Guangzhou Lanpu

【Guangfu Four Days】Lanpu|||Lanpu was initially a botanical specimen garden and was not converted into a specialized orchid cultivation facility until 1957. After continuous expansion and construction, it has become a famous garden. The planting of orchids in Lanpu is divided into three sections: the first and third sections mainly cultivate terrestrial orchids with light colors and a delicate fragrance, while the second section focuses on epiphytic orchids, which are bright in color but less fragrant. The architecture within the garden emulates the style of Suzhou gardens: archways, rockeries, stone masonry, corridors, and waterside pavilions. Taking advantage of the terrain's undulations, with streams, ponds, and waterfalls, stone paths and small bridges are set up, and lush forests and tall bamboos are planted, creating an interplay of scenes where small views reveal grand vistas, and the scenery changes with every step, achieving an artistic realm comparable to the 'Humble Administrator's Garden' and the 'Lingering Garden'. The garden houses over a hundred varieties of orchids, with more than ten thousand potted plants, in addition to over four thousand pots of other precious flowers. Notable attractions include the Xiyin Pavilion, Changuang Pavilion, Fanghua Garden, and Mingjing Pavilion, among which Fanghua Garden is a miniature Chinese garden from the Munich International Horticultural Exhibition, famous for its small area yet numerous scenic spots. It was awarded the title of 'Best Garden' and won two gold awards. The main attraction of the Hongqu Pavilion is the legacy of the (Lanpu Fanghua Garden): 'Why seek a tranquil place far away, when Lanpu alone can make one stay. The painter's skill shrinks the dragon's inch, the master's spirit plans with precision. Amid the bustling cotton market's lights and wine, the fragrant flowers and birdsong near the water pavilion are serene. The nine patches of Fanghua are especially worth facing, where friends with shared hearts can be embraced.' Since its establishment, Lanpu has always received the care of elder generations of party and state leaders such as Zhu De, Ye Jianying, Dong Biwu, and Tao Zhu. Zhu De was first attracted by the elegant environment of Lanpu in 1960 and would revisit almost every year thereafter, paying close attention to the growth of the orchids, even donating his own cultivated orchids to Lanpu and leaving inscriptions as a memento. Before the 1970s, Lanpu was always used as a place to receive national leaders and important foreign guests visiting Guangzhou, having hosted Zhu De, Ye Jianying, Dong Biwu, Xu Xiangqian, Deng Xiaoping, Tao Zhu, Rong Yiren, Zhang Aiping, as well as distinguished guests such as Nixon, Sihanouk, Lee Kuan Yew, and Tung Chee-hwa. It was not until after 1976 that Lanpu officially opened to the general public. Guangzhou Lanpu, an oasis in the midst of a busy and noisy city, may not be large in size, but it embodies purity, elegance, tranquility, and intricacy. Lanpu is definitely a place worth savoring in detail.