When people talk about Jiangnan gardens, most think of the gardens in Suzhou. But did you know?Shanghai also has Jiangnan-style gardens. The most famous ones are the Five Great Classical Gardens of Shanghai. Today, I’d like to introduce you to Shanghai’s “only” free garden—a 300-year-old site that’s on par with the ancient Yiyuan Garden and is hailed as the “Back Garden of Qingpu,” yet remains largely unknown.
This is Qushui Garden, located in Shanghai’s Qingpu District. It stands as a vivid testament to Qingpu’s water town heritage and is also one of Shanghai’s five major classical gardens. But to be honest, people who don’t live in Qingpu District may not be very familiar with it—or may have never even visited it once.
Qushui Garden was first built in the 10th year of the Qianlong reign (originally named Lingyuan). It was originally an auxiliary garden of the City God Temple. It is said that to fund its construction, one cash coin was collected from every resident in the city, which is why it is also known as “Yiwen Garden.”
The garden’s name derives from the winding stream that flows through it, evoking the refined elegance of Wang Xizhi’s “Wine-Cup Floating on the Winding Stream” tradition.
Although Qushui Garden is small and delicate, elegant and rustic, it features numerous pavilions, terraces, and towers. Centered around Ninghe Hall, the garden is divided into the West Garden, Central Garden, East Garden, and Calligraphy and Art Garden, with the hall situated near the water, the pavilions nestled by the pond, and ancient trees soaring skyward.
The highlight of the garden is undoubtedly the Taihu stone rockery, whose stones are slender, porous, and openwork, taking on a myriad of forms. Hidden within are winding paths that offer the delight of “turning a corner to find a world of flowers and willows” as you wander through them.From the top of the Nine Peaks Panoramic Pavilion, visitors can look down upon the picturesque garden, where the charm of classical gardens blends with the silhouette of the modern new city.
As you stroll through the garden, you can not only feel the poetic charm of Wang Xizhi’s “Wine-Cup Floating on the Winding Stream” but also appreciate the unique allure of Shanghai’s local gardens. Best of all, it’s free and clean, with few visitors and beautiful scenery—making it perfect for seniors to visit.
Attractions at Qu Shui Garden
Ninghe Hall
Ninghe Hall was built in the 32nd year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (A.D. 1767).“Ning” signifies stability, and “He” signifies harmony; the hall was constructed at that time to pray for national prosperity and the well-being of the people. As the main attraction of the entire garden, it is grand and spacious, featuring a single-eave hipped-and-gabled roof, blue tiles, and white walls. Square in shape and towering in height, it exudes a solemn and dignified atmosphere.
Flower God Hall
The Hall of the Flower Goddess was originally a place for worshiping the Flower Goddess. In the past, statues of the twelve monthly Flower Goddesses were enshrined within the hall, which was originally named the Shrine of the Flower Goddess and was first built in the 10th year of the Guangxu reign (1884).
Youjue Hall
Youjue Hall was first built in the 10th year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1745) and renovated in the 15th year of the Guangxu reign (1889). It is the oldest building in the garden and embodies the traditional characteristics of ancient architecture.
Deyue Xuan
Deyue Pavilion is located on the west bank of the Lotus Pond and was first built in the Bingyin year of the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty (1746). Facing east, it consists of a row of two-story pavilions with red walls and water-front facades, constructed in the traditional Chinese style using a brick-and-wood structure. The pavilion houses a permanent exhibition of calligraphy and paintings by famous figures from Qingpu.
Shigu Stone Inscriptions Literary and Art Garden
The Stone Drum Script Art Gallery, located in the northwestern part of Qushui Garden, is a venue for exhibiting the Stone Drum Script and related calligraphy works. The Stone Drum Script is one of the earliest surviving examples of stone-carved script in China.
Perhaps because Qushui Garden is the only one of Shanghai’s five classical gardens not located in the city center, it may not be as well-known as the other four. However, in this editor’s opinion, Qushui Garden’s scenery is truly second to none.
Address: 612 Gongyuan Road, Qingpu District
Directions: Take Metro Line 17 to Qingpu New Town Station, then transfer to the Qingpu No. 6 bus and get off at Qing'an Road/Yiyuan Road Station; or take the Qingpu No. 9 bus to Qushuiyuan Station.
A garden, a world of its own. Despite its modest size, Qu Shui Garden seamlessly blends architecture, scenic beauty, and natural landscapes, offering a tranquil retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city. I wonder what you, our viewers, think of it?
