The old man bid farewell to the Yellow Crane Tower in the west, and the fireworks set off in Yangzhou in March. "The poetic immortal Li Bai described Yangzhou in just a few words, full of flowers throughout the city in March, arousing many people's imagination about this city. And I believe that April is the most beautiful day in the world. So just after the Qingming Festival, I walked into this city again and felt the Yangzhou of April.

From the moment I stepped into Yangzhou, a long dream began.

The city is in the garden, and the garden is in the city. The whole Yangzhou is like a big garden,

In this city, there are scenery everywhere, and every step is a visual feast.

Yangzhou Garden, together with Beijing Summer Palace, Chengde Mountain Resort and Suzhou Humble Administrator's Garden, is one of the four famous gardens in China. Among them, the Summer Palace and Chengde Mountain Resort belong to royal gardens, while Humble Administrator's Garden and Personal Garden are private gardens.

As the most famous garden in Yangzhou, there are many residential buildings and rockeries in the scenic area, typical of Jiangnan gardens. The garden was built during the Jiaqing period of the Qing Dynasty and was the private garden of Huang Zhiyun, the salt merchant general of the two Huai regions at that time.

Huang Zhiyun, with the courtesy name Yunfen, was born in 1770 in Ganquan, Yangzhou. He was originally from Renhe, Zhejiang (now Hangzhou). During the Qing Dynasty, he was one of the eight major salt merchants. He was awarded the honorary title of "Salt Transport Envoy" by the Qing court, and his eldest and second sons were also given the title of "Langzhong". Due to repeated donations to the court for disaster relief and military expenses, he was granted the privilege of visiting Beijing twice to celebrate his birthday and attending performances in the Yuanmingyuan. Huang Zhiyun rose and fell three times, during which he relied on his extraordinary perseverance and superb business skills to establish himself as the head of salt merchants in the two Huai regions. Even in the context of the salt political reform during the Daoguang period and the decline of the salt industry in the two Huai regions, he was still able to turn the tide and maintain the salt industry situation in Yangzhou for a period of time. Huang Zhiyun, as a business genius and also a cultured Confucian merchant, has a deep understanding of calligraphy and painting art. There is still a fan he painted on the embedded stone carving at the foot of Baoshan Building in his garden.

The overall layout of the garden is divided into a northern bamboo viewing area, a central garden, and a southern residential area.

The character 'ge' in the garden name is taken from half of the bamboo character, which corresponds to the various colors of bamboo in the garden. The name "Ge" refers to the shape of bamboo leaves, and the owner's name is "Zhi Yun". "Yun" also refers to bamboo and is named "Ge Yuan".

On both sides of the garden gate, various bamboo branches and leaves are lush and sparse, with the phrase 'the moon reflects thousands of bamboo characters' shining on the door's forehead; During the interweaving period of Baiguo Peak, like strong spring shoots, it has the meaning of "the plan for the year lies in spring".

The owner of the garden planted bamboo all over the garden, taking the meaning of bamboo as a symbol of peace from the Tang Dynasty's "Yuyang Zazu Sequel", hoping for the safety of family members entering and leaving.

The essence of a garden lies in the rockery and stone stacking art with the theme of the four seasons. The rockeries in spring, summer, autumn, and winter each have their own characteristics.

In the garden with an area of less than 50 mu, maroon stone, the Taihu Lake Lake stone, snow stone and stalagmites shaped like bamboo shoots are stacked into four groups of rockeries, representing the four seasons of spring, summer, autumn and winter. Expressing the poetic and picturesque meaning of "spring scenery is beautiful and smiling, summer mountains are lush and dripping, autumn mountains are clear and makeup like, winter scenery is bleak and sleeping". The purpose of a garden is novel and the structure is rigorous, making it an isolated example of Chinese gardens.

Spring Mountain, near the entrance to the south of Guihua Hall. The flower beds on both sides in front of the door are filled with bamboo shoots, with staggered stalagmites scattered among them, symbolizing the meaning of "spring rain".

