Root Palace Buddhist Culture Tourist Area

Location Map

Map of Root Palace Buddhist Culture Tourist Area

Ticket Price

Ticketing Information

Tickets

  • Adult Ticket:

    • Original Price: ¥80
    • Online Booking 1 Day in Advance: ¥70
  • Child/Student/Senior Ticket:

    • Original Price: ¥40
    • Online Booking 1 Day in Advance: ¥38

Attractions

  • 【Single】Root Palace Night Banquet Ticket:
    • Original Price: ¥60
    • Online Booking 1 Day in Advance: ¥70
    • Pre-sale available for August 1st
    • Same price for all ages
    • Free for children 1.2 meters (inclusive) and under

Opening Hours

Business Hours

Regular Scenic Area Opening Hours

  • June 1 - August 31:

    • Monday - Sunday: 08:30-17:00 (Day Session), 17:30-21:00 (Night Session)
    • Last Admission: 16:30, 20:00
  • December 1 - February 28 of the following year:

    • Monday - Sunday: 08:30-17:00 (All Day)
    • Last Admission: 16:30

Daily Opening Hours for Gen Palace Night Banquet

  • Summer Time:

    • 17:30-21:30
    • Ticket Sales and Check-in Stop at 20:30
  • Winter Time:

    • 17:30-21:00
    • Ticket Sales and Check-in Stop at 20:00

Recommended Duration

Duration of Visit

2-3 hours

Best Time to Visit

Best Season

All seasons except winter are suitable for visiting. For those interested in viewing bonsai, spring and summer are particularly ideal.

Official Phone

Scenic Area Telephone 0570-6163966

Transportation

Transportation Guide

Friends traveling from other cities can take the rail transit to Kaihua Station and then transfer to a vehicle heading to downtown Kaihua. From downtown, bus Route 3 goes directly to the scenic area.

Classical Route

Tour Route

The scenic area is not very large, with only one entrance. After entering, you can explore at a leisurely pace.

Important Notes

Suggestions

Be sure to listen to the explanations, otherwise many parts will be difficult to understand.

Important Child Sites

Main Attractions

Drunken Scenery Garden

Located at the foothills of the Root Carving Buddha Land Cultural Tourism Area, adjacent to the Root Carving Buddha Land, it features scenic structures such as the Drunken Pine Pavilion, Sun and Moon Pavilion, Reflection Corridor, Tranquility Pavilion, and Joyful Bird Garden. The garden displays over 1,500 bonsai artworks, primarily featuring pine and cypress species. The designs draw inspiration from various styles, with natural creativity. There are water-and-land bonsai depicting small bridges, flowing streams, and rural homes, as well as rock-attached bonsai that capture the perilous beauty of Mount Hua. Some bonsai use stones as pots to return to nature, while others, arranged in groups of three or five, evoke a sense of vastness and profound意境. The wonders of nature are fully revealed within these miniature landscapes, earning it the reputation of an "aerial garden."

Root Carving Buddha Land

A sacred site where root carving art showcases Buddhist culture, this is an artistic hall汇聚ed by thousand-year-old tree spirits. With a construction area of 12,000 square meters, it extends into three main halls. The first hall is a two-story structure, while the second and third are single-story. Along the sides, a Arhat Culture Corridor is built against the mountain, encircling the area. It includes the Future Buddha Hall, Mahavira Hall, and Arhat Hall, among others. Over a thousand large-scale root carving works representing Buddhist culture are displayed, including Sakyamuni, the Future Buddha, the Four Great Bodhisattvas, the Four Heavenly Kings, and the Five Hundred Arhats. Among them, the largest root carving is the main statue of Sakyamuni, which is massive in size and weighs over 40 tons. The root material was acquired at great expense and transported via a circuitous route from the China-Myanmar border. Through the "enlightenment" of Drunken Root, it majestically transformed into a Buddha! The Five Hundred Arhat formation is particularly grand, stretching over 680 meters in length. The overall layout is dignified and elegant,堪称 a unique wonder of China and the world.

The Five Hundred Arhat root carvings were meticulously prepared over more than a decade by Master Xu Guqing, who invested heavily in collecting thousand-year-old longan and lychee wood roots from across the country. The overall layout follows key events such as the Buddha's enlightenment of the first five disciples and the propagation of Dharma in Magadha. The style is unique and grand, blending the mystery of Buddhism with reflections of human life. Traditional carving techniques are融合ed with modern artistic innovation, allowing the Arhat series to express emotions outwardly while conveying profound meaning within. It is elegant yet accessible, perfectly merging root carving art with Buddhist culture. This is the world's largest set of root carving statues depicting the Five Hundred Arhats.

