Metro Line 1, get off at Zhongshan Park Station), followed by a short walk to the garden.
The garden is open daily from 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM. The best times to visit are during spring or autumn when the weather is pleasant and the garden's beauty is at its peak, especially when the flowers are in bloom.
The entrance fee is typically around 30 CNY. Tickets can be purchased on-site at the entrance, or in advance through local ticketing websites.
Booking tickets in advance is not mandatory, but it is recommended during peak seasons or weekends. Booking a few days ahead should suffice.
You will need about 1 to 1.5 hours to fully explore the garden, depending on how much time you wish to spend enjoying the peaceful surroundings and taking photos.
The must-see highlights include the central pond, the traditional pavilions, the rockeries, and the elegant plantings of flowers and trees that showcase the classical design of a Chinese garden.
Guided tours are available in Mandarin. Audio guides may be available in both Mandarin and English, but it’s best to check in advance.
The best photography spots are by the central pond, with its reflection of the surrounding pavilions, and along the garden's meandering paths. The rockeries provide excellent views of the entire garden layout.
Start by exploring the main pavilion and pond area, then walk along the scenic paths to enjoy the rockeries and flower gardens. End your visit by relaxing in one of the peaceful courtyards.
Night visits and light shows are not available at Jichang Garden, but the garden is a great spot for a tranquil afternoon visit.
The garden can be crowded during weekends and public holidays. To avoid crowds, visit on weekdays, especially in the early morning or late afternoon.
Basic facilities like toilets, rest areas, and drinking water are available. There are no major food outlets within the garden, but small snack shops can be found nearby.
The garden is mostly accessible for elderly and children, although some parts may involve walking on uneven paths. The terrain may not be suitable for wheelchair users in all areas.
Mobile payment methods such as Alipay and WeChat Pay are widely accepted. Cash is also accepted for tickets and purchases in nearby shops.
There are a few restaurants near the garden that serve traditional Wuxi cuisine, such as Wuxi-style ribs and steamed fish. However, there are no restaurants inside the garden itself.
Vegetarian and vegan food options are available at many local restaurants in Wuxi. Halal food is also available at certain restaurants, particularly in the Muslim quarter of the city.
There are several hotels near Jichang Garden, including mid-range options like the Wuxi Grand Hotel and high-end choices such as the Wuxi InterContinental Hotel.
Nearby attractions include the Nanchan Temple, the Wuxi Museum, and the Taihu Lake scenic area. These can all be easily combined into a full day trip.
There are small souvenir shops near the garden selling traditional Chinese crafts, including paper-cuttings, tea sets, and calligraphy items.
After visiting Jichang Garden, you can take a taxi, bus, or metro to other nearby attractions. Wuxi Railway Station is about 15 minutes away by taxi.