Entering the gate of the garden, it is still the same spring mountain with bamboo and stone paintings. There are twelve zodiac animals decorated with pictographic stones, and peonies and peonies are planted in the flower beds. Outside the door is the scenery of early spring, while inside the door is the scenery of deep spring.

Xiashan Mountain, the west side of Baoshan Tower is the Taihu Lake Lake Shida rockery, about 6m high. Stacking stones in a state of rolling clouds and mist, from a distance, they appear smooth and graceful, as clever as clouds and as strange peaks; Myopia is delicate and transparent, like peaks and caves. The cave can be traversed, climbed up stairs, and reached the top of the mountain after counting. Build a pavilion on the mountaintop, adjacent to an old pine tree. On the mountain, there is a steep path that connects to Changlou in the east and to Huangshi Mountain.

Autumn Mountain, located in the northeast corner of the garden, is a large rockery made of stacked yellow stones, about 7 meters high. The main peak is centered, and the two sides of the peaks arch in an upward direction. The Sifang Pavilion, built on the mountaintop, is the tallest attraction in the entire park. The ancient cypress in the mountain crevice stretches diagonally, leaning against the rugged rocks. Set up a pavilion at the top of Qiushan Mountain.

Winter Mountain, the winter rockery is located in the southeast courtyard, where snow stone rockeries are stacked along the south wall. The rockery contains quartz, which shines brightly when exposed to light and shines white when backlit. Four rows of circular holes were also opened on the south wall, using the effect of the north wind whistling generated by the airflow changes in the narrow alley and high walls to render the mood of winter.

Baoshan Tower, located south of Bufangting, is the main park area of the park. Seven couplets in total; The building has winding paths at both ends, like outstretched arms embracing the "Autumn Mountain" to the east and the "Summer Mountain" to the west, hence the name Baoshan Tower.

The southern part of Geyuan is a large and heavily guarded residential area, with the main entrance opening on Dongguan Street. The gate faces a luxurious brick carved wall with the word 'fu' written on it. Legend has it that during the heyday of Geyuan, the residences were themed around "fortune, wealth, longevity, wealth, and happiness", with five luxury houses arranged in sequence, originally consisting of over 200 rooms. Although only three buildings have been preserved so far, each living room, hall, beam, and pillar all demonstrate the owner's exquisite and luxurious home life.

The existing salt merchant mansions, with three entrances on each of the three east-west roads as the axis, have similar structures but different functions. The three buildings are separated by "fire lanes" in the traditional Chinese architectural style of "nine palace grid layout".

The architecture on the middle road is themed around "Fu", with the front hall as the main hall and the middle and rear halls as residential units, known as the front hall and rear bedroom. The residential layout consists of three rooms and two wings, with a beam style structure and four adjacent wing rooms. This is one of the traditional forms of living for wealthy families in Yangzhou in the past.

The first entrance is the main hall "Han Academy", which is the face of a family. The hall is named after Sinology, and its high ancient architectural style and elegant writing style complement each other, showcasing the ancient and majestic atmosphere of the Taige. Not to be proud of wealth and status, but to feel that the fragrance of books lingers. This is the place where the host receives guests.

A courtyard is a space for natural lighting ventilation in a residential building. On rainy days, the eaves of the tall houses around the courtyard flow inward, forming a four water return to the hall. In ancient times, it was called 'the fertile water does not flow into the fields of outsiders'.

The second entrance behind the courtyard is a two-story courtyard with three bedrooms and two rooms, which can be used for guests to stay temporarily. The bedroom on the east side and the study on the west side are in the style of the Qing Dynasty.

The third entrance on the middle road, also in the format of three rooms and two phases, but with vastly different furnishings, is very simple and devoid of the luxurious atmosphere of wealthy merchants. It was once the residence of Huang Zhiyun's son.

There are east and west fire lanes on both sides of the buildings in Zhonglu. Huoxiang is a narrow passage in the homes of wealthy families, which serves three purposes: to separate residential areas; Used for fire and theft prevention; The passage through which the servants pass.

