Ge Garden (Geyuan)

About Ge Garden

Ge Garden is one of Yangzhou's most famous classical gardens, built in 1818 by a wealthy salt merchant named Huang Zhiyun. The garden's name comes from the character "个" (ge), which resembles the shape of bamboo leaves — and bamboo is indeed a prominent feature throughout the garden.

What makes Ge Garden truly unique is its four-season rockeries. The garden's designer used different types of stone to represent each season: spring is represented by bamboo and stone笋 (bamboo shoots); summer by cool gray rocks; autumn by yellow stone creating a warm atmosphere; and winter by white stone that looks like snow. Walking through the garden, you experience the entire year's cycle in a single visit — a brilliant feat of landscape design.

What Not to Miss

• The four-season rockeries — each section uses different stone to evoke spring, summer, autumn, and winter.

• The bamboo groves — the garden is named for bamboo, which grows throughout.

• The main hall with its traditional Huizhou architecture and elegant furnishings.