The poetic beauty of Jiangnan hidden in Dongguan｜Keyuan Garden: One of the Four Famous Gardens in Lingnan

When most people talk about Chinese classical gardens, they always mention Suzhou. But this time when I came to Dongguan, Guangdong, I unexpectedly encountered a low-key but very stylish garden - Keyuan, which is known as the four famous gardens in Lingnan together with Shunde Qinghui Garden, Foshan Liangyuan, and Panyu Yuyinshanfang.

📍About "Keyuan"

Built during the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty, it was built by Jinshi Zhang Jingxiu. "Keyuan" is taken from the meaning of "livable, walkable, visible, and tourable". The pavilions, towers, bridges and flowing water in the garden are elegant and quiet, retaining a lot of Lingnan architectural features, especially the inlaid porcelain, gray sculptures, wood carvings, and transparent corridor bridges. It is a perfect combination of Lingnan culture and book fragrance.

My favorite corners:

✨ Deyue Tower: The commanding height of Keyuan, climbing the tower and looking far away, the garden is layered and the field of vision is wide, giving a feeling of hermit returning home.

✨ Pavilions and terraces with winding water: There are surprises every few steps, with corridors and pools intertwined and picturesque reflections, as if you have stepped into the world of literati in the Qing Dynasty.

✨ Details of the plaque on the door: Calligraphy and couplets can be seen in many places in the garden, which contain the temperament of literati and are worth savoring.

#Keyuan #Dongguan Historic Sites #Four Famous Gardens in Lingnan #Chinese Classical Gardens #Guangdong Culture #South China Architectural Aesthetics #Shuxiang Garden #The Beauty of Gardens

Post by PicknBounce | Jun 25, 2025