The architecture on the East Road is themed around "wealth", with the eaves and tiles on the door dripping with the pattern of a spotted deer, symbolizing high officials and generous salaries.

The first entrance is the office of the butler and accountant, called "Qingmei Hall", which regards cleanliness as beauty.

The second entrance serves as the accommodation for senior servants such as butlers and accountants, as well as a restaurant for the hosts to eat, and also doubles as a warehouse. “

The third entrance is the kitchen.

The architecture on the West Road, with the theme of "longevity", is the most magnificent place for the owner and their family to live and relax.

The first entrance hall, commonly known as the Flower Hall, is the venue for grand events. The couplet in the hall reads: "For hundreds of years, people have only accumulated good deeds, and the first good thing is just reading. Huang Zhiyun attaches great importance to the education of his children, and the four sons he gave birth to were all highly cultured, earning him the nickname "Huang has excellent children".

In the center of the hall is a large round table that can accommodate twelve to fourteen people for dining. Not only is the hall filled with mahogany furniture, but even the hall is built of nanmu wood.

The second and third entrances are both two-story embroidery buildings, but the scenery is unique. The downstairs is the bedroom of the owner Huang Zhiyun, and the upstairs is the venue for the activities of the family members. The rear end is the residential area for the family members.

Heyuan, also known as Jixiao Mountain Villa, is a large residential garden built by He Zhizhen during the reign of Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty. It consists of three parts: East West Garden, residential buildings, and Pianshishan houses. The original land area was over 12000 square meters, with a total construction area of over 6000 square meters. The main building has three entrances in front and back, all of which are made of water and bricks. It is a representative work of Yangzhou gardens in the late Qing Dynasty and is known as the first garden in the late Qing Dynasty.

Heyuan is divided into four parts: Dongyuan, Xiyuan, Yuanju Courtyard, and Pianshishan House.

The main building of Dongyuan is the 160 square meter Xuchun Hall (Nanmu Hall), which is shaped like a boat, with a single eave gable style and a corridor. The surrounding area is paved with pebbles and tiles, with patterns resembling water waves, giving people a sense of living in water. There are couplets on the pillar next to the hall: "The moon is the host, the plum blossom is the guest, and the flowers are the four walls of the boat as the home. The flower windows embedded with transparent glass around the ship hall create an atmosphere of "people sitting in the hall, scenery coming from all sides".

The Western style building, also known as the Jade Embroidery Building, consists of two brick and wood structures with two floors in front and back, totaling 28 rooms, serving as the residential area for the owner's family. The Yuxiu Building not only adopts the traditional Chinese concept of cascading buildings, but also incorporates Western architectural techniques, such as French louvered doors and windows, Japanese sliding doors, French fireplaces, wrought iron beds, and so on. Surrounding the courtyard are two levels of corridors, one above and one below, and a complex of inner and outer corridors; The room design inside the building, the decoration of the exterior facade, the French imported cast iron railings with the words "longevity and longevity" printed on them, the louvered windows and doors are all filled with French style.

Garden Residence Courtyard

This season's He Garden, the new greenery under the sunshine, and the blooming tree in the corner of the wall are all extremely beautiful in sight‘

The West Garden is centered around a pool, and in the center of the pool is the "Number One Pavilion in the World" - Shuixin Pavilion. This Water Heart Pavilion is the only water play pavilion in China, dedicated to garden owners to enjoy traditional Chinese opera, singing and dancing, and cool off and appreciate the scenery.

Fudao Corridor - The Number One Corridor in the World. The 1500 meter long winding corridor is a unique and spectacular landscape in Chinese gardens. By separating left and right, connecting high and low, carrying mountains and water, and climbing into the hall and entering the room, a comprehensive three-dimensional landscape and all-weather tourist space are formed, fully showcasing the beauty of the circular changes and the wonderful connections of Chinese garden art. It is known as the prototype of an overpass.

