Grand View Garden or Daguanyuan was located in the West Street of Nan Cai Yuan, Xuanwu District. The park was a reminiscent of Grand-view Garden depicted in Dream of Red Chamber, one of the four classic Chinese novel.
Some background knowledge on the Dream of Red Chamber will put the garden into context. The novel provides a detailed, episodic record of the two branches of the Jia Clan, the Ning-guo and Rong-guo Houses, who reside in two large adjacent family compounds in the capital. Their ancestors were made Dukes, and as the novel begins the two houses remain among the most illustrious families in the capital. The novel describes the Jias' wealth and influence in great naturalistic detail, and charts the Jias' fall from the height of their prestige, following some thirty main characters and over four hundred minor ones. Eventually the Jia Clan falls into disfavor with the Emperor, and their mansions are raided and confiscated.
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The 40 scenic attractions, Yihong Yard, Xiaoxiang Hall, Dicun Pavilion, Daoxiang Village etc. were built according to the description of the novel. Therefore, the garden deserves the reputation as a garden of famous literary work.
Grand-view Garden is also the Artistic museum of the Studies of the Dreams of the Red Chamber. Up to now, all the 12 exhibition halls display a full range of exhibits related to the book. The life of the author is studied here as well. The large variety of artworks, furniture, bronze wares, porcelain wares exhibited among others demonstrate the latest accomplishment in the study of the great novel- A Dream of the Red Chamber.
On holidays, many inviting parties and shows take place in the park, among which the most recommended are the Princess Yuan Visiting her Parents, the Temple Fair of the Red Mansions, the Party of Viewing the Moon on the Mid Autumn Day and the party of Ushering in the Spring.
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