An aerial view of Shuihui Garden. [Photo/WeChat account: zgntrb]

Admission to Shuihui Garden in Rugao, Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province will be free to the public starting on Jan 1, 2022, according to the Nantong culture, broadcasting, and tourism bureau.

The provincial authorities published a notice on Dec 12 stating that Shuihui Garden and five other classic gardens in Jiangsu will be the first batch of tourist destinations to be open to the public for free.

Part of Shuihui Garden. [Photo/WeChat account: zgntrb]

Built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), Shuihui Garden was the former residence of the gifted scholar Mao Pijiang and the popular courtesan Dong Xiaowan. The garden is now a tourist attraction themed on the love story of Mao and Dong.

The garden consists of ancient architecture, a Rugao-style bonsai garden, the Rugao Longevity Museum, a zoo and an amusement park.

Waterfowl swim in the river at Shuihui Garden. [Photo/WeChat account: zgntrb]

The Rugao-style bonsai garden (Guzhan Garden) was formerly called Huling Garden. It was renamed by Zheng Banqiao (one of the eight eccentrics painters of Yangzhou). The garden has a large number of Rugao-style bonsais dating back to the Song Dynasty (960-1279), including a cooper bonsai with a history of more than 1,000 years and the world's largest pinus parviflora.