Yangzhou Gardens | Ge Garden, strikingly similar to Prince Gong's Mansion in Beijing

He Garden and Ge Garden each have their own beauty, and on my first visit to Yangzhou, I didn't want to miss either. ❤Recommended reason: The final consensus with my friends: He Garden outshines Ge Garden. Why❓ Because there are way too many tour groups in Ge Garden. I spent less than 5 minutes in the Nanmu Hall and heard no less than 3 groups come in for explanations. 👍Most recommended: Speaking of gardens alone, Ge Garden was once described by Liu Fenggao of the Qing Dynasty in 'Records of Ge Garden' as follows: 'Among the gardens of the leading families in Guangling, its fame tops the southeast. Scholars and officials follow its legacy, managing a district at home, where tea plants flourish throughout the seasons, accommodating literary gatherings, with everyone finding their suitable place within.' ✅Bamboo The original owner of Ge Garden was Huang Zhiyun, a Qing Dynasty salt merchant who had a passion for bamboo. There are more than sixty varieties of bamboo in the garden, with the bamboo forest occupying one-third of the entire garden. The details of the indoor furniture also reveal 'bamboo shadows' everywhere. Merchants' love for bamboo is not solely a literati's refined taste: the umbrella-shaped structure composed of three strokes symbolizes good timing, geographical convenience, and human harmony, roads leading everywhere, and also represents fortune, prosperity, and longevity, which are the highest realms that all merchants aspire to. ⏰Opening hours: Year-round 07:30-17:00 (last admission at 17:00) 💰Ticket price: 30 yuan