Drunken Root Tian Gong Museum

The first professional root carving museum in China, with a construction area of 3,000 square meters. The first floor displays over twenty large-scale root art works by "Drunken Root." The top floor houses a multifunctional hall for academic exchanges and skill training. The second floor will exhibit rare root art treasures,文献资料, root art research成果, and host不定期 exhibitions of works by root art masters from various regions. It is like a comprehensive encyclopedia of root carving art. From these文献资料, you can appreciate the local customs, culture, and artistic styles of ethnic groups across the country. The walls are adorned with photos from various exhibitions, as well as calligraphy, paintings, and合影 left by notable figures from all walks of life, such as Xiao Yang, Li Zemin, Xiao Feng, Liang Pingbo, Lu Kunfeng, and Li Zihou, after their visits. Their words are filled with praise and encouragement for root art practitioners, and they also reflect the development of contemporary Chinese root art through Drunken Root's artistic journey. The museum is a仿古建筑 in the Tang and Han style. Its exterior features a central rising lotus sculpture symbolizing Buddhism, layered and projecting outward, conveying the idea of "the flower blooms, the Buddha comes." The front eaves form a "合"-shaped platform, highlighting the theme of "harmony between man and nature."

Fumen Xiangguang (Auspicious Light of the Blessed Gate)

A sculpture group consisting of gate sculptures, strange stones, a Bagua diagram, root culture sculptures, and tea culture sculptures. The gate sculpture is made of fiberglass仿铜, standing eleven meters high. The prototype is Master Xu Guqing's exquisite root artwork "Century Gate." Using root art works to create sculptures is Master Xu's innovation. He broke the convention of displaying root art indoors, not only expanding the creative space for root art but also elevating it to the realm of major fine arts. The "gate" is all-encompassing, serving as a defining symbol and a gateway to knowledge and enlightenment. These naturally extraordinary artistic gate sculptures contain philosophical启示, representing吉祥 gates that bring fortune, wealth, and luck, as well as gates leading to success. They evoke回味 and contemplation, with both tangible and intangible "gates"隐约 present everywhere.

Jiqu Zhai (Collection of Delights Studio)

Jiqu Zhai displays representative root art works from various periods by Xu Guqing, as well as award-winning works by his disciples. These works are characterized by unique styles,奇绝 materials, and exquisite craftsmanship. This is a magical world that not only offers the revival of life and artistic熏陶 but also provokes philosophical reflection, allowing you to放飞心情,穿越时空, and read through the past and present. The themes are broad, the concepts profound, permeated with强大的生命力, possessing the natural beauty of回归自然 and a强烈的历史使命感.

Yunhu Chanxin (Cloud Lake Zen Mind)

The lake, located at the mountain's foothills, is葫芦-shaped, symbolizing the吉祥寓意 of gathering fortune and prosperity. Legend has it that it transformed from the wine gourd of the Living Buddha Jigong. The scenery here is delightful, with飞瀑 producing悦耳 sounds. It is enveloped in clouds and mist throughout the four seasons, resembling the蓬莱仙境, adding a touch of mystery associated with reclusive scholars amidst the幽静恬淡! "A misty cloud lake cleanses the uncut jade; several birdsongs release the Zen mind; Drunk, sitting in the stone pavilion, gazing at the世俗 world; the heart admires the根苑's secret immortal traces." In this poetic and picturesque romantic spot, countless couples have left wedding photos as见证 of their love.

Long Wo Kaiyang (Dragon Reclining at Kaiyang)

Located atop the Root Art Garden hill, it offers a鸟瞰 view of Kaihua城区 and faces the Fenghuang Mountain across the river to the east of the city. It is said to be the ancient dragon vein treasure land of Kaiyang Town. It features a group of仿古建筑 including the Drunken Root高级会所, Calligraphy and Painting Academy, and Moon-Viewing Pavilion.

