Liang Garden | No wonder it is featured in National Geographic

| No wonder it is featured in National Geographic. As one of the four famous Lingnan gardens in Guangdong, Foshan Liang Garden may not be as well-known as the other three, but the exquisite layout of its pavilions, bridges, flowing water, and stone paths still amazed me. Liang Garden is the general name for the Liang-style residential gardens in Foshan and is a representative work of Lingnan gardens. The combination of residences, ancestral halls, and gardens, with some buildings adopting Western decorations such as Manchu windows and diamond-shaped stone steps, creates a blend of exquisite decoration, simplicity, and elegance known as 'snow traces of a swan'. Walking into the garden of Liang Garden, one can feel the unique cultural characteristics of Lingnan, which makes people feel refreshed and happy. Inside the garden, there are ancient buildings, fish ponds with swimming fish, and chirping birds. Walking over the stone arch bridge and sitting quietly in the heart of the lake, it feels like returning to the old times. 📍Address: No. 93, Pioneer Ancient Road, Songfeng Road, Chancheng District, Foshan City 🎫Ticket: 10 yuan (free on Saturdays) 🕰️Opening hours: 09:00-17:00 🚇Subway: Exit D of Zumiao Station on Guangfo Line, then walk for ten minutes 🚌Bus: Take routes 105, 109, or 118 to Liang Garden Station 🚘Driving: Navigate to Liang Garden, parking available 🅿️Parking: 6 yuan per time 🌈Scenic Features 1️⃣Residential Area The essence of Liang Garden lies in its 'first suppress then raise' design style. Entering Liang Garden through the low-key gate, the first thing you see is the residential area, including buildings such as Bucao Residence, Buddha Hall, Liang's Residence, and the Cishi Family Temple. 2️⃣Qunxing Caotang Built by Liang Jiuhua during the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty, the layout is quite exquisite, especially its garden, which is divided into two courtyards: a stone courtyard and a water courtyard. The water courtyard features a curved pond, with a deep southern part and an open northern part. There is a half pavilion with a unique structure: a hexagonal half on the first floor and a complete square on the second floor. 3️⃣Fenjiang Caolu This is the most beautiful place in my opinion. Passing through the 'transparent' arch gate, a wide lake suddenly appears before your eyes. This is Fenjiang Caolu. The overall layout of Liang Garden emphasizes progression from small to large, from simple to complex, with increasingly spectacular scenery. 4️⃣Songzhu Liao Many literati and poets highly appreciate the great writer Su Shi's saying, 'Better to have no meat to eat than to live without bamboo.' Bamboo represents integrity, being straight and resilient; its characteristics of bending without breaking and enduring harsh conditions symbolize the gentleman. 5️⃣Stone Courtyard It is said that Liang Garden has more than 400 strange stones, earning the reputation of 'more strange stones than books.' The most attractive part is the Stone Courtyard, one of the most splendid areas of the garden, praised as a masterpiece of Lingnan courtyards and a major highlight of Liang Garden. 6️⃣Half Pavilion The iconic building of Liang Garden, the pavilion's structure is very unique, with a hexagonal base and a square top, presenting a half-side appearance. It is the work of the garden owner seeking imperfection. ⚠️Tips 1. As the temperature rises, it is recommended to take mosquito precautions! 2. There are various exhibitions inside the garden buildings, and it takes an afternoon to stroll and take photos. 3. Around the Yun Bridge of Changyi Lake, there will be mist at regular times, making it very picturesque for photos. 4. On the left side of Liang Garden, there is a free exhibition hall showcasing the historical features of Foshan Ancient Town. 5. There are restrooms and a mother-and-baby room inside.