Shanghai Grand View Garden
Shanghai Grand View Garden, located at No. 701 Qingshang Road, Qingpu District, southwest of Shanghai, is about 65 kilometers (40 miles) from the city center. With an area of 100 hectares (247 acres), it is a large-scale and full-size replicated landscape garden in the pseudo-classic architecture style, which describes the stories and courtyards in Chinese fiction Dream of the Red Chamber. Nowadays, it is winning popularity among local people and tourists and was rated the National 4A level scenic spot in 2000.
According to the novel, the Jia family built this garden in order to welcome the imperial concubine Jia Yuanchun home. This garden has a typical symmetrical architectural style. The main buildings are erected on a traditional north-south axis. The secondary buildings are distributed equally to the east and west of this axis. The design concept of this garden is novel and unique. Unlike the Grand View Garden in Beijing, this one in Shanghai takes advantage of the characteristics of water and has developed a large area of artificial lakes.
There is a square in front of the entrance on the south. Passing through an 8-meter (26 feet) high arch on the square, one sees a screen wall with a height of 6 meters (20 feet) and a width of 18 meters (60 feet). The wall is engraved with delicate carvings of 'Nuwa Mends the Sky' (a Chinese myth) on the south and 'Twelve Beauties of Jinling' (described in the Dream of the Red Chamber) on the north. The entrance is right to the north of the screen wall.
Entering the garden, there is a group of big rockeries forming a secluded passageway with a height of 5 meters (16 feet). It has 20 meters (65 feet) that extends north from the main entrance. At the end of a passageway of twists and turns is a pond of green water. Passing this pond, one arrives at a palace where the concubine Jia Yuanchun changed her clothes and had a rest. A plaque is hung on the roof. The four Chinese characters "Ti Ren Mu De" on the plaque mean "appreciating the kindness of the emperor". With an area of 682 square meters (815 square yards), this palace has three halls. Each hall has exquisite mahogany furniture and porcelain. Behind this palace, there is a lotus pool. Every summer, a large number of lotuses in full bloom become a beautiful feature in the garden.
To the north of the lotus pool and facing the Ti Ren Mu De Palace, there lies the most important building group of the garden - Grand View Pavilion. This whole building group of Grand View Pavilion is in keeping with palace architectural style. Looking away from the lotus pool, Grand View Pavilion looks more solemn and grand. It covers 2,123 square meters (2,539 square yards). All members of Jia family came to this place together when the imperial concubine Jia Yuanchun came home. In the southmost of this group of buildings, there is an 8-meter (26 feet) high white marble arch which is engraved with "Mothering Villa". Walking north through the arch, there are three ways that can take tourists to the main palace. The 15 meters (49 feet) high two-storey palace is the most important building of Grand View Garden. On the second floor of the palace, visitors can see the overall view of the Grand View Garden. The first floor is glorious Gratitude Hall, which still has lots of rare and ancient furniture. In the center of this hall, there is a big gilded folding screen. A luxurious throne is placed in front of the screen. In this palace, tourists can fully appreciate the decorations and feel the prominent status of Jia family.
Happy Red Court is located at the southwest of the garden. It covers 899 square meters (1,075 square yards). According to the novel, this place is the residence of Jia Baoyu (the principal character in the novel). Jiangyun House on the east of court was once the sitting room of Jia Baoyu. It is the main house of Happy Red Court. Nowadays, this house still keeps lots of luxury furniture. A mahogany bed is decorated with different patterns of flowers including Yulan Magnolias, Malus spectabilis, and tree peonies. There are also many bronze vessels and some porcelain in the room. The east of Jiangyun House is the living room of Jia. The west is the living room of Qingwen and Xiren (servants of Jia). Tongling Study on the west of the court is for Jia to recite poems, paint, and receive guests. The walls are decorated with his impromptu poems and brilliant paintings. Bamboos and other rare plants enhance the peaceful and quiet atmosphere.
Bamboo Lodge with 543 square meters (650 square yards) is located at the southeast of the garden. It was the residence of Lin Daiyu (another main character in the novel and the primary love of Jia Baoyu). Lots of bamboos were planted around this lodge. Passing through the stone bridge and brook, there are main rooms of this residence. The east is the living room of Lin Daiyu. The west is the room of Zijuan and Xueyan (two servants of Lin). In front of main rooms, there are two pavilions located at the east and west sides. One is Dragon Chant Pavilion; the other is Bamboo Shadow Pavilion. Glittering Jade Room is located at the northwest of these rooms. This room is for Lin Daiyu to paint, play chess and recite poems.
To the west of Bamboo Lodge, Alpinia Park was owned by Xue Baochai (a main character in the novel and the wife of Jia Baoyu). With an area of 699 square meters (836 square yards), there is a Mandarin Duck Hall in the foreyard. This hall contains two rooms from north to south. After passing through it, an amazing view of a group of rockeries greets tourists. On the top of rockeries, there is a hexagonal pavilion and an ancient yew podocarpus. The waterfall cascades from the rockery and pours into the lotus pool. Behind the artificial hill, there is the living room of Xue Baochai.
After visiting these places, there are also many must-see scenic spots in Shanghai Grand View Garden, such as Paddy-Sweet Cottage, the Studio of Autumn Freshness and Green Lattice Nunnery. Each of them has its own story to tell. Tourists can fully appreciate the scenery, while recollecting the classical plots of Chinese fiction Dream of the Red Chamber.
Recommended Nearby Attractions:
Dianshan Lake
Zhujiajiao Water Town
According to the novel, the Jia family built this garden in order to welcome the imperial concubine Jia Yuanchun home. This garden has a typical symmetrical architectural style. The main buildings are erected on a traditional north-south axis. The secondary buildings are distributed equally to the east and west of this axis. The design concept of this garden is novel and unique. Unlike the Grand View Garden in Beijing, this one in Shanghai takes advantage of the characteristics of water and has developed a large area of artificial lakes.
