Shanghai's Oldest, Most Euphoniously Named Private Garden | Drunken Bai Pond

Zuì Bái Chí, nestled within the urban district of Songjiang, Shanghai, is a name that brims with poetic charm😃. It stands alongside Yuyuan, Guyi Garden, Qiuxia Garden, and Qu Shui Garden as one of the "Five Great Classical Gardens of Shanghai". It also holds the distinction of being Shanghai's oldest private garden. Originally established during the Ming Dynasty, it served as a place for the Minister of Rites and renowned painter Dong Qichang to indulge in wine and poetry during the Wanli period. During the Shunzhi era of the Qing Dynasty, Gu Dashen, a master of painting and literature, purchased this residence and transformed it into the famed Zuì Bái Chí of Jiangnan. I visited Zuì Bái Chí in winter. Although it lacked the riotous bloom of flowers, the garden was filled with towering ancient trees, intricately carved beams, and painted rafters. Every step revealed a new scene, "With the charm of mountains, water, flowers, and birds, it embodies the artistic conception of Tang poetry and Song lyrics. Within a limited space, it is adorned with artificial hills, trees, and unique stones that complement each other. Winding corridors connect the pavilions, terraces, and towers that can be found everywhere, making the garden win by its scenery, giving people an artistic effect of seeing the big from the small." The overall color scheme is understated and stable, simple and elegant, full of ancient charm. 💁🏻‍♀️The Origin of "Zuì Bái Chí" The original owner, Gu Dashen, greatly admired Bai Juyi, so he borrowed from Bai Juyi's excellent poem "On the Pond" and named his garden "Zuì Bái Chí". The "Bai" in "Zuì Bái" refers to Bai Juyi, implying that if the poet were to be reincarnated and visit this garden, he would surely be intoxicated by such a pond garden~😌. ▫️▫️▫️▫️ ⓘ ⓝ ⓕ ⓞ ▫️▫️▫️▫️ 🧩Name: Zuì Bái Chí Park 📍Address: No. 64, Renmin South Road, Songjiang District, Shanghai 🈺️Hours: 06:00-17:00 💰Admission: Adults 12, Seniors and Children 6 💡Reminder: The park also houses the Dong Qichang Calligraphy and Painting Art Museum, which is closed on Mondays. #thingstodoshanghai