Guo's Villa in Hangzhou

In recent years, tourists coming to Hangzhou have taken a liking to visit the 'back garden' of West Lake, and Guo's Villa is one of them. Located on the banks of the Wulong Bridge on Xishan Road in Hangzhou, it is adjacent to the 'Quyuan Fenghe' park, one of the ten scenic spots of West Lake. Originally named 'Duan You Villa', it was built in the thirty-third year of the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty (1907). The initial owner was a Hangzhou merchant named Song Duanfu, hence the estate was commonly known as Song's Villa. During the Republic of China period, it was sold to a person of Fen Yang origin, Mr. Guo, and was thus renamed 'Fen Yang Villa', commonly known as Guo's Villa. After renovation in 1989, it became one of the gardens in Zhejiang, Hangzhou, and is now a Zhejiang provincial cultural heritage site. The most distinctive feature of Guo's Villa is its borrowed scenery gardening, especially the Su Pond. As the saying goes, 'A garden without water is lifeless; water brings life to the garden.' By drawing water from West Lake, this pond becomes the soul of Guo's Villa. The long corridor in Guo's Villa is also quite unique, with one side against the wall and the other side facing the water, suitable for bending and extending, following the shape and the terrain, with winding lines that add to its dynamic charm. Although Guo's Villa is small in scale, it has everything a garden needs: flowers, plants, trees, lakes, ponds, rockeries, and stone bridges. Guo's Villa, like a dazzling pearl, is buried among the many gardens around West Lake and is known as the 'crown of classical gardens of West Lake' and 'the richest in antiquity among the West Lake pool houses'. Guo's Villa is one of the representatives of private gardens in the Jiangnan area. If you come to Hangzhou, it is recommended to visit here as well, to appreciate the elegant beauty of Chinese gardens. Another reminder, there is a century-old maple tree in the garden, and every late autumn is the best time to view and take photos of the red maple leaves. The ticket price is 10 yuan, half price for those over 65, and free for those over 70.