Keyuan

Keyuan is a traditional Chinese garden with three main building clusters connected by a covered walkway, featuring numerous pavilions, water pools, and bridges throughout its grounds. The layout demonstrates classical garden design principles with carefully arranged rocks, water features, and vegetation creating a balanced composition.

Zhang Jingxiu, a former official who governed provinces in southern China, built this garden during the Qing Dynasty and completed it in 1850. Over time the site grew in importance and was later designated as a nationally protected cultural monument.

The garden served as a meeting place for poets, painters, and scholars who gathered here to exchange ideas and shape the Lingnan painting tradition. This artistic legacy remains visible in the carefully composed spaces and artistic details throughout.

The garden is easy to explore on foot through walkways that clearly separate different areas, allowing visitors to move freely and discover spaces at their own pace. The cooler morning or evening hours offer a more comfortable experience than midday visits when the sun is strongest.

The site contains 130 doorways and 108 gate posts that create a maze-like pathway system, guiding visitors through hidden corners and unexpected passages. Many buildings incorporate the character 'Ke' in their names, a deliberate design choice that unifies the entire composition.