A replica?of one of Shanghai's most famous attractions -
the Yuyan Garden - will be built in Hamburg next year, Germany as a
mark of friendship between the two cities.
A file photo of the Yuyuan
Garden.
People in Hamburg will be able, without leaving their hometown,
to visit all the scenic spots of the garden, including the Zigzag
Bridge, the ornamental lake and the pavilion at its center.
There will also be traditional Chinese performances and Chinese
tea and dim sum will be served there, just like the one in
Shanghai.
The construction of the replica garden, which will spread over
3,000 square meters near a downtown university, kicked off
yesterday, and Hamburg's mayor said that the Chinese garden has
been a "dream" for his city.
Hamburg, he said, had been waiting for such a garden for a long
time.
The Yuyuan Garden, which is listed as a national heritage site,
was built in 1559 and expanded in 1577. Each section of the garden
is separated by curved white walls crowned with the head and body
of a dragon.
It was named "Yu" after its original owner.
The garden is decorated with rocks one of which is said to have
been the property of Emperor Hui Zong (AD1082-AD1135) from the Song
Dynasty.
During the past National Day holiday, the garden attracted
910,000 tourists in just three days.
In recent years, China has enthusiastically built replicas of
traditional gardens for sister cities abroad.
Early this year, more than 50 Shanghai architectural workers
flew to New Zealand to "reassemble" a traditional Chinese garden
they built in Dunedin, a sister city of Shanghai.
The Dunedin Chinese Garden was built to commemorate the Chinese
settlers in Dunedin who have contributed to the city since the 19th
century gold rushes. The garden will cost more than 30 million yuan
(US$3.88 million).
(Shanghai Daily October 12, 2007)
