【文章內(nèi)容簡(jiǎn)介】
northern parts used to be living quarters including halls, studios and pavilions. The garden’s western and southern parts are enclosed by zigzag corridor adorned with stelae and kiosks. Facing the entrance hall is the Ancestors’ Memorial Hall, which is very imposing. Displayed inside the hall are a whole set of mahogany furniture with a pair of brass lions for decoration. Hung above the white wall is a wooden plaque written with four big characters, which mean the excellent expertise in garden construction engaged by Ni Yunlin, the garden’s principal designer in the Yuan Dynasty. As we enter the garden further more, a corridor leads north to the Hall of Fame and Peacefulness and a small square hall behind it. When Emperor Qianlong visited this garden, he had his meal in this hall. So it was known as the imperial dining hall. It is popularly known as the mandarin ducks hall in traditional architecture. It is divided by a middle screen into northern and southern parts, facing two courtyards. Both parts are decorated in different from each other. For instance, the bricks on the ground are different in their layout. Those in the northern hall are in regular formation while those in the southern hall are in rhombus formation. The small square hall is decorated with two framed windows, through which we can see different scenes. Through the framed window on the east we can see a plum tree which blossoms in winter. Through the window on the west we can see trees and rockeries made of the Taihu Lake stones. Looking north from the hall, we can have a nice view of a huge rockery piled up with Taihu Lake stones shaped like lions. It is said that there were altogether nine stone lions standing in a row. That’s why it is called the NiceLion Peak. Now there are three lions hiding themselves at the top of the rockery while others bear little resemblance to those animals. Behind this rockery is a white wall decorated with lattice windows. They represent four scholarly pursuits for men of the letters, which are the plunk musical instrument, chess board (symbolic of playing chess), calligraphy and painting. Such a design reflects that the garden contains so much Chinese traditional culture. A begoniashaped gate on the west side of the NiceLion Peak opens to main landscape part of the garden. The two storied building is known as the Hall for BowingtoPeaks and PointingCypress, which was used by its former owner to entertain guests, close relatives and good friends. Pointing –Cypress es from a line of poetry by Gao Qi (13361374) of the Ming Dynasty: “ Instead of greeting his guest, (the host) smiles and points at a cypress before the hall.” Bowingto Peaks es from a poem by Zhu Xi in the Song Dynasty: “Bowing to Lushan Maintain, a peak of unique charm.” Toward to south, s stone bridge we may see a forest of rocky formations, cypresse