Nature's creation - an epic of the four seasons made of stacked stones
The most renowned feature of Ge Garden is its Four-season rockery, which is hailed as a "unique example in China". The master gardener selects different stones and plants to create a recurring scene of the four seasons along a winding tour route, allowing people to appreciate the philosophy of time and space while strolling.
Spring Mountain: Located at the entrance of the park, it begins with bamboo and stones. In front of the whitewashed wall, stalagmites break through the soil, resembling bamboo shoots after a spring rain, complementing the green bamboo, symbolizing the revival of all things and the vitality of life.
Xia Shan: Located in the northwest of the garden, it is built with bluish-gray Taihu stones. The characteristics of Taihu stones, which are "thin, wrinkled, exposed and transparent", create a misty and cloud-like appearance. At the foot of the mountain, there is a pool with a refreshing lotus fragrance. In the middle of the mountain, there are caves. Once you enter, you will immediately feel cool. It is an ideal place to escape the summer heat.
Autumn Mountain: Located in the northeast of the garden, it is entirely composed of ochre-yellow Huangshan stones, presenting a majestic and imposing appearance. The mountain path winds and twists, with deep caves and gullies. There are stone chambers and stone Bridges. From the top, you can overlook the entire garden. The ancient cypresses on the mountain stretch obliquely. If they are dotted with red maples in autumn, they appear even more bright and clear, like makeup.
Dongshan: Located in the southeast courtyard, it is made of white Xuan stones (snow stones) stacked together, as if the snow has not yet melted. Twenty-four wind sound holes are chiseled into the wall, ingeniously utilizing the alley wind effect to generate the howling sound of the north wind, creating a desolate atmosphere of winter. Through the latticed window on the wall, one can catch a glimpse of the scenery of the spring mountains again, symbolizing that winter gives way to spring, and the cycle repeats itself.
Humanistic Craftsmanship - A Life of salt Merchants Appreciated by both refined and popular Tastes
Ge Yuan is composed of the northern Pinzhu area, the central garden and the southern residential area, and it is a model of "integration of residence and garden".
Baoshan Tower: A seven-jacketed long tower connecting Summer Mountain and Autumn Mountain, it is like a corridor of time and space. Standing on the upper floor, one can enjoy the lush greenery of summer on the left and the solemnity of autumn on the right, deeply experiencing the ingenious idea of garden-making that "one garden can see two seasons".
Yiyu Pavilion: The main building in the garden, with glass doors and Windows on all four sides, is bright and transparent. Being inside, one can enjoy the scenery in all directions, truly realizing the saying "When sitting in the hall, the views come from all directions". It is a refined gathering place for the garden owner to entertain guests, enjoy the view and have tea.
The southern residential complex: Composed of buildings from the east, middle and west sections, it is grand and imposing, showcasing the luxurious life and strict family rules of the salt merchant family. Among them, "Han Xuetang" is a family school. The couplet, "With a few lines of useful books, one can forget about food and drink; with several new bamboo shoots, one can grow up like children and grandchildren," compares reading to nurturing bamboo, expressing the earnest expectations for the descendants to succeed. The "Qingsong Hall", as the highest-level hall, features thick and sturdy beams and columns, making it a rare magnificent building among the ancient residences in Yangzhou.
Photography Secrets:
Framing and artistic conception: Skillfully using the variously shaped lattice Windows and moon-shaped gates in the garden as the foreground frame to capture the rockeries, green bamboo or pavilions behind can produce the most classical and poetic scenes.
Clothing coordination: Wearing Hanfu or cheongsam to take photos in the garden can blend perfectly with the ancient garden environment, especially suitable for taking pictures under bamboo forest paths or pavilions and terraces.
Light and shadow capture: The slanting sunlight in the early morning or evening can create a dappled light and shadow effect on bamboo forests and rockeries, with an excellent texture. The long corridor of Baoshan Tower is an excellent place to capture the interplay of light and shadow as well as the sense of structure.
Seasonal features: In spring, pay attention to the vitality of stalagmites and new bamboo. In autumn, the focus is on the yellow stone rockeries and the dotted red leaves, with a strong color contrast.
