Baomo Garden

Baomo Garden is located in Zini Village, Panyu District of Guangzhou. More than just a garden, it covers an area of about 100,000 square meters (about 25 acres) and is a complex of encompassing culture, south China traditional architecture and south China garden arts.

Baomo Garden was built in the late Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911 AD) as an extension of the Temple of Lord Bao located to the east of the Garden. The Temple itself was built during the reign of Emperor Jiaqing of Qing Dynasty, to praise Lord Bao Zheng of the Song Dynasty (960 - 1279 AD) and his qualities of incorruptibility and justice. The original garden was destroyed in the 1950s. Reconstruction work began in 1955 and lasted for eight years. Large and elegant, the rebuilt garden is a good example of south China gardens.
 

Baomo Garden can be divided into many scenic areas and sites. At its front gate is a grand and exquisite white stone archway. Inside the garden, pottery sculptures, porcelain sculptures, brick sculptures, stone carvings, and wood carvings can be seen everywhere. The most amazing piece is the porcelain inverse relief 'Qingming Festival by the Riverside', which has been added to the Guinness Book of World Records. Another example of this type of work is the huge brick carving, Wall of Flowers and Birds. The bronze statue of Confucius is exhibited in the Treasure Pavilion on Litchi Island for visitors to worship

In addition to the above mentioned attractions and art works, there are many other famous scenic spots inside the garden.
 

Zhiben Hall was originally Lord Bao's Hall. In its lobby, hangs a Chinese painting of a Lotus, symbolizing the upright and holy spirits of Lord Bao. Behind the hall, there is a granite plaque inscribed with the characters of 'Baomo Garden', which is the only relic of the garden.
 

In the lobby of Baomo Hall is a portrait of Lord Bao, painted by the famous Chinese painter, Han Yunlang. The two elms in front of the hall are nearly 100 years old. As they are tall and vigorous, and standing right in front of Lord Bao’s portrait like guards, people call them “General Trees”. On the roof bridge is a group of pottery sculptures telling the story of Lord Bao throwing ink stone into the river.
 

Longtu Hall is built in a traditional south China architecture style. It boasts delicate and elegant brick carvings, wood carvings, and clay sculptures, etc. Upon entering, visitors see a giant rosewood screen, 3.5 meters by 4.5 meters (about 11.5 feet by 14.8 feet). This screen took 16 artists about 18 months to complete. In front of it is the statue of Lord Bao that portrays his commitment to standing on principles.
 

Zhao Tailai Collection Hall is built in the late Qing Dynasty temple style of the Pearl River Delta. Mr. Zhao is the permanent honorary director of Baomo Garden. His donations to this garden, including bronze Kwan-yin, horse, burner, and 41 large Tibet Thangkas are housed here.
 

Qianxiang Corridor, about 1,000 meters (3,281 feet) long, winds up and down following the terrain and layout of the surrounding architecture. It not only provides protection from the rain and sun, but also is a nice place for sightseeing and resting.
 

The garden has a lot of wonderful water features. Litchi Scenery Bay, Qingping Lake, Baomo Lake and a 1000-meter-long river are interconnected. They are glassy like mirrors and run all the time. Over 30 bridges cross these waters for visitors’ convenience. The most famous is the Purple Ribbon Bridge over Qingping Lake. It is a traditional 9-arch stone bridge carved with famous Chinese stories like 'The Romance of the Three Kingdoms (220 - 280 AD)' and 'The Romance of the Sui (581 - 618 AD) and Tang Dynasties (618 - 907 AD)'. Another attractive water scene over Qingping Lake is Zidong Boat. The two-storey boat is 21 meters (69 feet) long, 6.8 meters (22 feet) wide and 8.7 meters (29 feet) high, constructed of reinforced concrete and decorated with teak. The wood carvings and wood furniture on the boat are very beautiful. On its first storey, visitors can drink tea and enjoy Cantonese music and operas.
 

Another great thing about Baomo Garden is its plants and flowers, which make the garden beautiful all year round. The best places to enjoy these plants include Rose Yard, Lotus Pond, Orchid Garden, and Purple Bamboo Woods.

 Recommended Nearby Attractions:
  Nanyue Garden
  Shawan Ancient Town