A World Within a Small Space

Strolling through Qinghui Garden, a famous Lingnan garden in Shunde, Guangdong, you can feel a strong cultural atmosphere. This was once the residence of a top scholar and the home of the Long family, known for producing three successful imperial examination candidates in one generation. After more than 400 years, it still exudes elegance. The natural charm of mountains and waters blends perfectly with the cultural essence of poetry, calligraphy, and music, all harmoniously integrated among the pavilions and towers. The garden’s ponds and streams interweave, with exquisite architecture and greenery gradually unfolding into a beautiful painting. Every building in Qinghui Garden embodies poetry and craftsmanship. The Boat Hall cleverly creates the illusion of a boat sailing on water; in front of the hall is a lotus pond, with a sand willow on the left side acting like a bamboo pole stabilizing the boat, and a century-old wisteria vine climbing up like a rope. This was once a place for women to enjoy leisure. The carved hollow bamboo wood round light cover on the door of Bixi Caotang and the 96 uniquely shaped "Shou" (longevity) characters engraved on the side screen doors are remarkable. Chengyi Pavilion is a waterside pavilion extending into the water, its posture stretching like a bird about to take flight. Fenglaifeng, built from Taihu stones, has a handsome mountain shape with cascading waterfalls; climbing it offers a panoramic view of the entire garden. The Zhuangyuan Hall was built to commemorate Huang Shijun, the first owner of Qinghui Garden and a top scholar of the Ming Dynasty, showcasing the profound heritage of Shunde’s "Zhuangyuan culture" and offering a glimpse into the ancient imperial examination system. Xiyin Study and Zhenyan Studio hint that this was once a place where diligent students studied hard. Lingnan-style gray sculptures, wood carvings, and brick carvings are everywhere here. European imported etched colored glass is inlaid on the doors and windows, rustic and exquisite, adding a unique brilliance. The colorful koi in the pond bring lively vitality to the tranquil garden. Qinghui Garden is like a three-dimensional, vibrant encyclopedia of Lingnan culture—delicate and profound, fresh and lively—constantly allowing visitors to experience the classical garden charm of "changing scenes with every step."