There is a square in front of the entrance on the south. Passing through an 8-meter (26 feet) high arch on the square, one sees a screen wall with a height of 6 meters (20 feet) and a width of 18 meters (60 feet). The wall is engraved with delicate carvings of 'Nuwa Mends the Sky' (a Chinese myth) on the south and 'Twelve Beauties of Jinling' (described in the Dream of the Red Chamber) on the north. The entrance is right to the north of the screen wall.
Entering the garden, there is a group of big rockeries forming a secluded passageway with a height of 5 meters (16 feet). It has 20 meters (65 feet) that extends north from the main entrance. At the end of a passageway of twists and turns is a pond of green water. Passing this pond, one arrives at a palace where the concubine Jia Yuanchun changed her clothes and had a rest. A plaque is hung on the roof. The four Chinese characters "Ti Ren Mu De" on the plaque mean "appreciating the kindness of the emperor". With an area of 682 square meters (815 square yards), this palace has three halls. Each hall has exquisite mahogany furniture and porcelain. Behind this palace, there is a lotus pool. Every summer, a large number of lotuses in full bloom become a beautiful feature in the garden.
To the north of the lotus pool and facing the Ti Ren Mu De Palace, there lies the most important building group of the garden - Grand View Pavilion. This whole building group of Grand View Pavilion is in keeping with palace architectural style. Looking away from the lotus pool, Grand View Pavilion looks more solemn and grand. It covers 2,123 square meters (2,539 square yards). All members of Jia family came to this place together when the imperial concubine Jia Yuanchun came home. In the southmost of this group of buildings, there is an 8-meter (26 feet) high white marble arch which is engraved with "Mothering Villa". Walking north through the arch, there are three ways that can take tourists to the main palace. The 15 meters (49 feet) high two-storey palace is the most important building of Grand View Garden. On the second floor of the palace, visitors can see the overall view of the Grand View Garden. The first floor is glorious Gratitude Hall, which still has lots of rare and ancient furniture. In the center of this hall, there is a big gilded folding screen. A luxurious throne is placed in front of the screen. In this palace, tourists can fully appreciate the decorations and feel the prominent status of Jia family.
Happy Red Court is located at the southwest of the garden. It covers 899 square meters (1,075 square yards). According to the novel, this place is the residence of Jia Baoyu (the principal character in the novel). Jiangyun House on the east of court was once the sitting room of Jia Baoyu. It is the main house of Happy Red Court. Nowadays, this house still keeps lots of luxury furniture. A mahogany bed is decorated with different patterns of flowers including Yulan Magnolias, Malus spectabilis, and tree peonies. There are also many bronze vessels and some porcelain in the room. The east of Jiangyun House is the living room of Jia. The west is the living room of Qingwen and Xiren (servants of Jia). Tongling Study on the west of the court is for Jia to recite poems, paint, and receive guests. The walls are decorated with his impromptu poems and brilliant paintings. Bamboos and other rare plants enhance the peaceful and quiet atmosphere.
Bamboo Lodge with 543 square meters (650 square yards) is located at the southeast of the garden. It was the residence of Lin Daiyu (another main character in the novel and the primary love of Jia Baoyu). Lots of bamboos were planted around this lodge. Passing through the stone bridge and brook, there are main rooms of this residence. The east is the living room of Lin Daiyu. The west is the room of Zijuan and Xueyan (two servants of Lin). In front of main rooms, there are two pavilions located at the east and west sides. One is Dragon Chant Pavilion; the other is Bamboo Shadow Pavilion. Glittering Jade Room is located at the northwest of these rooms. This room is for Lin Daiyu to paint, play chess and recite poems.
To the west of Bamboo Lodge, Alpinia Park was owned by Xue Baochai (a main character in the novel and the wife of Jia Baoyu). With an area of 699 square meters (836 square yards), there is a Mandarin Duck Hall in the foreyard. This hall contains two rooms from north to south. After passing through it, an amazing view of a group of rockeries greets tourists. On the top of rockeries, there is a hexagonal pavilion and an ancient yew podocarpus. The waterfall cascades from the rockery and pours into the lotus pool. Behind the artificial hill, there is the living room of Xue Baochai.
After visiting these places, there are also many must-see scenic spots in Shanghai Grand View Garden, such as Paddy-Sweet Cottage, the Studio of Autumn Freshness and Green Lattice Nunnery. Each of them has its own story to tell. Tourists can fully appreciate the scenery, while recollecting the classical plots of Chinese fiction Dream of the Red Chamber.
How to get to Grand View Garden Shanghai
1. Take Metro Line 1 and get off at Huangpi Nanlu Station. Leave from exit 1, take Hushang Express Bus, and get off at Jinshanggonglu Daguanyuan (Grand View Garden) Station.
2. Take Metro Line 1 and get off at Huangpi Nanlu Station. Leave from exit 1 and walk to the north for a few minutes to Laochengdu Beilu Dagulu bus stop. From there, take Huqing Express Bus to Yinggang Bus Station. Then transfer to Qingshang Line to Jinshanggonglu Daguanyuan Station.
Shanghai Bus / Metro Search
| Entrance Fee | CNY 60 *Children below 1.3 meters (4.3 feet) can enter the garden for free. |
|---|---|
| Opening Time | April - October: 08:00-17:00 November - March: 08:00-16:30 |
Recommended Nearby Attractions: Dianshan Lake Zhujiajiao Water Town- Last updated on Nov. 20, 2019 -