Qingmei Yuan (Green Plum Garden)

The garden's name combines the "青" from Xu Guqing's name and the "梅" from his hometown Meiling. It contains over 800盆 of withered plum老桩, with古老树龄 and奇秀 shapes. Green vines cling to the wood, moss covers the branches, and疏影横斜, creating a three-dimensional painting融汇了千秋风骨. The flower pots are custom-made exquisite purple砂 pots, inscribed with poems and佳句 by the plum blossom poet Zhang Daoqia. Appreciating plum blossoms while品读 poetry complements each other, permeating the赏梅仙境 with the historical and cultural atmosphere of Kaihua. Among them, the withered plum老桩盆景 with千年根龄 embodies the historical and cultural内涵 of Kaihua. They are three-dimensional诗画, where观景 evokes怀古, and情景交融, vividly expressing the poetic意境 of Kaihua's historical figure—the plum blossom poet Zhang Daoqia.

Drunken Root Tan (Drunken Root Pool)

A Tang-style building serving as Master Xu Guqing's创作场所. The first floor is the Drunken Root精品馆, and the second floor is used for办公场所 and陈列室. A廊榭 connects it across the lake to the Qingmei Yuan. This is where Master Xu Guqing engages in root art creation and research, as well as receives friends and notable figures for artistic discussions. It displays over sixty rare treasures collected by the master since he began his career.

Chinese Root Carving Historical Figures Museum (Under Construction)

Comprising three Tang-style buildings with a total construction area of 14,000 square meters, it will mainly display over 1,300 large-scale root carving artworks系列, including Taoist culture and Confucian思想 figures, folk myths and legends, historical风云人物,历代 Chinese emperors and generals, as well as Kaihua's historical名人. Using奇根异木 as the载体, it浓缩es the essence of中华民族's five-thousand-year history. It is a珍贵财富 and artistic treasure in the宝库 of中华民族's historical culture.

Drunken Root Pagoda

Located northwest of the Root Carving Buddha Land, it covers an area of 3,600 square meters. The pagoda has 13 stories above ground and one underground level, standing over 79 meters high. The total construction area is 5,700 square meters, with a construction cost of 40 million yuan. It is a标志性建筑 in western Zhejiang. The ground floor houses rare and precious wood species from around the world, earning it the reputation of a植物宝典. Other floors mainly display representative works and精品 from various periods by Master Xu Guqing, showcasing Drunken Root's artistic journey and achievements. It also serves as Drunken Root's档案馆, comprehensively and systematically presenting the独特的企业文化 of Quzhou Drunken Root.

Twelve Zodiac Cultural Corridor

The zodiac works in the corridor are created from camphor tree roots. On camphor root slices along the corridor, the动人的民间故事, origins, and evolution of Chinese characters in eight script styles for each zodiac animal are engraved. It combines education with entertainment, allowing people to感受 the charm of传统文化 amidst a faint, refreshing fragrance. Everyone can learn about the origin of their own zodiac animal and observe the evolution of Chinese characters through the eight script styles!

Official Website

Scenic Area Official Website

http://www.qzzg.com/

Brief History

Quzhou Root Palace Buddha Kingdom Cultural Tourism Area

1. Introduction

The Quzhou Root Palace Buddha Kingdom Cultural Tourism Area, abbreviated as the Root Palace Buddha Kingdom Cultural Tourism Area, is located at No. 1 Genbo Road, Kaihua County, Quzhou City, Zhejiang Province. Covering an area of 3.03 square kilometers, it is a landscape garden-type scenic area.

On January 1, 2017, the Root Palace Buddha Kingdom Cultural Tourism Area became free to visitors from within Kaihua County. The tourism area forms a serene and harmonious picture blending heaven and humanity through its composition of bonsai, rare stones, root art, and ancient garden architecture. The scenic area contains nearly 30 attractions, including the Gate of Fortune and Auspicious Light, Yunhu Zen Heart, Museum of Heavenly Craftsmanship, Root Carving Buddha Kingdom, and Drunken Root Pagoda. It displays over 20,000 large-scale root carving art series works (sets) and more than 3,000 bonsai art works, making it a new world cultural heritage site.

In terms of layout, Master Xu Guqing used water to divide the Drunken Scenery Garden into two major spatial systems. This arrangement places the main pavilions and corridors around the four directions of the water, creating a "centripetal and inward-gathering" pattern that broadens the view. Techniques of "borrowing scenery" and "framing scenery" are employed to "borrow" external scenery into the garden's visual field, achieving the wonderful effect of containing infinite views within a limited space. The borrowed scenery of the Drunken Scenery Garden uses the surrounding lush mountains and the forests, pagodas, and buildings to the north and south as a backdrop, expanding the garden's visual effect. Special attention is paid to creating a sense of winding elegance, making the water body full of natural dynamism. A crescent-shaped stone bridge was built in the middle for connection, adorned with vines and wildflowers.

