Revisiting Tuisi Garden - Tongli Ancient Town

When I was a child, I couldn't understand Tuisi Garden during spring outings. I just wandered around and scratched the itchy tree (crape myrtle) and that was it! Today, I revisited Tuisi Garden and discovered something new! "Tuisi" means "retreat and reflect", and the name of the garden comes from the "Zuo Zhuan" (The Commentary of Zuo) which says "be loyal when advancing, and reflect on mistakes when retreating". It was built in the 11th year of the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty (1885 AD) by Ren Lansheng, a third-rank military officer at the time. I was pleasantly surprised to find that there are QR codes on the walls of each attraction in the garden. You can scan them as you walk along to learn about the classic features of Tuisi Garden! I also learned more about my hometown's Tuisi Garden! 📍Magnolia grandiflora and white magnolia are planted in front of the building in the central courtyard, filling the air with fragrance all year round. On the north side is the "Suihanju" (Winter Residence), where you can see wintersweet, pine, and bamboo through the flower windows, symbolizing the resilience and purity of the three friends of winter. 📍The winding corridor by the lotus pond in the garden cleverly connects the buildings in the garden. On the corridor wall next to the garden gate is the phrase "The breeze and the bright moon need not be bought with a penny", which has a profound meaning. 📍The main building in the garden is the "Tuisi Caotang" (Tuisi Cottage). Tuisi Cottage is located on the north bank of the lotus pond, with a simple and dignified appearance. The moon platform in front of the hall is close to the water, symbolizing retreat without forgetting to make progress. Inside the cottage is a stele rubbing of "Guiqulaici" (Return to the Fields) written by Zhao Mengfu, a great calligrapher of the Yuan Dynasty. The calligraphy is round and beautiful, with high artistic value. 📍In the southeast corner of the garden is a "Guyushengliangxuan" (Cool Pavilion in the Rain), named after the Song Dynasty poet Jiang Kui's "Niannujiao". The small pavilion has three rooms, built close to the water, with a large mirror inside reflecting the lake view, as if surrounded by the pond. The name "Guyushengliangxuan" is derived from Peng Yulin's couplet on the Three Pools Mirroring the Moon in West Lake: "The cool breeze rises from the reed leaves, and the light rain falls on the calm waves". The pavilion is divided into two rooms, north and south, with a mandarin duck hall layout. There is a mirror in the pavilion, which was brought back from Germany by the owner's son, Ren Chuanxin. 📍Tianqiao (Heavenly Bridge): From Guyushengliangxuan, pass through the cave and climb up the stone steps to reach Tianqiao, where the view suddenly opens up. The bridge is above and the corridor is below, simulating the Efang Palace's covered walkway, spanning the sky and flying over the mountain top, making it a unique feature of Jiangnan gardens. 📍Laorenfeng (Old Man Peak): In front of Tianqiao is a solitary Taihu stone, resembling an old man standing still, called Laorenfeng. On top of Laorenfeng is a Lingbi stone, resembling a turtle with its head raised, with both form and spirit. 📍Naohongyige (Red Boat): Naohongyige is the boat in the garden, originally called Xiangshuichuan (Sounding Water Boat). There are delicate Taihu stones beside the boat's side, like waves stirred up by the boat, and the name comes from the Song Dynasty poet Jiang Kui's poem: "A red boat, remember when I came, I used to be with mandarin ducks", meaning the small boat swaying in the red, prosperous lotus flowers, remembering when I came, I used to be with the mandarin ducks on the water. 📍The five blessings pattern on the ground, the five blessings refer to longevity, wealth, health, virtue, and a good end. They are not only an important part of traditional Chinese culture but also fully reflected in the construction and decoration of Tuisi Garden. After visiting Tuisi Garden, you can also visit Tongli Ancient Town. The commercial atmosphere is not strong, but the small bridges and flowing water, the water Venice is well-deserved. Compared to Zhouzhuang, I personally prefer Tongli Ancient Town.