Shanghai's 20 Famous Mansions

Author: Tang Yi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-06-01
Features: Yuyuan is located in the old city area of Shanghai, a renowned classical garden in Jiangnan, and a key national cultural relic protection unit. It was initially built during the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty (1559 AD) as a private garden of Pan Yunrui, the Governor of Sichuan. Yuyuan is celebrated for its exquisite design, delicate layout, serene beauty, and intricate details, showcasing the principle of "making the small appear large." Ancient scholars praised it as the "crown of famous gardens in Southeast." Today, Yuyuan covers over 30 acres and features attractions such as the Grand Rockery, Jade (Jade), Dianchuntang (Point Spring Hall), Demoulou (Moon-Retrieving Pavilion), Neiyuan (Inner Garden), and the Ancient Opera Stage. With its staggered pavilions and towers, towering rocks, winding streams, and picturesque scenery, Yuyuan also preserves a substantial collection of ancient trees, Ming and Qing Dynasty furniture, calligraphy and paintings by famous figures, clay sculptures, brick carvings, and inscriptions on plaques and couplets. These treasures embody the essence of rich Chinese traditional cultural and artistic heritage.