The Lion Grove garden was first constructed in 1342 by the Monk Tianru and the monk Zhongfeng. The garden is about 10,000 square meters and contains 22 pavilions, 71 steles. The garden is noted for its rockery, which is mostly made of limestone from Taihu lake. The rocks resembles lions, hence the name of the garden "Lion Grove," In its early years, the garden was a place of retreat for painters and calligraphers. After Tianru's death, the garden declined in later centuries. It became active in 1918 by a rich industrialist named Mr. Pei. Later it was offered to to the State after 1949.
The garden has an area of about 1.1 hectares, a good place for sightseeing. It has many ornamental pavilions and towers in various styles. Each has its own history and story. Zhenquting ( True Delight Pavilion) is the most fantastic in Lion Grove Garden. Constructed in royal architectural style. Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty once visited the gardens six times. Lixuetang (Standing-in-Snow Hall) was named after a Buddhist story which tells a story of a devoted Zen adherent who stood in snow for an entire night to worship his master monk. The labyrinthine rockery is made of limestone from the Taihu Lake. Rocks in this "Kingdom of Rockery" are piled up skillfully and ingeniously, and most of them look like lions in different postures and verves: playing, roaring, fighting, sleeping, or even dancing. Due to the changes and ravages of the time and the erosion of elements, the peak now only bears little resemblance to lions.
The garden has an area of about 1.1 hectares, a good place for sightseeing. It has many ornamental pavilions and towers in various styles. Each has its own history and story. Zhenquting ( True Delight Pavilion) is the most fantastic in Lion Grove Garden. Constructed in royal architectural style. Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty once visited the gardens six times. Lixuetang (Standing-in-Snow Hall) was named after a Buddhist story which tells a story of a devoted Zen adherent who stood in snow for an entire night to worship his master monk. The labyrinthine rockery is made of limestone from the Taihu Lake. Rocks in this "Kingdom of Rockery" are piled up skillfully and ingeniously, and most of them look like lions in different postures and verves: playing, roaring, fighting, sleeping, or even dancing. Due to the changes and ravages of the time and the erosion of elements, the peak now only bears little resemblance to lions.
