One of Guăngdōng 's four famous classical gardens, this graceful property was built in 1871 by an official of the Qing court. It incorporates the landscaping styles of Sūzhōu and Hángzhōu, and the features of Lĭngnán architecture. The result is a photogenic collection of pavilions, terraces, halls, bridges and lakes. It also has a dessert shop selling ginger milk curd (姜汁撞奶, jiāngzhī zhuàngnă i).
The Waterside Pavilion commands a different vista on each of its eight sides; the Deep Willow Room features ancient art and coloured 'Manchu' windows (满洲窗; mǎnzhoū chuāng ) aka 'four-season windows' (四季窗; sìjì chuāng ), which create an illusion of changing seasons by altering the hue of the outside scenery.
Turn left when you leave the metro. There's a stop for the Route 8 feeder bus to Qīxīnggăng Gōngyuán (七星岗公园; ¥2). Disembark at Nánshān Gōngyuán (南山公园), the 20th stop, after half an hour. Cross to the opposite and leafy side of the road. Bus 30 (¥2) from the stop there takes you to the entrance of Yúyìn Mountain Villa just one stop away.