In December 2010, the China Root Art and Fine Arts Expo Garden was officially approved by the National Tourism Administration as a National AAAAA Tourist Attraction. On August 15, 2013, the Root Palace Buddha Kingdom Cultural Tourism Area was rated as a National AAAAA Tourist Attraction.

2. Main Attractions

2.1 Scenic Area Layout

The Root Palace Buddha Kingdom Cultural Tourism Area covers 3.03 square kilometers. Within the area, pines, plums, elms, ginkgo trees, and red loropetalum are extensively used. It forms a serene and harmonious picture blending heaven and humanity through its composition of bonsai, rare stones, root art, and ancient garden architecture. The scenic area contains nearly 30 attractions, including the Gate of Fortune and Auspicious Light, Yunhu Zen Heart, Museum of Heavenly Craftsmanship, Root Carving Buddha Kingdom, and Drunken Root Pagoda. It displays over 20,000 large-scale root carving art series works (sets) and more than 3,000 bonsai art works, making it a new world cultural heritage site.

Mountains and water are the finishing touches of the Root Palace Buddha Kingdom garden—creating a poetic landscape painting within a limited space, allowing people to immerse themselves in it, feel the freshness of nature and the profound artistic conception of mountains and waters, and evoke broad and free imagination in people's hearts—this was Master Xu Guqing's original intention in garden creation.

In terms of layout, Master Xu Guqing used water to divide the Drunken Scenery Garden into two major spatial systems. This arrangement places the main pavilions and corridors around the four directions of the water, creating a "centripetal and inward-gathering" pattern that broadens the view. Techniques of "borrowing scenery" and "framing scenery" are employed to "borrow" external scenery into the garden's visual field, achieving the wonderful effect of containing infinite views within a limited space. The borrowed scenery of the Drunken Scenery Garden uses the surrounding lush mountains and the forests, pagodas, and buildings to the north and south as a backdrop, expanding the garden's visual effect. Special attention is paid to creating a sense of winding elegance, making the water body full of natural dynamism. A crescent-shaped stone bridge was built in the middle for connection, adorned with vines and wildflowers.

2.2 Drunken Scenery Garden

The Drunken Scenery Garden is one of the many gardens within the Root Palace Buddha Kingdom Cultural Tourism Area. It is located in the mountain col behind the Root Carving Buddha Kingdom. It was created by leveling the land with excavated earth and stone from the Drunken Root Pagoda construction project, channeling water to build a lake, and arranging scenery according to the mountains. It includes structures such as the majestic "Walking the Path·Awakening to Zen" archway, the Huizhou-style horse-head wall screen corridor, the Drunken Pine Pavilion, the Joyful Birds Garden, the Meditation Pavilion, and the Sun and Moon Pavilion, housing over 2,000 pots of various bonsai.

The Drunken Scenery Garden features harmonious mountains and waters, integrated roots and stones, changing spaces, well-proportioned layout, natural creativity, and lofty artistic conception, making it another exemplary model of Jiangnan gardens. During its creation, Master Xu Guqing ingeniously integrated the Taoist philosophical concept of "harmony between man and nature," the Confucian aesthetic taste of "delighting in mountains and waters," and Zen Buddhist thoughts into the mountain and stone landscapes of the Drunken Scenery Garden. In material selection, he skillfully utilized the mountain's original stones, based the design on natural landscape scenery, selected highly interesting Taihu stones by the lakeside, and used local Kaihua dripstones as the main materials for the garden. These Taihu stones vary in size and form, exhibiting extreme winding and twisting. The dripstones in the garden either lie beside a pavilion, stand next to a corridor gate, crouch in a corner of the garden, or echo the natural stone bodies atop distant high mountains. Their shapes are supplemented with various dynamic postures—some resembling a fleeing hare, some craning their necks to look into the distance, some gathering in groups of three or five. They can be appreciated independently or integrated with the landscape for enjoyment.

