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History and luxury on quiet lakeside road
By Wu Huixin |
February 4, 2013, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
SANTAISHAN Road is almost hidden by lush vegetation on the west side of the West Lake Scenic Area. And although surrounded by bustling roads and endless streams of tourists, it's a tranquil place, dotted with historic relics and tombs.
Chen Kuilong (1857-1928), the last viceroy of Zhili and the Minister of Beiyang of the Qing Dynasty (1636-1911), is buried in a grand tomb here.
At one time the tomb covered an area of about 12 mu - around 8,000 square meters - on a hillside surrounded by trees. However, most of the site was destroyed in wartime, with only the grave itself remaining.
In 2004, Hangzhou government rebuilt the tomb, following descriptions from historic documents and the accounts of Chen's offspring.
Today, the tomb, at the intersection of Santaishan Road and Faxiang Lane, is open to visitors.
Renowned scholar and master Yu Yue, who presided over the teaching of Confucian classics in Hangzhou during the late Qing Dynasty, is also buried in Santaishan.
Not far from these tombs at Faxiang Lane is an ancient camphor tree dating from the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907). At more than 1,000 years old, this is the oldest tree recorded in Hangzhou's historic records. It is 17 meters high with a canopy of 400 square meters. Renowned poet Chen Sanli built a camphor pavilion beside the tree and composed poetry for it.
In 1986, the tree was listed as one of the most prized protected trees in Hangzhou.
Santaishan Road also boasts two beautiful lakes, Yu Hu Wan and Wu Gui Tan, where every day newlyweds pitch up for their wedding pictures.
And while photographers snap the scenery, many pedestrians simply enjoy a lakeside stroll.
Years ago, Yu Hu Wan was just wasteland, though previously it had been a lake. In 2003, the municipal government restored it to its former glories, complete with historic relics, including Huangmi Building and Zi Jiu Cao Tang.
Huangmi Building, which means "emperor found it," was used by the Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty when he passed through Hangzhou on a southbound trip.
A few steps away lies Zi Jiu Cao Tang, the former residence of Huang Gongwang, considered one of the greatest painters of the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368).
Shanghai Daily took a walk in Santaishan Road on a sunny winter's day, and found three gems among the lush vegetation.
Yu Qian Tomb
Yu Qian is referred to as the "Hero of West Lake" together with Yue Fei and Zhang Cangshui, two other patriotic generals of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). As the de facto defence minister of the court, Yu once took control of troops to repel a Mongol invasion.
In addition to his martial prowess, Yu was also a great poet, his work learned in China's schools.
The verses "Not afraid utterly crashed and muddily, should keep clean in human world" in which Yu expresses aspirations to be an honest and upright person, are widely known to Chinese.
The great general's career came to a sad end when Yu was framed by treacherous court officials and executed in 1457.
However, his fame was restored when the title of Suzhong was posthumously bestowed on Yu in honor of his achievements.
The altar and incense burner of the present-day tomb dated from the Ming Dynasty, while the stone wenzhong - human-like immortals who guard the tomb - and mythical beasts were added in 1998.
The tomb was listed as a national protected relic in 2006.
Address: 161 Santaishan Road
Jiang Nan Hui
Jiang Nan Hui is a luxury members-only club for extremely rich and powerful Zhejiang businessmen.
Jiangnan in Chinese means the area south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, especially the rich areas of Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces.
The location of Jiang Nan Hui was the original site of Xian Xian Tang, where memorial tablets to 39 scholars from pre-Qin period (before 221 BC) to the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127) were worshiped.
Club founder Ma Yun, chairman of the Alibaba Group, considered the location auspicious and, along with seven other Zhejiang entrepreneurs, built the club there.
It aims at developing a network of Zhejiang businesspeople and establishing partnerships.
Its gate is hidden behind bamboo thickets and is frequently closed.
The club has around 100 members, including its first foreign guest and honorary member - legendary investor George Soros.
Address: 12-26 Santaishan Road
Tel: (0571) 8799-0006
Huiyin Goryeo Temple
In 1085, the fourth son of Munjong of Goryeo, a monarch who ruled Korea, crossed the sea and came to Hangzhou to study Buddhism. Then he was apprenticed to Master Jingyuan and lived in what was then Huiyin Temple.
Years later, when he returned to Korea, he donated 170 scrolls of the Avatamsaka Sutra, one of the most influential Mahayana sutras of East Asian Buddhism, and 2,000 liang (100 kilograms) of silver to the temple.
Thereafter, the temple was renamed Huiyin Goryeo Temple, its huge collection of Avatamsaka Sutra scrolls attracting many believers.
However, over time the temple became a ruin. Then in 2004, it was rebuilt it in accordance with its ancient layout, featuring the Southern Song (1127-1279) style and covering 15,000 square meters.
