But it would be a mistake to assume that this now glorious world city is bereft of an equally glorious past. One of the finest examples of this fact is the breathtaking Yuyuan Garden which is located in the heart of the Old City. Lavish at first sight and Chinese to the core, this monumental piece of greenery took nearly twenty years to construct. Originally built in 1559, this once private enclave was the work of Pan Yunduan. Stretched across five acres of prime real estate the Yuyuan Garden is divided in to six sections like a typical Suzhou garden layout; namely the Heralding Spring Hall, Inner Garden, Ten Thousand-Flower Tower, Lotus Pool and the Jade Magnificence Hall.

The first portion consists of the Grand Rockery constructed of a 12 meter high huangshi stone complete with caves, peaks, cliffs, ravines and a Sansui Hall. Built as far back as 1760 the Sansui Hall mainly serves as a locale to entertain visitors but it was later used as a ceremonial hall for the city’s literati and other gentlemen. Around nine meters in height with five vestibules, it is undoubtedly the most expansive structure in the entire garden.

Located in the Wanhua chamber, the Heralding Spring Hall consists of a performing stage, Hexu Hall, an ancient well pavilion and a relic hall. Once the hideout of the Xiaodao Hui revolutionaries during the Qing Dynasty, this premise also houses the coins and bulletins of proclamations issued by the group.

The Inner Garden area contains pavilions, towers big and small while the Lotus Pool with its ‘zigzag overpass and mid-lake porch are also elegantly placed. The Jade Magnificence Hall is considered the focal point of the garden, its jade rock is believed to be of the finest in the land. Situated opposite Yuhua Hall, it is one of the three famed rocks of the south of Yangtze while the others are located in Suzhou and Hangzhou. Nearly 3.5 metres in height with seventy two punctures, one of the popular activities in this region of the park include lighting joss sticks beneath the rock to witness the incense smoke rise up from the holes creating a magical scene. Another preferred activity is pouring water down the rock from the cliff as it creates a mini fountain of your own making when the liquid spurts out from the apertures. Made of the finest rosewood, the interior furnishings of the Jade Magnificence Hall are equally captivating.

Ten Thousand-Flower Tower or Wanhua Chamber is encircled by idyllic pergolas with spring bamboo trees growing alongside them. The two ancient trees in front of the Flower Tower are also a sight as the 21 meter high maidenhair tree is said to have been planted almost 400 years ago by the creator of the garden himself. Each of the quarters in the garden is charmingly divided using “dragon walls” with rolling gray tile edges in this lovely parkland.

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