As winter gives way to spring, the Plum Garden at Shanghai Jing'an Sculpture Park quietly becomes a pinnacle of "Neo-Chinese aesthetics" in the heart of the city. Currently, nearly 100 varieties and over 200 plum trees are in full bloom, filling the air with their subtle fragrance. The delicate blend of pink and white blossoms beautifully complements the intricate landscape design. Here, the plum blossoms cast their graceful shadows, winding paths invite exploration, gentle streams reflect the scenery, and unique sculptures add a touch of character. Each element in this garden conceals a thoughtful aesthetic, creating poetic scenes that effortlessly blend Eastern and Western influences—perfect for capturing the beauty in a single shot.
Although plum blossoms are renowned for their "delicate shadows", the somewhat chaotic distribution of branches and flowers often makes it difficult for many photographers to find an ideal composition, leaving them with no choice but to take close-up shots. Among photography enthusiasts in Shanghai, Jing'an Sculpture Park has gained a reputation as a "hidden gem" for capturing beautiful images. Mr. Gu, a photographer with over 20 years of experience, said, "It feels like this is the pinnacle of Neo-Chinese aesthetics for photographing plum blossoms in downtown Shanghai!"
Struggling to Photograph Plum Blossoms? The Scenery Here Makes It Easy to Get Great Shots!
As you enter the Plum Garden, you'll see that nearly every plum tree is thoughtfully labeled with its variety, flower color, and flowering period. In addition to common types like Cinnabar Purple Plum, Pink Double Plum, and Red Plum, there are varieties named "Bie Jiao Wan Shui", "Eastern Cinnabar Purple Plum", "Shui Zhong Yue Green Calyx", and "Wu Fu Pendulous Plum". These names are rich with Eastern aesthetic charm, making visitors feel as if they are flipping through a collection of beautiful portraits.
As you stroll through the winding corridor, a refined landscape that artfully blends the essence of traditional Chinese gardens with contemporary minimalist style unfolds before your eyes.
Pendulous Tortuous Dragon Plum: Lively Beauty Coming out of the Wall
The branches of the tortuous dragon plum twist like a roaming dragon, with blossoms densely clustered like stars. The drooping branches resemble a "plum blossom waterfall", while the nearby hollowed-out beams are a substitute for the traditional Chinese garden screen, creating a natural frame for an ideal angle for capturing the beauty of the plum blossoms coming out of the wall.
Waterfall and Plum: An Attraction of Dynamic and Static Beauty
In the garden, an artificial waterfall enhances the plum grove, where splashing water causes petals to dance gently in the breeze. This dynamic scene breaks away from the traditional static beauty of plum blossoms, infusing a sense of liveliness into the composition.
Plum Shadow in Water: The Zen Essence of Illusion and Reality
Next to the long corridor in the Plum Garden, three plum trees standing in the center of the water perfectly embody a sense of isolation and independence. On the water surface, a sculpture with a strikingly cool, metallic texture replaces the Taihu stones typically found in Suzhou-style gardens, creating an intriguing contrast with the plum trees.
Three Friends of Winter: Ultimate Imagery of Eastern Aesthetics
Deep within the Plum Garden, the resilient pines, lush bamboo, and twisted plum trees—the "Three Friends of Winter"—are beautifully arranged together. Surrounded by a gentle mist, it feels as though one has stepped away from the busy streets of Shanghai and into a tranquil forest. Here, the enduring spirit the Three Friends of Winter embody blends seamlessly with the vitality of spring.
Why are these landscapes so breathtaking? The secret to this lies in the design blueprint of the Plum Garden within Jing'an Sculpture Park. From the outset, a key challenge was figuring out how to allow traditional plum aesthetics to coexist harmoniously with modern landscaping.
The first phase of Jing'an Sculpture Park has embraced a modern style, while traditional Chinese gardens emphasize meandering paths and the blending of views with hidden elements. Plum blossoms, in particular, require traditional features like brick walls and corridors to enhance their artistic ambiance, which can clash with modern landscaping styles. To balance cultural heritage with innovation, the design team proposed the concept of a "Modern Plum Garden". They utilized a visual cutting approach to address this challenge, guiding visitor flow with winding corridors and using corridor walls to block the visual interference of modern structures. At the same time, they transformed obstacles into functional elements, connecting functional buildings to create an enclosed space that retains the subtlety of traditional Chinese gardens while meeting the open space needs of a modern park.
Additionally, plum blossoms are sensitive to water, so many parks opt to plant them on raised mounds to prevent growth issues. However, this approach can result in a monotonous landscape that lacks the essence of the plum blossoms. In contrast, Jing'an Sculpture Park cleverly leverages its terrain by integrating various artificial water features with the plum trees, effectively addressing the growth challenges while also creating unique scenes, such as the enchanting reflections of plum blossoms in the water.
To preserve cultural heritage and foster innovation, the design team invited academicians and experts such as Chen Junyu and Meng Zhaozhen to hold a "Plum Blossom Culture and Modern Garden Workshop", where they carefully explored aspects like plum blossom aesthetics, the integration of sculpture, and the creation of artistic ambiance. Ultimately, a modern plum garden that blends Eastern and Western aesthetic concepts was unveiled. Instead of the typical pink walls and black tiles found in traditional gardens, it features striking modern elements such as bare concrete walls, steel, wood, glass structures, granite, contemporary sculptures, hard bottom, and shallow water, all of which evoke the essence of "delicate shadows cast over the clear, shallow water, with subtle fragrances wafting in the dusk".
Beyond Flower Appreciation: A Millennium of Culture Hidden in the Details
Inside the Plum Garden, visitors will find a unique Picture Copybook of Plum Blossom—the first Chinese woodcut collection illustrating various forms of plum blossoms, intricately carved into the corridor walls. As visitors admire the beauty of the blossoms, they can reference this ancient collection, which features over a hundred forms, including "buds", "ready to bloom", and "in full bloom". This experience invites them to appreciate the refined admiration of plum blossoms as cherished by the ancients.
Flowering Season Tips: Miss It This Year and You'll Have to Wait for Next
Best viewing period:
From now until mid-March
Recommended time:
9:00-11:00 and 14:00-16:00: During these periods, the waterfall and mist are in full display, offering a richer and more immersive experience.
Address:
128 Shimen Road Number Two, Jing'an District (near West Beijing Road)