Returning to Simplicity Amidst Snow - A Visit to the 'Guizhen Garden' in Weifang People's Park

Guizhen Garden in Weifang was designed and supervised by the renowned garden expert and chairman of the Architectural History Branch of the Architectural Society of China, Yang Hongxun. It is a classical Chinese landscape garden that combines the styles of classical gardens from both the north and south of China. Following the tradition of Weifang's original Qing Dynasty Siyi Garden and the existing 'National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit' Ming and Qing architecture Shihou Garden, it showcases the characteristics of Weifang's gardens and develops them further, taking its name from the concept of 'returning to simplicity and truth'. Guizhen Garden is very delicate and compact overall, creating numerous landscapes within a small space, such as the Green Shade Hall, the 'Deep Thousand Feet' pool, Ming Lake and Beishan, Moonlit Smoke at Dawn, the 'Orchid Boat Pavilion', 'Scooping the Moon from the Stream' water pavilion, and 'Leisure Clouds and Wild Cranes' tower, Qintai Villa, Taoyuan Village, 'Fragrant Courtyard' Peony Garden, Ten-mile Mountain Pond, etc., forming a variety of different artistic styles. Guizhen Garden mainly features the style of Jiangnan gardens, but also has some characteristics of the grandeur of northern imperial gardens, truly embodying the features of both southern and northern gardens. Although located in the center of the city park, with bustling activity outside its walls, the garden itself is very quiet, offering a serene retreat amidst the chaos, which is indeed very rare.