2.3 Red Culture Root Carving Art Museum

The Red Culture Root Carving Art Museum is China's largest museum dedicated to red culture root carving art. Covering over 7,000 square meters, it uses roots to convey principles, taking the birth of the Party, the Party's revolutionary process, the Party's spirit of innovation, and spirit of struggle as its支撑点和落脚点 (supporting points and落脚点). It expresses emotion through the匠心 (ingenuity) and工匠精神 (craftsman spirit) of Chinese artisans, employing a多元形式 (multifaceted form) that融合 (integrates) root carving art with modern 3D, holographic technology, sound, light, and electricity. It场景化 (scenically),形象化 (figuratively), and多维度 (multidimensionally) presents the magnificent century-long history of the Party in a真实客观 (truthful and objective) manner. It contains over 30 groups, totaling more than 500 pieces, of red culture-themed root carving series featuring "hundred-meter scrolls, hundred scenes, hundred figures." It also includes sections on the Chinese Dream, Zhejiang Spirit, the famous city of Quzhou, and Red Kaihua, constituting the largest red culture科技馆 (science and technology museum)板块 (section) in Zhejiang Province to date. It invited over 100 top artistic creation teams from the domestic root carving circle to create together on-site. Through collective攻坚作业 (assault operation) under the slogan "百匠齐心、百日攻坚" (A Hundred Artisans United in Heart, A Hundred Days of攻坚), it opened to the public on July 1, 2021, as a tribute to the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Party.

2.4 Zen Corridor

The Zen Corridor is a set of root carving murals created using leftover materials from large-scale works in the Root Carving Buddha Kingdom. It uses branch roots for勾线 (outlining),块根 (tuberous roots) for塑型 (shaping), and employs the rough,质朴 (simple and unadorned),苍劲 (vigorous and old) natural forms of tree roots to烘托 (set off) the主题 (theme). It possesses both the natural charm and beauty of roots and contains the transcendent artistic conception of calligraphy and painting. The artist learned from nature, depicting classic Buddhist story scenes such as Renouncing the World, Subduing Demons and Practicing Asceticism, Sudden Enlightenment Under the Tree, Preaching at the Deer Park, Nirvana at the Twin Sala Trees, Guanyin's Universal Salvation, Bodhidharma's Zen Enlightenment, and Children Playing with Buddha. The works are妙趣天成 (wonderfully interesting and naturally formed), combining写意 (freehand brushwork) and工笔 (meticulous brushwork),简约 (simplicity) with神韵 (spirit resonance). They reveal慧根禅机 (innate wisdom and Zen insight) in silence, overflowing with浓厚的人文底蕴 (rich humanistic heritage), possessing丰富而清新的艺术表现力 (rich and fresh artistic expressiveness), and折射出 (reflecting) the绚丽光华 (resplendent radiance) of深邃的佛教文化 (profound Buddhist culture).

2.5 Future Buddha Hall

The Future Buddha Hall enshrines 17 large-scale root carving works depicting classic Buddhist figures, including the Future Buddha (Maitreya), the Four Heavenly Kings, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, and the Living Buddha Jigong. The root materials are all千年古根 (thousand-year-old ancient roots), massive in size, with the largest weighing up to 16 tons. The primary珍贵根材 (precious root materials) include nanmu,阴沉木 (ancient buried wood), and golden camphor wood. The creations are exquisite, with作品刀笔精妙、人创天成 (wonderful knife and brushwork, creations by man yet seemingly made by heaven),形神兼备 (possessing both form and spirit). They use神奇的根雕艺术 (magical root carving art) to渲染 (enhance) the庄严肃穆 (solemn and dignified) atmosphere of the Future Buddha Hall.

2.6 Mahavira Hall (Great Hero Hall)

The Mahavira Hall is a place专门供奉 (specifically dedicated to enshrining) Sakyamuni Buddha. Sakyamuni Buddha was originally the crown prince of King Suddhodana in ancient India. Upon growing up, he renounced his尊荣 (honor and glory) to leave home and practice the path. After six years of苦行 (ascetic practices), he最终成大觉 (ultimately achieved great enlightenment). "Sakya" signifies compassion; "muni" signifies wisdom. "Mahavira" (Great Hero) is an epithet; "maha" (great)包含万有 (encompasses all things); "vira" (hero) means摄伏群魔 (subduing all demons). Buddhist disciples尊称他 (respectfully call him) Mahavira. The "宝" (treasure/jewel) in宝殿 (Precious Hall) refers to the三宝 (Three Jewels): Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha (Buddha is the great educator, Dharma is the truth of the universe and life, Sangha are the practitioners of the truth). Similar to the Mahavira Halls in some temples, this hall enshrines 28巨型作品 (giant works), including Sakyamuni Buddha, Ananda, Kasyapa, Manjusri, Samantabhadra, Guanyin, the Eighteen Arhats, and auspicious cloud totems.

