Liyuan Garden
The Liyuan Garden, situated on the northern shore
of the Lihu Lake in southwest Wuxi, is another famous garden in the lower Yangtze
valley. The garden derived its name from the Lihu Lake,
also known as the Wuli Lake. Legend has it that 2,400 years ago, after Grand Master
Fan Li helped Goo Jian, the duke of Yue, eliminate the state of Wu, he took the
wise move of stepping down and returning to the seclusion of the Wuli Lake together
with Xi Shi. a stunning beauty. People of later generations changed the name of
the lake to Lihu in memory of the grand master. The Lihu Lake is a narrow strip
of water of 9.5 square kilometers, looking beautiful with its placid and limpid
face. Liyuan is a private garden built in the early 20th
century. Classical Chinese garden layout and architecture have been inherited
in this garden which merges with the landscape of the Lihu Lake to become the
most beautiful spot on the entire lake. |
