On the bank of Wolong Bridge along West Lake's perimeter road, hides Guo Zhuang, a classical Jiangnan garden hailed as the "crown jewel of West Lake gardens," also known as "Fenyang Villa." Small yet exquisite, full of ancient charm, it is the most distinctive garden among those restored and opened to the public in 1991 around West Lake.
Legendary Rebirth
Guo Zhuang originated as the "Duanyou Villa" built by silk merchant Song Duanfu during the Xianfeng period of the Qing Dynasty. In 1922, Guo Shilin became its new owner, renamed it "Fenyang Villa," and added Western-style residences and a stone boat.
After nearly being lost to history, it was revitalized in 1982 and restored to its glory in 1991, preserving its original layout and earning the reputation as the most charmingly antique among Wulin's gardens.
Excellence in Both Residence and Garden
Stepping into Guo Zhuang feels like entering a Jiangnan painting. The garden is divided into two parts: Jingbi Residence and Yijing Tiankai.
Jingbi Residence is accessed through a stone gate under the camphor trees near Wolong Bridge, where you'll notice a rectangular window opening on the left side of the entrance hall. This window frames the garden buildings within, creating an exquisite framed view. This quadrangle courtyard with distinctive Zhejiang residential features offers a serene and pleasant atmosphere.
Leaving Jingbi Residence, you enter the Yijing Tiankai scenic area. Built along the lake, it features artfully arranged rockeries, boat docks, and ponds. Climbing to the Shangxin Yuemu Pavilion atop the rockery—the highest point in Guo Zhuang—you can enjoy a panoramic view of West Lake.
Garden Ingenuity
Within "Yijing Tiankai," the north and south ponds showcase contrasting styles: the south pond is natural, reminiscent of Suzhou gardens; the north pond is geometrical, similar to Shaoxing style. One dense, one sparse, both draw water from West Lake.
Buildings including towers, pavilions, galleries, and corridors are constructed around the ponds, each with unique characteristics and elegant antiquity. The garden cleverly incorporates West Lake's authentic mountains and waters, creating changing scenery through various window frames and wall openings as visitors move through the space.
Guo Zhuang represents a condensed exemplar of Jiangnan gardens, bearing witness to a century of time, exuding craftsmanship and poetic sentiment. Find some leisure time to experience this essence of Jiangnan!
Practical Guide
Ticket Information: 10 yuan
Opening Hours: 8:00-17:00
Transportation: Take West Lake Inner Ring, West Lake Outer Ring, or Bus 318 to "Guo Zhuang" station