Lou Lim Ieoc Garden
No. 10 Estrada de Adolfo Loureiro, Macau
The most Chinese of all of Macao’s gardens is the Lou Lim Ieoc Garden. It was built by a wealthy 19th century Chinese merchant, Lou Kau, and was inherited by his son Lou Lim Ieoc in 1906. When the family fortunes declined the garden fell into ruins, but it was eventually purchased and restored by the government and opened to the public in 1974.
The Lou Lim Ieoc garden is modeled on those of Suzhou, the most famous of all Chinese classical gardens. Enclosed by a high wall, it is a miniaturized landscape with narrow paths winding through groves of bamboo and flowering bushes, under moulded concrete “mountains” to a large pond filled with golden carp and lotus flowers. A nine-turn bridge zigzags across the pond (according to legend, evil spirits can only move in straight lines) to a large pavilion combining Classical and Chinese architecture elements. There are frequent art and craft exhibitions in the pavilion, which also serves as an auditorium for recitals during the annual International Music Festival.
Source : en.macautourism.gov.mo
Qingcao Hall (Green Grass Hall) in the center of the garden is the focal piece of architecture, and together with the marvelous pavilions, cloisters, ponds, bridges and rockeries, makes the garden a tridimensional landscape picture. This hall is a masterpiece harmoniously blending Chinese and Western culture. The fence is bright scarlet, a color favored by Chinese, whereas the wall is painted in beige, a color favored by Portuguese. The corridor pillars are Gothic style, with European style engravings of white flower patterns at the top. During Sun Yat-sen’s second visit to Macau in 1915, he stayed in this hall and met with many celebrities.
An elegant nine-turn bridge sits above the small pond in the front of the hall. In the centre of the pond stands stone figure of an ancient-time beauty. Stream water pours from the rockery top down to the pond, creating wonderful waterfalls. There are crowds of fish playing about under lotus leaves in the pond. Many visitors enjoy sitting on stone stools in the shade under the weeping willows and looking into the pond. There visitors can enjoy a nice rest and take in the beautiful scenes.
Source :travelchinaguide.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnjFUmOsmK0
Reviews
Visiting hours : 0600AM to 09.00PM
Entry fee : Free
Getting there : 2, 2A, 5, 9, 9A, 12, 16, 22, 25, 25X, N2
Rate this article