Meiyuan Garden (Plum Garden)

Hidden behind the south slope of Xushan Mountain just 7k outside of Wuxi you will find Meiyuan Garden. Serving originally as a private garden for an elite member of feudal China's imperial system, the garden became known as Meiyuan Garden under the occupation of the Rong family in 1912 at the end of the Qing Dynasty. The family exuded great care in planting thousands of plum trees throughout the garden. Today the Meiyuan, or Plum Garden is home to more than 40 different species of plum blossom trees. Varieties found throughout the garden include orange, peach, persimmon, gingko, and megranate trees planted among the thousands of plum blossoms. In late winter and early spring when the flowers are in full bloom, the garden is basked in an overwhelming beauty.
Through expansions over the years the garden has grown to cover more than 70,000sq meters. The garden grounds are covered in a scattered collection of crimsoned structures, towers, pavilions, and teahouses, among which stands a three-story hexagonal tower built by Rong's two sons as a memorial to their mother on her 80th birthday. The structure, erected in 1930, adds an element of personal sensitivity to the splendid garden.