Address: at the intersection of Faxiang Lane and Santaishan Road
Chen Kuilong (1857-1928), the last viceroy of Zhili and the Minister of Beiyang of the Qing Dynasty (1636-1911), is buried in a grand tomb here.
At one time the tomb covered an area of about 12 mu - around 8,000 square meters - on a hillside surrounded by trees. However, most of the site was destroyed in wartime, with only the grave itself remaining.
In 2004, Hangzhou government rebuilt the tomb, following descriptions from historic documents and the accounts of Chen's offspring.
Today, the tomb, at the intersection of Santaishan Road and Faxiang Lane, is open to visitors.
Renowned scholar and master Yu Yue, who presided over the teaching of Confucian classics in Hangzhou during the late Qing Dynasty, is also buried in Santaishan.
Not far from these tombs at Faxiang Lane is an ancient camphor tree dating from the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907). At more than 1,000 years old, this is the oldest tree recorded in Hangzhou's historic records. It is 17 meters high with a canopy of 400 square meters. Renowned poet Chen Sanli built a camphor pavilion beside the tree and composed poetry for it.
In 1986, the tree was listed as one of the most prized protected trees in Hangzhou.
Santaishan Road also boasts two beautiful lakes, Yu Hu Wan and Wu Gui Tan, where every day newlyweds pitch up for their wedding pictures.
And while photographers snap the scenery, many pedestrians simply enjoy a lakeside stroll.
Years ago, Yu Hu Wan was just wasteland, though previously it had been a lake. In 2003, the municipal government restored it to its former glories, complete with historic relics, including Huangmi Building and Zi Jiu Cao Tang.
Huangmi Building, which means "emperor found it," was used by the Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty when he passed through Hangzhou on a southbound trip.
A few steps away lies Zi Jiu Cao Tang, the former residence of Huang Gongwang, considered one of the greatest painters of the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368).
Shanghai Daily took a walk in Santaishan Road on a sunny winter's day, and found three gems among the lush vegetation.
Yu Qian Tomb
Yu Qian is referred to as the "Hero of West Lake" together with Yue Fei and Zhang Cangshui, two other patriotic generals of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). As the de facto defence minister of the court, Yu once took control of troops to repel a Mongol invasion.
In addition to his martial prowess, Yu was also a great poet, his work learned in China's schools.
The verses "Not afraid utterly crashed and muddily, should keep clean in human world" in which Yu expresses aspirations to be an honest and upright person, are widely known to Chinese.
The great general's career came to a sad end when Yu was framed by treacherous court officials and executed in 1457.
However, his fame was restored when the title of Suzhong was posthumously bestowed on Yu in honor of his achievements.
The altar and incense burner of the present-day tomb dated from the Ming Dynasty, while the stone wenzhong - human-like immortals who guard the tomb - and mythical beasts were added in 1998.
The tomb was listed as a national protected relic in 2006.
Address: 161 Santaishan Road
Jiang Nan Hui
Jiang Nan Hui is a luxury members-only club for extremely rich and powerful Zhejiang businessmen.
Jiangnan in Chinese means the area south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, especially the rich areas of Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces.
The location of Jiang Nan Hui was the original site of Xian Xian Tang, where memorial tablets to 39 scholars from pre-Qin period (before 221 BC) to the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127) were worshiped.
Club founder Ma Yun, chairman of the Alibaba Group, considered the location auspicious and, along with seven other Zhejiang entrepreneurs, built the club there.
It aims at developing a network of Zhejiang businesspeople and establishing partnerships.
Its gate is hidden behind bamboo thickets and is frequently closed.
The club has around 100 members, including its first foreign guest and honorary member - legendary investor George Soros.
Address: 12-26 Santaishan Road
Tel: (0571) 8799-0006
Huiyin Goryeo Temple
In 1085, the fourth son of Munjong of Goryeo, a monarch who ruled Korea, crossed the sea and came to Hangzhou to study Buddhism. Then he was apprenticed to Master Jingyuan and lived in what was then Huiyin Temple.
Years later, when he returned to Korea, he donated 170 scrolls of the Avatamsaka Sutra, one of the most influential Mahayana sutras of East Asian Buddhism, and 2,000 liang (100 kilograms) of silver to the temple.
Thereafter, the temple was renamed Huiyin Goryeo Temple, its huge collection of Avatamsaka Sutra scrolls attracting many believers.
However, over time the temple became a ruin. Then in 2004, it was rebuilt it in accordance with its ancient layout, featuring the Southern Song (1127-1279) style and covering 15,000 square meters.
Address: at the intersection of Faxiang Lane and Santaishan Road
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