Family Bai Courtyard, at 29 Suzhou Road, was originally an imperial garden built in honor of Prince Li, the second son of Nurhaci during the reign of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty. Nurhaci was the founding father of the Qing Dynasty.
The garden served as the courtyard of the prince, known for its enchanting scenery and superb architectural techniques. It became a shining example of imperial gardens, and later passed into the ownership of the Le Family, who enjoyed increasing fame in the early years of the Republic of China, when it was given the new name “the Garden of Family Le”. After China was liberated, the courtyard became part of the teaching facilities of Bayi High School.
Family Bai Courtyard Restaurant was established within this imperial garden, dotted with pavilions, terraces and mansions connected by winding paths and corridors. The staff wear imperial costume and welcome you with greetings such as “nin ji xiang”, which convey their best wishes to you. Sometimes, they play musical instruments and sing local songs while awaiting your arrival, enhancing the experience of former royal times. The restaurant mainly serves imperial cuisine, featuring a perfect combination of color, aroma and taste, and the prices reflect the exquisite menu and ambience.
The garden, around 3300 square meters, is a symmetric rectangle. It consists of three areas, the main hall in the front, the magnolia garden in the middle (peonies are also planted) and the residential area in the back. The front hall was usually used to receive guests, the garden was for recreation and the residential area was for the prince and members of his family. There were also many other halls and mansions, pavilions, terraces, stone bridges, rivers, lakes and rockeries within the garden.
The main structures inside the garden are Yulan Hall, Haitang Courtyard and the Small Garden. The garden as whole can be divided into many smaller ones, each of which has rockeries piled up with stones. The rockeries of different sizes divide the garden into many smaller ones. The front garden looks quite solemn, while the back garden has a lively atmosphere. Though separated, these small gardens are connected by winding paths, offering you a chance to experience what a traditional Chinese-style garden has to offer.
Recommended dishes: braised deer sinew, stir-fried shrimp balls, Feizixiao (Chinese salad), croaker seasoned with Chinese toon, roast pork, four delicacies, sauté scallops with chestnuts, deep-fried shrimps, stewed clams with papaya.
