Ge Yuan

Rating: 5/5

Going to Geyuan allowed us to know and see for ourselves how rich the then local salt industry official, Huang Zhiyun was. We also get to appreciate the architecture, the antique furniture and even get see some special and unique features. Bamboos can be seen everywhere in the garden as Huang Zhiyun loved bamboos, seeing them as an expression of uprightness, braveness and loyalty.  As the bamboo leaf resembles the Chinese character "Ge", it is named "Geyuan Garden". Emerging from the bamboo thicket comes towering rock formations, four in all that are said to resemble each season. It is known as the "four-Season Rockery" ,which is very unique and special. Spring is demonstrated with a picture of bamboo and rock while Summer is represented by the steel-grey Taihu stone. Autumn is depicted by Huangshan stone, and winter by Xuan stone. Furthermore, this place also shows that the people in the past strongly believed in Confucianism. For example, the bamboo leaves represent piety in Confucianism and hence is one of the reasons why the official wanted to plant bamboos. This place also shows how clever the people in the past were. For example, the air around the well is damp .The wall beside the well has an arc. This is because even when the bricks are rotten due to the moisture, they can easily change the bricks without demolishing the whole wall. Furthermore, this place is a must-see because Geyuan has the longest history, the most complete preservation and the highest artistic value among the classic gardens in the city.

A carving on a rock that says that Geyuan is a protected area. The government put in effort to not only protect this place, but to make it a tourist attraction.This place serves as their heritage sites and allows both the locals and tourists to be able to see for themselves what it was like to be a wealthy salt merchant at the time.This place allows us to feel like "we have travelled back in time".Furthermore,this place provides a revenue for the government to earn money to boost the economy.

   

The wall that has an arc situated beside the well. Due to the well located there, it is very moist, causing the stone bricks to be often weathered, thus They had to remove them. With the presence of the arc, the stone bricks can be removed without demolishing the whole wall since the arc can support it.

Bamboo shoots are icons to represent Ge Yuan. It also represent fillal and piety as the younger bamboo shoots will grow outside of the older bamboo shoots,  surrounding it. It seemed as though the younger bamboo shoots are trying to protect the older bamboo shoots from the heavy weather.This also shows that Huang Zhiyun strongly believes in Confucianism as bamboos represent piety in Confucianism.

A library in Ge Yuan.This place holds great significance because not all of everyone's house can have a library or even access to books at the time.This further emphasize that the merchant was very wealthy.Furthermore,there is a hidden staircase to the second floor of the library.This may suggest that the books on the second floor were very precious.

A study hall with calligraphy writings that urges the children of Huang Zhi Yun back then to study hard.The calligraphy were written in the way that it means that the children still lack a bit and needed to work hard.The calligraphy was written by Huang Zhi Yun himself as he hopes that hiis children would always study hard.This shows that Huang Zhi Yun places great emphasise in education,just like the people today.