Wang's small garden is located at No.1 Guandi 14 at the eastern end of Dongquanmen Historic District in Yangzhou City. Because the owner's surname is Wang, mainly residential, supplemented by gardens, the garden area is not large, so it is called Wang's small garden. Wang's small garden covers an area of more than 3,000 square meters, with nearly 100 old houses and a building area of 1.580 square meters. It is one of the most well-preserved salt merchants' halls in Yangzhou today. Wangxiao Garden is characterized by regular house layout, exquisite decoration, exquisite gardens and rich cultural background. Wangxiao Garden has attracted many Chinese and foreign tourists for many years with its unique characteristics and little-known secrets of salt merchants.
The layout of Wang Xiaoyuan is regular: the houses are horizontally juxtaposed with three roads, extending vertically to the main house, with the front and rear axes running through, and the left and right hatchbacks are symmetrical, reflecting the Confucian doctrine of the mean. The veranda next to the main hall and the wing room in the bedroom behind the hall embody the feudal ethical concept of equality between men and women. The odd combination of houses embodies the mysterious geomantic consciousness that odd numbers are yang and even numbers are yin.
Wang Xiaoyuan's courtyard is balanced, well ventilated, well lit, and freely separated inside and outside, which is one of the traditional patterns of Yangzhou Mansion Gate. Wang's small garden is exquisite: there are "livable", "small garden in spring" and "welcoming the sunrise" in front of the hall and behind the house, which makes the small gardens of residential houses blend together and change in twists and turns. Exquisite decoration: wood carving, brick carving, stone carving and decoration, wall and ground are skillfully combined to complement each other. Precious materials, such as white marble, golden nanmu, mahogany, cypress, etc. There are various techniques, such as intaglio, flat, shallow and deep relief, single-sided and double-sided through carving, etc. The theme is rich, with geometric patterns, birds and beasts, flowers, birds, fish and insects, mountains and rivers, profound meanings and good luck.
The history of literature is profound: there are calligraphy "Kai, Li, Xing, Cao and Zhuan" on the lintels, stone tablets, plaques and couplets, which are masterpieces of famous artists, with exquisite allusions and thought-provoking, and they blend in with the environment of Wang Xiao Garden, making each other interesting. Little-known secrets: There are secret doors, dark rooms, dark walls, dark cabinets, treasure caves and basements in the garden.