Shuihui Garden Scenic Area

A National 4A-level Tourist Attraction, it is situated in the northern corner of ancient Rugao City, covering a land area of around 300,000 square meters. The scenic zone comprises multiple spots: Shuihui Garden (a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level), the ancient Shuiming Tower architectural complex, China Rugao-style Bonsai Garden (Gudan Garden), Nifeng Cottage, Yi Garden, China Rugao Longevity Museum, Lingwei Taoist Temple, a zoo and an amusement park.

Shuihui Garden was first built during the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty, boasting a history of over 400 years. It served as the secluded retreat of Dong Xiaowan, one of the Eight Beauties of Jinling, and Mao Pijiang, one of the Four Great Talents of the late Ming Dynasty. The garden features more than ten exquisite scenic spots, including Hanbi Hall, Yimo Study, Yinshu Tower, Xiangzhong Pavilion, Xuanliu Mountain Studio, Mirror Pavilion, Selang Slope, Xiaosanwu Pavilion, Zhenyan Pavilion, Miaoyin Fragrant Grove, Yueyu Platform, the ancient city wall, Yanboyu Pavilion, Biluo Cottage, Xuanliu Peak, Xibo Pool, Xiaosanwu Stream and Crane Isle. Winding water stretches across the grounds, casting picturesque reflections on the surface. The timeless romantic love story of Mao and Dong, profound historical and cultural heritage, and one-of-a-kind garden landscapes make Shuihui Garden an outstanding tourist destination integrating natural scenery, literati culture and historical exhibitions. Professor Chen Congzhou, hailed as the Father of Modern Chinese Landscape Architecture, praised it as "the most renowned garden under heaven".

In the 16th year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1677), Mao Yi, Mao Pijiang’s half-brother, accused Mao Pijiang of colluding with maritime forces (referring to Zheng Chenggong, who resisted the Qing Dynasty at sea) in a bid to seize the family property. Forced to compromise, Mao Pijiang lost possession of both Shuihui Garden and Yi Garden to Mao Yi. Nevertheless, his aspiration to spend his remaining years in seclusion never faded. Therefore, he "selected a plot to build a dwelling to the west of Shuihui Garden, naming it Nifeng Cottage" to embody his pursuit of purity, tranquility and retreat from worldly affairs. Guided by the philosophy "a poor woman keeps her dwelling spotless", he erected a series of simple structures within the compound: Wangguo Cottage, Bijī Cottage, Qianxiao Cottage, Red Rainbow Bridge, Withered Willow Bridge, Wooden Slab Bridge, Du Pavilion, Mustard Tea Pavilion, Waterside Thatch Pavilion, Peach Blossom Chrysanthemum Plot, Stone Platform of Divine Blossoms, Stone Platform of Graceful Blossoms, Nifeng Cottage, Qi Sheng Cottage, Lianghong Dwelling, Tall Veranda, Laihua Tower, Sencui Mountain Studio and Rong’an Thatched House. The layout follows the pattern of three halls, three bridges, three pavilions, two cottages, one dwelling, one veranda, one tower, one mountain studio and one thatched house. The surrounding scenery varies in four directions:

The unique charm of Nifeng Cottage for sightseeing and leisure lies in its unrefined natural mountains and rivers with seamless winding vistas. Simple bamboo-framed houses with paper window panes stand in small two-bay and three-bay structures, forming a sharp contrast to the grand, elaborate Shuihui Garden constructed during the peak of the Mao clan’s prosperity.

The China Rugao Longevity Museum is housed within Nifeng Cottage. Rugao is a famous Hometown of Longevity in China. As of December 2009, Rugao was home to 256 centenarians, ranking first among all counties and county-level cities nationwide. Famous longevity regions around the world are either located in frigid highlands or remote mountainous areas. Rugao, situated on the Jianghuai Plain, is not only the sole longevity hometown along China’s coastal belt but also the only one within a relatively industrially developed region — a globally unparalleled case with immense research value. It has drawn widespread attention from domestic and international news media and relevant research institutions. Composed of four building clusters, the museum comprehensively and scientifically displays Rugao’s longevity history, local customs, centenarian figures and relevant research findings.

First built in the late Ming Dynasty under the original name Huling Garden, it was renamed Gudan Garden in the 25th year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty by Zheng Banqiao, one of the Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou. Now designated as China Rugao-style Bonsai Garden, it houses an extensive collection of premium Rugao-style bonsai dating back to the Song Dynasty. Highlights include a cypress bonsai over 1,000 years old and the world’s largest five-needle pine bonsai. It enjoys the reputation of "witnessing dynasties from the Tang, Song, Yuan and Ming to the present day"