With a history of more than 2,000 years, Guangzhou has many ancient and classic gardens hiding in the hustle and bustle. Strolling in these gardens, you will feel like traveling back in time and be immersed in the splendid world of the bygone era.
Yuyin Shanfang (余荫山房)
(Photo: Yuyin Shanfang)
As one of the four famous Lingnan gardens in Guangdong, Yuyin Shanfang was an ancient garden built in the Qing Dynasty and has a history of more than 150 years. The garden is dotted with pavilions, ponds and halls throughout. It also features a winding corridor, an arched bridge, flower paths, artificial hills and verdant trees, showing an exquisite overall layout.
Add.: North Street, Nancun Town, Panyu District, Guangzhou (广州市番禺区南村镇北大街)
Opening hours: 08:00 – 18:00
Nearest metro station: Take Metro Line 7, get off at Banqiao Station (板桥站) and use Exit A.
Baomo Garden (宝墨园)
(Photo: Baomo Garden)
First built in the late Qing Dynasty and rebuilt in 1995, Baomo Garden combines court culture of the Qing Dynasty, Lingnan ancient architectural art, Lingnan Garden, and water town features of Pearl River Delta into one.
The whole garden is decorated with finely made artistic works including pottery sculptures, porcelain sculptures, brick carvings, stone carvings, and wood carvings. Among them some of them represent the biggest relief sculpture of World Guinness Record named "Along the River During the Qingming Festival" and a large brick carving named "Tu Yan He Ming Bi".
Add.: Zini Village, Shawan Town, Panyu District, Guangzhou (广州市番禺区沙湾镇紫坭村)
Opening hours: 08:30 – 17:30
Nearest bus stop: Take bus No. 12 or 67 (Panyu) and get off at Baomo Garden Station (宝墨园总站); take Shiqiao-Baomo Garden Bus (27 stops) at Shiqiao Bus Terminal (市桥汽车站) and get off at Baomo Garden.
Zuiguan Park (醉观公园)
(Photo: Guangzhou Liwan Fabu)
In the late Qing Dynasty, there were more than 30 gardens in Liwan's Fangcun region, among which eight famous gardens such as Zuiguan Garden, Liufang Garden and Cuilin Garden were merged to form the current Zuiguan Park.
The park is close to the Huadi River. With rockery, lakes, pavilions, corridors, bridges as well as colorful flowers, it fully displays the unique style of Lingnan gardens.
Add.: No. 275, Fangcun Dadao Zhong, Liwan District, Guangzhou (广州市荔湾区芳村大道中275号)
Opening hours: 06:00 – 19:00
Nearest metro station: Take Metro Line 1, get off at Fangcun Station (芳村站) and use Exit D.
Yaozhou Historic Site (药洲遗址)
(Photo: Guangdong Fabu)
Yaozhou is now a small and exquisite garden near Beijing Road Commercial Street. The garden, which used to be the imperial garden of the Southern Han Kingdom during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, is one of the earliest existing ancient garden relics in China.
Yaozhou is mainly composed of a lake, an island as well as a stone tablet corridor, and people can see many inscriptions of many famous ancient literary figures. Moreover, the peculiarly-shaped stones in the lake, also called "Jiu Yao Shi", are another popular attraction there.
Add.: No. 86, Jiaoyu Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou (广州市越秀区教育路86号)
Nearest metro station: Take Metro Line 1 or 2, get off at Gongyuanqian Station (公园前站) and use Exit D.
Author | Holly
Poster | Mia
Editor | Wing, Monica, Jerry
