Ding Family Garden, a Unique Courtyard Nestled between Time and Changes

Hidden deep in the alley, it is a courtyard of tranquility. Located at No. 38 Xing'anli, the middle section of West Lake Avenue, there is a historic garden facing the street, known as Ding Family Garden. This garden has a history of over 800 years.

Ding Family Garden, known as Pomegranate Garden Lane in the Ming Dynasty, derived its name from the pomegranate garden built by Cao Shanying in the ninth year of the Qiandao period of the Southern Song Dynasty. During the Yuan Dynasty, it served as the residence for the Jiangsu-Zhejiang Liming Agency. In the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty, it was converted into the Right Guard Zhensi Office of Hangzhou, consisting of three main halls, two bedrooms, and six side rooms. In the early Qing Dynasty, it became the residence of Wang Wang, the Governor-General of Zhejiang. During the reign of Emperor Qianlong, due to Wang Wang's misconduct being exposed, it was confiscated and the western buildings were used as the salt transport division offices of Ningshao and Jiasong. The eastern part, including the garden, pavilions, towers, and ponds, became the residence of Ding Jie, the salt transport commissioner of Shandong, hence the name "Ding Family Garden." In the 1920s, it became the residence of the Chen family from Wuxing, a prominent family in the modern history of Zhejiang. Chen Qicai, with the courtesy name of Aishi, also known as Hanlu, was a native of Wuxing, Huzhou. During the Republican era, he served as the vice president of the Hangzhou branch of the Bank of China and was one of the three financial giants of the early Republican China. He was a member of the Revolutionary Alliance in his early years and participated in the revolution led by Sun Yat-sen, serving as his chief of staff.

Enter the garden and turn left to a winding path leading to a secluded area. On the left side of the pebble pathway, there is a small bamboo grove, while on the right side, there are winter-sweet trees and artificial mountains. Within the artificial mountains, there is a narrow path that leads to a small lake. In the lake, there are more artificial mountains and small bridges, dividing the lake into two or three sections. Although the lake is small, it has several layers of scenery, looking like the West Lake. The main buildings in the garden consist of two small two-story houses in the east and west connected by a corridor. The eastern house serves as the main building, while the western house is the auxiliary building. Both houses have sloping roofs and are constructed with bricks imprinted with the words "Zhou Fuchang". The "Zhou Fuchang" bricks were renowned for their quality at the time. In the southwest of the garden, there is a study room with a covered corridor. A circular door with cracked ice patterns opens to the south wall, which features hollowed-out flower pattern windows. The entire courtyard presents a unique sense of tranquility and elegance, making it a rare and peaceful oasis in the midst of the city.