Flower Window - The Number One Window in the World, is the flower window on the corridor of He Yuan Fu Dao. The wide geometric diamond shaped fancy flower window is very rare, revealing a delicate and majestic atmosphere. Walking around the corridor to enjoy the scenery, the scenery is unique, and it is a rare masterpiece among garden flower windows.

Pianshi Mountain House - the first mountain in the world, formerly known as Shuanghuai Garden, is a "solitary book on earth" created by the giant painter Shi Tao in the early Qing Dynasty. The forehead of the "Pianshishan House" on the lintel was moved with the ink of Shitao. The design of this garden is based on the artwork of Shi Tao, following the principles of nature and embodying the charm of nature. It expresses the artistic conception of Shi Tao's poem, 'The water colors on all sides are boundless, and there is no other thought without fish; let alone the small sky and earth in the pond, the rolling and folding table is like a house'. The "artificial moon" in the fake hills and valleys in the garden is a wonder, with light passing through the holes and reflecting into the water, like the reflection of a bright moon. There is also a large mirror on the west corridor wall, which can reflect the entire landscape from different angles.

The overall architecture of Heyuan is open and bright, although it is built on flat ground, it has unique characteristics. By using rugged rocks and majestic rockeries, the architectural complex is placed by the foothills and ponds, and decorated with halls and pavilions due to the high and low terrain. It is scattered and winding, and the landscape architecture is seamlessly integrated, earning the reputation of being a typical example of residential gardens in Yangzhou.

Dongguan Street is the most representative historical old street in Yangzhou city. It stretches 1122 meters from Guyun River in the east to Guoqing Road in the west. Dongguan Street used to be not only a major transportation hub for water and land in Yangzhou, but also a center for commerce, handicrafts, and religious culture.

Dongguan Street is a concentrated area of handicraft industry in Yangzhou, with connected stores in the front and back areas covering the entire street, such as Fan Shunxing Umbrella Shop, Cao Shunxing Luoban Old Shop, Sun Zhuchen Lacquerware Workshop, Yuan Taixiang Sugar Workshop, Sun Ji Jade Workshop, Dong Houhe Socks Factory, etc.

The streets are bustling with listings and numerous businesses, offering a wide range of trades and thriving business. There are nearly a hundred businesses including Luchenxing, Youmifang, Xianyu, Baxian, Guaguo, and Zhumu.

Pishi Street is a relatively artistic and fresh old street, where many literati have opened distinctive flower shops, bookstores, studios, bars, cafes, snack shops, and more. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, Pishi Street was once a bustling street for leather goods.

The architectural style of the entire Pishi Street block is quaint and elegant: traditional brick masonry, small tile joints, and traditional five frame and seven frame beam houses are the main architectural styles. The characteristics are simple lines, single colors, plain and low-key, which have the greatest degree of compatibility with the ancient style of Yangcheng in terms of temperament.

On both sides of Pishi Street, there are some ancient alleys distributed in a fishbone like pattern, such as Wanhong Bridge, Wind Box Lane, Lamb Lane, Dazhizhi Lane, as well as Gengjia Lane and Shuichang Lane. The winding path leads to a secluded place, as if crossing time and space, where history and reality complement each other, permeated with a strong scent of human fireworks.

The former residence of Zhu Ziqing is located here

Daming Temple is located in Zhongfeng, Shugang Scenic Area, northwest suburb of Yangzhou City. It is not only a Buddhist temple, but also a scenic spot. It is composed of the Shakya ManiHall, Pingyuan Tower, Pingshan Hall, Imperial Garden, Jianzhen Memorial Hall, Qiling Tower, and the fifth spring in the world. It is a tourist destination that integrates Buddhist temples, cultural relics and scenic gardens.

