Spirit of Chinese Garden Tour

 
     You are invited to participate in a special 16-day Chinese Garden Tour hosted by Jackson Li and Liu Zemin, both notable scholars in their fields.  

     The two gentlemen have combined their talent to offer an exceptional opportunity for Garden architects and enthusiasts to travel to some of the most famous Chinese garden areas of China. The group will be introduced to the concepts and spirit of Chinese Gardens and presented to related crafts such as stone sculpture, bamboo, pottery and wood.  Visits and discussions will focus upon the essence of Chinese garden layouts and the integration of artisan crafts into the Chinese Garden landscape.

Your hosts are:

Liu Zemin            Chinese Garden Master. 
     Professor Emeritus of China Academy of Fine Art in Beijing
     Scholar of the history of art and classical gardens
     Collector of antiques
     Living and working in Hangzhou for many years
     Host of International Exchange Program for foreign visitors and scholars
     Guest curator of Sanbao Ceramic Art Museum

Jackson Li            International Ceramic Artist and Educator
     Professor of International Summer School Program, Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute 
     President of Sanbao Ceramic Art Institute at Jingdezhen
     Member of International Academy of Ceramics
     Master of Fine Art, Alfred University, NY
     Master of Fine Art, Jingdezhen Ceramics Institute

      
     The Chinese classical garden originated from the desire to retire from the strife of officialdom and to shun from worldly affairs. It seeks the return to Nature and the cultivation of temperament.

     Chinese classical private gardens were experienced as cultural rather the scenic.

Chinese private gardens were spiritual shelter for men of letters --- a place closer to Nature, closer to one's own heart, closer to the ancient, while far-away from their real social lives - as they were often frustrated and disappointed at the long-lasting monarchic feudal social system in China.

     The design concept of Chinese private gardens was to provide a "spiritual utopia" for people to come back to Great Nature. These private were designed by artists and poets and were regarded as "Three-Dimensional Landscape Painting and Solid Landscape Poetry."

     In Taoist philosophy the refinement of culture underlies the theme of the garden. Hills and waters, flowers and trees, pavilion, terraces, towers and halls constitute the basic garden elements, while the prominent tone is expressed in the dark colour of roof tiles, the grey of bricks, and chestnut brown of wooden pillars.

     Its human interest also lies in that the architect, philosopher, poet, painter, and common folk can all find in it ideas, lines and rhythms.

ITINERARY

     The tour will begin in Shanghai and will travel to some the most beautiful and important garden cities in the south of China, especially Suzhou. The tour will be 14 days, plus two days for arrival and departures.

     Suzhou is China's well-known "city of gardens", which tops all others in both the number and the artistry of gardens. Dating from Pi Jiang Garden of the Eastern Jing Dynasty, Suzhou's art of gardening has undergone a history of 1, 500 years. There were once over 200 gardens in the city and 69 of them are still in good preservation today.

     In Suzhou, the tour will visit the Garden of Cultivation, Garden of Retreat and Reflection, Couple’s Garden, Lingering Garden and Mountain Villa.

      Hangzhou, the capital city of Zhejiang Province, lies by the Qiantang River and at the southern terminal of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. As one of China's seven ancient capitals, it is also a famous historical and cultural city. Hangzhou is known throughout the world for its breathtaking scenery and garden landscapes around the West Lake. Touring in the area will visit a famous Ming calligrapher’s studio and a canal town strewn with intimate bridges.

      The tour will visit garden supply markets to survey stone sculptures, garden furniture and garden accessories.

     There will be a trip to the tea plantations for tea tasting, with a possible side trip to see regional bamboo forests.

     You will visit the famous giant porcelain and sculpture studios of Jingdezhen and wander through the antique reproduction workshops and markets.

     You will be presented with demonstrations and workshops on bamboo chair making, brush making, calligraphy and water colour painting given by Chinese arts and craft masters.

         Your group will stay in four star hotels;

         The tour is customized for not more than 14 persons;

Costs and Payments :

  non-refundable deposit will be necessary to guarantee the tour.

  Balance Payment one month prior to date of departure.

  Cancellation clause: 25%.

  Hotel, meals, admission, and domestic transportation are included .

           Gratuities are not included.

Depart from Shanghai, PRC.

           8-14 people cost per person; email for update figures.  

           6-8 people cost per person; email for update figures. 

 

   If you are interested in organizing this tour and wish to request more detailed information, please email sanbaostudio@hotmail.com of your interest. We will prepare a generic itinerary and email it to you for your groups approval along with costs.  We will answer any questions that you may have.

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