Bend for those who never bow

The Tao Yuanming Memorial Hall is located on Yuanming Road, Chaisang District, Jiujiang City, Jiangxi Province, next to the Chinese Virtuous Mothers Garden. It was built to commemorate Tao Yuanming, the pastoral poet of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. The site was originally the Jingjie Temple, and in 2005, on the occasion of the 1640th anniversary of Tao Yuanming's birth, the then Jiujiang County invested in the restoration of the memorial hall, including attractions such as Tao's Tomb, Jingjie Temple, Tao Yuanming Memorial Hall, Guila Pavilion, and Chrysanthemum Garden. The memorial hall houses the 'Brief Exhibition of Tao Yuanming's Life', which collects and displays over 300 items including charts, photos, family trees, and calligraphy and paintings by famous people. Tao Yuanming served as the Libationer of Jiangzhou at the age of 29 and resigned as the magistrate of Pengze at 41. During those thirteen years, he wavered between advancing and retreating from officialdom, experiencing conflicting and painful emotions. Once he left the official scene, he felt as free and relaxed as a bird released from its cage. This is reflected in the couplet inscribed by Zhao Mengfu on the Guila Pavilion: 'Clouds drift out of the gorges without intent, and the weary bird knows to return.' For friends who enjoy pastoral poetry, a visit to Chaisang will certainly not disappoint. The Tao Yuanming Memorial Hall offers free admission. It is closed on Mondays and open from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm and from 2:00 pm to 5:30 pm, Tuesday to Sunday. Special reminder: For friends who drive, do not park in the Chinese Virtuous Mothers Garden parking lot. There are still a few kilometers to go after climbing over the hill! You can drive to the gate of the car passage on the left side of the Chinese Virtuous Mothers Garden and tell the security guard that you are going to the Tao Yuanming Memorial Hall; they usually open the gate. There is a small parking lot at the entrance of the Tao Yuanming Memorial Hall, which is usually empty and easy to park in.