Daming Temple was named after its initial construction during the reign of Emperor Xiaowu of the Southern Song Dynasty (457-464 AD). For over 1500 years, the names of temples have undergone many changes, such as being called "Qiling Temple" and "West Temple" during the Sui Dynasty, and "Chengping" during the late Tang Dynasty. In the Qing Dynasty, due to the taboo of the two characters "Daming", it was once referred to as "Qiling Temple". In the 30th year of the Qianlong reign, the emperor personally inscribed the "Imperial Edict for Fajing Temple". In 1980, Daming Temple was restored to its original name.

Master Jianzhen of the Tang Dynasty served as the abbot of Daming Temple, making it an important ancient temple in the history of Sino Japanese Buddhist cultural relics relations.

Climbing up hundreds of soothing stone steps to the square in front of Daming Temple, one is greeted by a solemn and elegant archway. The archway is built to commemorate the Qiling Pagoda and Qiling Temple.

The Shakya ManiHall

The most famous tower in the temple is the Qiling Pagoda, which houses the relics of Shakyamuni Buddha. Li Bai, Bai Juyi, and others have also come to compose poetry. From the top of the tower, you can overlook Daming Temple and the scenery of Shouxi Lake and Yangzhou City.

Pingshan Hall was built by Ouyang Xiu, a renowned scholar of the Northern Song Dynasty, during his tenure as the governor of Yangzhou. Later, when Su Dongpo served as the governor of Yangzhou, he often came here to pay his respects, and later built the "Gulin Hall" and "Ouyang River" for Ouyang.

To the west of Pingshan Hall is a classical garden rich in mountain and forest scenery - Xiyuan. It was first built in the first year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1736) and was destroyed by war during the Xianfeng period. It was rebuilt during the Tongzhi period. In today's garden, towering ancient trees, rugged rocks, rippling pools, elegant pavilions, and a lake in the mountains, with the fifth largest spring in the world in the lake. There is also the "Imperial Stele Pavilion" in the park, which houses three imperial steles of Emperor Qianlong.

People say that not visiting Shouxi Lake is equivalent to not having been to Yangzhou. Slender West Lake is a symbol of elegance and luxury in Yangzhou. The beauty of Slender West Lake lies in its slender and winding surface. In order to capture its myriad poetic sentiments and sunset, I chose to enter Slender West Lake on a sunny afternoon.

Under the brilliant sunshine, the water in Shouxi Lake shimmers with beautiful ripples and shimmering waves.

My route: Enter from the south gate of Shouxi Lake Park, then go to Xuyuan - Xiaojin Mountain (the highest point of Shouxi Lake) - Diaoyutai (where Emperor Qianlong once fished) - Wuting Bridge - White Pagoda - Xichun Terrace - Twenty four Bridges - Wan Garden - North Gate of Shouxi Lake Park.

During the Kangxi reign of Emperor Qianlong, there was a poem by Wang Yuyang that goes: "The Red Bridge flies across the water, with a nine curved red railing; the painting of boats passing under the bridge in the afternoon, with fragrant clothes and hurried figures." It is also widely known, and even Emperor Qianlong once wrote a poem praising the scenery of Hongqiao.

Xu Garden is located north of the Spring Willow on the long embankment of Shouxi Lake, and its original site was Han Garden Taohuawu Han Garden in the early Qing Dynasty. In the fourth year of the Republic of China (1915), in memory of the martyr Xu Baoshan, the commander of the Xinhai Revolution, the Xu Baoshan Ancestral Hall was built and named Xu Yuan.

Xiaojin Mountain is the largest island in Shouxi Lake and also the most densely populated area of buildings on the lake. The Wind Pavilion, Wind Platform, Piano Room, Muxi Bookstore, Chess Room, and Moon Temple are all concentrated here. The main lake area of Shouxi Lake can be seen from the Jinshan Scenic Area since childhood.

Yuban Bridge

Diaoyutai, located deep into the lake, was originally a place for playing silk and bamboo instruments. It is said that Emperor Qianlong came here to fish.

