The pond
The garden's heart.
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An old Chinese garden in Songjiang, south-west Shanghai, whose origins go back to the Song dynasty; it covers five hectares and is one of Shanghai's five great classical gardens. It began as the private villa of a scholar who had passed the imperial examinations, and the famous late-Ming painter and calligrapher Dong Qichang later added a group of buildings. Its name means «Drunken Bai Pond», after the poet Li Bai, who, it is said, would have forgotten to go home had he visited. It was restored and opened to the public in 1959. Tickets cost CNY 12, and it is open from 6 am to 5 pm, per visitor guides.
The garden's heart.
Late Ming.
Around the water.
Songjiang District, south-west Shanghai
After the poet Li Bai, who, it is said, would have been so captivated by the garden that he forgot to go home; tickets cost CNY 12 and it opens at 6 am, per visitor guides.