Day Tour to the Grand View Garden

I am the kind of guy who likes peaceful places. I think that explains why I haven’t paid a visit to the Forbidden City in the 4-year stay in Beijing.

When I was about ten years old, I happened to read several pages of A Dream of Red Mansions. I was too young to really understand the story but I have been curious about the complicated relationship among the figures in the novel since then. When I knew that the Grand View Garden was designed according to the novel A Dream of Red Mansions, I planned a tour.

We, as senior students have nothing but free time. On a weekday, we started off.

It was a rainy spring day. The trees looked brightly-green with the rain shower. The red gate gave out an air of nobleness and dignity, as though telling the people its once glorious days.

As is the Alice stepping into the wonderland, I began to search the little knowledge I knew about the novel with excitement full with my heart.

The Lost Stone by the goddess Nvwa(Bu Tian Yi Shi in Chinese)

It was located outside the Grand View Garden with the height of 9m and the weight of 60t. Another name of A Dream of Red Mansions, The Story of the Stone originated from this stone.

The Front Entrance Gate

Winding Path Leading to A Secluded Place

Aromatic Pavilion (Qin Fang Ting in Chinese)

It was built on the axis. The white-stone carved handrail surrounds the pond. The glistening lights of waves and beauties in the novel bring you a false sense of the fairyland.

The Naiad's House (Xiao Xiang Guan in Chinese)

It is the residence of the soul figure, Lin Daiyu. And the death of her player Chen Xiaoxu added sorrow to this place.