The central Sakyamuni Buddha is made of yellow-heart nanmu wood, standing 9.9 meters tall and weighing over 40 tons (main Buddha 26 tons, base 14 tons). It is the largest Buddha statue in the Root Carving Buddha Kingdom. The root material was acquired at巨资 (great expense) from Myanmar, a Buddhist holy land. The root material is庞大 (massive) in形体 (form),奇绝 (uniquely extraordinary) in造型 (shape), and十分稀有 (extremely rare). Moreover, it seemed destined by fate to have a connection with the Root Carving Buddha Kingdom and Master Xu.当年 (Back then), when Master Xu was searching for roots in Myanmar, he passed by a timber yard and purchased this root stump from under the workers' electric saws. Later, during transportation, because the root material exceeded height and width limits, Master Xu, cherishing the root's原始造型 (original form), requested a绕道捻转 (detour and迂回曲折绕道), which was quite troublesome. It was akin to Tang Sanzang's journey to the West to obtain scriptures,历经九九八十一难 (undergoing eighty-one difficulties) before finally being迎请至 (welcomed to) the Root Expo Garden.好事多磨 (The road to success is never smooth). After being skillfully "点化" (enlightened/transformed) into a Buddha by Master Xu Guqing's妙手 (expert hands), this over-40-ton work was also陈列起来 (displayed) in the hall by人工 (manual labor), creating another奇迹 (miracle) for the Root Expo Garden. Beside Sakyamuni Buddha are Kasyapa and Ananda, who respectively represent the merits of知 (knowledge/wisdom) and行 (practice/action).

2.7 Five Hundred Arhats

This巨型根艺 (giant root art) set of Five Hundred Arhats is the result of over ten years of精心准备 (meticulous preparation) by Master Xu Guqing. He spent巨资 (vast sums) collecting千年龙眼和荔枝木根桩 (thousand-year-old longan and lychee wood root stumps) from all over the country for its creation. The整体布局 (overall layout) follows several important Dharma assemblies as the主线 (main thread), such as the Buddha's enlightenment of the first five bhikkhus and the propagation of Dharma in Magadha. It has a独特风格 (unique style) and恢弘气势 (magnificent momentum), possessing both the mystery of Buddhism and reflecting the百态 (myriad aspects) of human life. It融汇 (integrates) modern artistic innovation concepts into traditional carving techniques, allowing the Arhat series to情表于外 (express emotion outwardly),意韵其中 (contain meaning and resonance within), being典雅且通俗 (elegant yet通俗). It perfectly combines根雕艺术 (root carving art) and佛教文化 (Buddhist culture), making it the world's largest set of root carving statues of the Five Hundred Arhats.### 2.8 Zuigen Tiangong Museum The Zuigen Tiangong Museum is China's first professional root carving museum, with a construction area of 3,000 square meters. The first floor displays over twenty large-scale root art pieces from "Zuigen." The top floor features a multifunctional lecture hall used for academic exchanges and skill training. The second floor exhibits rare root art treasures, archival materials, research achievements on root art, and hosts rotating exhibitions of works by master root artists from various regions. It serves as a comprehensive encyclopedia of root carving art. From these archival materials, one can appreciate the local customs, cultures, and artistic styles of ethnic groups across the country. The walls are adorned with photos from various exhibitions, as well as calligraphic works and group photos left by notable figures from all walks of life—such as Xiao Yang, Li Zemin, Xiao Feng, Liang Pingbo, Lu Kunfeng, and Li Zihou—after their visits. Their words are filled with praise and encouragement for root art practitioners, reflecting the development of contemporary Chinese root art through Zuigen's artistic journey. The museum is an antique-style building inspired by the Tang and Han dynasties. Its exterior features a centrally rising, layered lotus sculpture symbolizing Buddhism, conveying the meaning of "the lotus blooms, the Buddha arrives." The front eaves form a "合"-shaped platform, highlighting the conceptual theme of "harmony between man and nature."

