Earlier we introduced the hall and inner house of the Garden of Retreat, and further inside/east is the atrium of this garden.
Floor plan of The Garden of Retreat
The atrium is a transitional space, both as the end of the residence and as a prelude to the garden, separated by high walls, from north to south with the Spring Moon Tower, the Dry Boat, the Old Cold House and the Welcome Room.
Sit in the Spring Moon Tower
This building is the main building of the atrium, sitting north and facing south, it is a row of six-story and six-bottom two-story buildings. As the name suggests, this is the place where the host entertains guests and sings poems to admire the moon, which is for "looking at the moon". When the spring flowers bloom, enjoying the spring colors of the garden downstairs is for "sitting spring" and also constitutes the "spring theme" in the garden.
Sit in the hall of the Spring Moon Tower
Sit in the corridor of the Spring Moon Tower
Looking out from the window on the north side of the Spring Moon Tower, there are the streets and alleys outside the garden
Dry boats
Located in front of the Spring Moon Building, it is the place where the host greets and sends guests. In front of the courtyard where the dry boat is located, fragrant camphor and magnolia are planted, which are vigorous and simple.
From the upper floor of the spring moon to the courtyard of the atrium, the building with the red lantern is the dry boat
The plants in the atrium are arranged, the building with lanterns is a dry boat, and the two-story building next to it is the Spring Moon Tower
Cold house, welcome room
Located on the south side of the dry boat, the furnishings are simple and clean. At that time, the host often invited three or five friends to taste tea in the hearth here, to meet friends with literature, cultivate temperament, and enjoy harmony. Through the flower window, you can see the pine, bamboo and plum planted in the courtyard, forming a picture of pine, bamboo and plum han, which is the "winter theme" in the park.
Simple and clean years of cold dwelling
From the atrium, you can enter the garden through the Moon Cave Gate, which has brick inscriptions "Retreat Small Building" and "Cloud Smoke Lock Key". The four words of "retreating from idle small building" are inscribed by The Tongli calligrapher Xu Muru, although the four words of "cloud smoke lock key" on the door of the moon cave have been blurred, but there is a beautiful world inside the door of the moon cave, and you can sit on the beauty to rest and enjoy the beauty of the garden.
Moon cave door connecting the atrium and garden with a brick inscription "Retreat Building"
The whole atrium courtyard does not have much ink, but it is fascinating, naturally connecting the places of living and playing, which plays an excellent role in paving the appearance of the garden.