Shuzhuang Garden
Shuzhuang Garden originally is a private villa own by businessman from Taiwan, it has become a garden park open to the public in 1955. The park is divided into the Garden of Hiding the Sea (Canghaiyuan) and Garden of Making-Up Hills (Bushanyuan). Feng Shu principals are used to supplement the artificial structures to work with nature, and to maintain a proper balance of yin and yang energy. It 'was designed with three specific requirements of gardening. Therefore, man-made items to add to what nature has already created instead of creating something entirely inappropriate for its surroundings.
Garden was first built in 1913 by a wealthy Taiwanese named Lin Erjia, who modeled it after his father's villa in Banqiao, Taipei of Taiwan, Mr. Lin gave it the name "Shuzhuang" after his stylized name of "Shuzang". On the southside of the island, Shuzhuang Garden was once a private villa.
A parallel zig-zag bridge to the coast, and almost hugging the rocks nearby, seems to be very popular with the tour group as well as individual travelers. This position offers a view of the beach, with activities and visits sea doo boat, playing in the sand. Another direction looks at the looming Sunlight Peak and another pond at the base of the labyrinth. The beach in this area is not accessible without entering the park.
The Shuzhuang Garden are used to breed subtropical plants as well provide a beautiful setting. There are more than 1000 types of plants cultivated here, and three nurseries for various purposes. One is for new types, one for experimental ideas, and a greenhouse for the flowers that beautify the expansive grounds.
Shuzhuang Garden has many newly built facilities in recent years and its size has also been expanded. Especially the wave-listening pavilion is transformed into a "Piano Museum", displaying 30 famous and ancient pianos collected for a lifetime by Hu Youyi who is from Gulangyu living in Australia. It is "China's only and the world's first-class" treasure house of pianos, with nearly 100 precious historic pianos from throughout the world. The museum is an epitome of Gulangyu's musical culture and makes Gulangyu Island deserve the name of Piano Island and adds extra charm to it.