Standing at a 60 degree angle from the fishing platform, you can see the horizontal waves of Wuting Bridge in the circular hole to the north, and the majestic White Pagoda in the elliptical hole to the south. This scene is full of colors and elements, one horizontal and one horizontal, truly exquisite.

The scene of borrowing scenery in that cave perfectly corresponds to the "Three Star Arch Photo".

Wuting Bridge is not only a symbol of Slender West Lake, but also a symbol of Yangzhou city. It was built in the 22nd year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty and has a history of over 200 years.

Mao Yisheng praised the Wuting Bridge as "the most beautiful and artistically representative bridge in China". On a full moon night, each of the fifteen bridge openings contains a moon.

The thickness and stability of the White Pagoda are different from that of the White Pagoda in Beihai. The White Pagoda is evenly proportioned and stands tall like a jade pavilion. Contrasting with the Wuting Bridge beside me.

Du Mu's "Twenty Four Bridges on a Bright Moon Night, Where Can Jade People Teach to Play the Flute" showcases the beautiful scenery of a long rainbow lying on the waves along the Twenty Four Bridges.

The Twenty Four Bridges Scenic Area includes Xichuntai, Linglongjie, General Xiaoli's Painting Notebook, Wangchun Tower, and Twenty Four Bridges. Xichuntai is the main building of the Twenty Four Bridges Scenic Area. It is far away from Xiaojin Mountain, both located at the turning point of the lake surface.

The Twenty Four Bridges "comes from a poem by the famous Tang Dynasty poet Du Mu, which goes:" The green mountains are faint and the water is far away, the autumn is over and the grass in Jiangnan has not withered; on the night of the bright moon at the Twenty Four Bridges, where can the jade man teach to play the flute. The Twenty Four Bridges in the minds of Yangzhou people are composed of the Falling Sail Plank Road, Single Arch Bridge, Nine Curve Bridge, and Blowing Xiao Pavilion. The jade belt shaped arch bridge in the middle is 24 meters long and 2.4 meters wide, with 24 steps on each side of the bridge, surrounded by 24 white jade railings and 24 railings.

Wanhuayuan is a scenic spot in Shouxi Lake, mainly relying on the historical and cultural background of Shouxi Lake. It has been developed with flower culture as the theme and classical historical gardens as the clue, focusing on the restoration and improvement of scenic spots such as "Stone Wall Flowing Water", "Jingxiang Bookstore", and "White Pagoda Clear Clouds" in Shouxi Lake, as well as exploring and reflecting the unique flower culture of Yangzhou. It has ten functions: flower event, exhibition, sightseeing, experience, intellectual interest, leisure, education, ecology, entertainment, and aesthetics.

In April, Yangzhou city is blessed with gentle breeze, light rain, slanting willows, and blooming flowers, making it the most beautiful time of the year. Especially when the city flower of Yangzhou, Qionghua, is in full bloom.

The ancients regarded visiting Yangzhou to witness the beauty of the Qiong flowers as a joyful experience in life. The phrase 'When I love to enjoy flowers in the Three Springs, the hustle and bustle of cars and horses is like the city' depicts the grand scene of flower appreciation at that time.

The flowers of Qionghua are pure white and flawless, with an umbrella shaped shape, dignified and lovely. The flowering period of Qionghua is very short, so it is particularly precious. Qionghua is widely distributed in the urban area of Yangzhou, such as Qionghua Square at the east gate of Shouxi Lake, Twenty Four Bridges, Changdi Chunliu, Zhuyuwan Qionghua Garden, Daming Temple, Qionghua Temple, Canal Sanwan Scenic Area, Wenchang Road, Pingshantang Road

In Yangzhou, besides Qionghua, there are many other flowers blooming, and "peach red and willow green" is appropriate.

Chrysanthemum peach

Hydrangea

red maple

The cherry blossom filled Jianzhen Avenue

Wisteria

Yangzhou is a city floating in the moonlight. It is also a city nurtured by the pen tips of literati. I really like this city. My previous impressions came from classical poetry, but now I am gradually immersing myself in the beautiful classical world.