The Garden Of Harmonious Hearts
Dear visitors, we have now arrived at another hidden gem in Zhujiajiao—Hexin Garden, a private garden rich in culture and artistry. Located at No. 79 Xijing Street and covering an area of around 3,000 square meters, the garden was built by Mr. Zhao Guoliang, a Chinese-American collector. Over the span of ten years, he invited more than 70 artisans and meticulously crafted the space, brick by brick, integrating ancient architecture, classical garden aesthetics, and valuable cultural relics from various dynasties.
Hexin garden is a truly exceptional private garden. It embodies both the elegance of Jiangnan (southern Yangtze) residences and the delicacy of Jiangnan-style gardens. The artifacts on display throughout the garden reflect the profound heritage of Chinese civilization and allow visitors to experience the unique charm of traditional Chinese culture.
The layout of the garden’s historical buildings is rigorous and harmonious. Halls such as Yuanmo Studio, Chengyu Hall, Zide Hall, and Zhengxin Hall, unfold in elegant order, with a refined spatial sequence and tasteful decoration. In the back garden lies a particularly notable site: Hexin Pavilion. It is built during the Jiaqing reign of the Qing dynasty and is originally stood near the source of the Yangtze River in Sichuan. Due to the construction of the Three Gorges Dam Project, the entire pavilion was relocated here. It is also the inspiration behind the name “Hexin garden.”
The garden follows traditional Suzhou garden design, emphasizing shifting views with every step—winding paths, secluded corners, and constant visual surprises that make every turn a new scene.
One of the most precious collections here is the complete original set of 50 engraved stones of the renowned calligraphy anthology “Xiao Changlu Guan Jitie”, a true treasure trove of Chinese calligraphy art, now displayed in the Stele Gallery. Other rare relics include: a Qing dynasty nanmu wood floor screen, a twelve-panel huanghuali wood screen from early Qing, a zitan wood altar table from the Yongzheng reign, and a pair of Song dynasty iron rhinos—each a masterpiece in its own right.
Even more remarkably, visitors can admire hundreds of real cultural relics from the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties at close range, offering a rare, face-to-face dialogue with a thousand years of Chinese civilization. This innovative approach to artifact presentation marks a breakthrough in cultural heritage display.
