Shuzhuang Garden Guide

Shuzhuang Garden: The First Garden on the Sea Today, we will talk about a classical garden by the sea in Fujian and Taiwan. In the last episode, we introduced the Lin Family Garden in Taiwan. During the war in the Republic of China, the Lin family came to Xiamen and built Shuzhuang Garden on Gulangyu Island, which may be the only sea-view garden in China. Built in 1913, this garden has a history of over 100 years and is known as the "First Garden on the Sea" of Gulangyu Island. It is divided into two parts: the "Canghai Garden" and the "Bushan Garden", with a layout that makes use of the natural terrain. The garden features a variety of exotic historical buildings and showcases the art of sea gardens. From the highest point of Gulangyu Island, Sunlight Rock, Shuzhuang Garden presents a magnificent view, with Jiangnan-style courtyards and the vast sea and sky complementing each other, creating a magnificent picture. Shuzhuang Garden covers a total area of 20,328 square meters, including 3,352 square meters of water and 2,451 square meters of buildings. Its mystery lies in the three words "hide", "borrow", and "skill": "Hide" means that the garden is built on the sea, the sea is hidden in the garden, the garden is expanded by the sea, and the sea is decorated by the garden. "Borrow" means borrowing scenery, sound, meaning, and shadow. Transform other things into one's own and incorporate external scenery into internal scenery. "Skill" means appropriate layout, ever-changing, dynamic and static, and well-proportioned. Forty-four bridges, lying on the sea; Wangqiu Pavilion, framing the scenery on both sides. Address: South of Gulangyu Island, Siming District, Xiamen City, Fujian Province Opening hours: 8:00-18:00 (June 1-September 30); 8:00-17:30 (October 1-May 31) Ticket: CNY 30 Tips from Little Ant Brother: 1. We have previously talked about how many places in Japan have gardens built by the sea, and Shuzhuang Garden is an example in China. The obvious difference is the treatment of mountains. Gulangyu Island, where Shuzhuang Garden is located, is a rocky coast, and the huge drop provides space for mountain stacking, while Japanese sea-view gardens are mostly in gentle bays, with more soothing scenery. 2. The borrowed scenery of Shuzhuang Garden is the essence, borrowing mountains and seas from afar, and huge rocks from nearby. The local nodes also have curious features, which are very in line with the characteristics of Fujian and Taiwan gardens. 3. The layout of Shuzhuang Garden cannot be applied to the traditional Jiangnan garden landscape concept. The sea gives the landscape a more rugged and bold style.