2.9 Qingmei Garden

The name "Qingmei Garden" is derived from the character "青" from Xu Guqing's name and the character "梅" from his hometown, Meiling. It features over 800 pots of aged, withered plum tree stumps, characterized by their ancient tree age and uniquely elegant shapes. With green vines clinging to the wood, moss covering the branches, and sparse shadows slanting, the garden presents a three-dimensional painting that blends the enduring spirit of centuries. The flowerpots are custom-made, high-quality purple clay pots inscribed with poetic verses by the plum blossom poet Zhang Daoqia. Appreciating the plum blossoms while savoring the poetry complements each other perfectly, creating a plum blossom viewing paradise infused with the historical and cultural atmosphere of Kaihua. Among them, the bonsai of withered plum tree stumps with a thousand-year root age embodies the historical and cultural essence of Kaihua, serving as three-dimensional poetry and painting. Viewing the scenery evokes nostalgia, blending emotion with the scene, and vividly captures the poetic意境 of Kaihua's historical figure—the plum blossom poet Zhang Daoqia.

3. Related Culture

3.1 Naming

The Quzhou Root Palace Buddha Kingdom Cultural Tourism Area is a palace of roots and a kingdom of Buddha. Its name originates from its unique root carving art and Buddhist cultural theme.

3.2 Cultural Background

Culturally, the Root Palace Buddha Kingdom Cultural Tourism Area is grounded in Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, historical culture, and folk culture. It integrates the architectural styles of the Han and Sui-Tang periods, employing design techniques such as "a scene with every step," "a scene in every hall," "a scene in every garden," "a scene in every root," and "a charm in every root." It uses roots to convey principles and emotions, recreating the grandeur and vastness of the Han and Tang dynasties. Simultaneously, the scenic area is dedicated to inheriting traditional culture, having invited a group of master-level intangible cultural heritage inheritors. It showcases master-level intangible cultural heritage halls featuring root carving, wood carving, Ru kiln porcelain, and traditional Chinese painting.

3.3 Cultural Works

Kaihua root carving can be traced back to the fourth year of the Wude era in the Tang Dynasty (621 AD). It began to gradually separate from wood carving during the sixth year of the Zhengde era under Emperor Wuzong of the Ming Dynasty (1511 AD), forming an independent art category. According to the Qing Dynasty's "Kaihua County Annals" from the Guangxu era: "Song Guoguang, styled Er Yan, was a county student during the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty. He was appointed as a Battalion Commander by special recruitment. He excelled in painting and carving. Upon encountering gnarled and intertwined tree stumps, he would casually carve them into figures, flowers, and birds. Those who saw them marveled at their lifelikeness." "When Zhongfeng Academy was completed, the doors and windows were carved with bamboo leaves, plum blossoms were engraved, and the walls were painted with the ancient Eighteen Scholars, capturing both form and spirit vividly." This shows that Kaihua root carving had already separated from wood carving by that time and formed an independent folk root carving art category. Kaihua root carving uses materials from deep mountain rotten roots and withered vines, cleverly borrowing from and recreating nature. It is philosophical and full of natural charm. In particular, the "Zuigen" masterpieces created by Mr. Xu Guqing are profound and extensive. His large-scale works are simple, grand, natural, and realistic. His figure works adapt the art to the material, achieving divine craftsmanship; with minimal carving, the figures are vividly shaped, with natural charm and ease. His root carving furniture features varied forms, clear textures, hard quality, and a simple, natural style.

3.4 Cultural Celebrities

On March 1, 2015, the famous American Hollywood director, screenwriter, and producer Malcolm Clarke led his production team to visit and investigate the Root Palace Buddha Kingdom Cultural Tourism Area.

On April 20, 2019, the renowned writer, painter, speaker, and educational theorist Mr. Liu Yong and his entourage visited the Root Palace Buddha Kingdom Cultural Tourism Area for sightseeing and sketching within the scenic area.

3.5 Folk Culture

The nationally protected intangible cultural heritage item—the Mid-Autumn Festival Incense Fire Grass Dragon Dance—is a unique folk custom widely spread in the rural areas of Kaihua. The Kaihua Grass Dragon is a continuation of China's rice farming culture. Many townships in the county have the custom of dancing the incense fire grass dragon. In the sixth year of the Hongwu era (1373 AD), after Zhu Yuanzhang ascended the throne, he sent his minister, the Secretariat Drafter Ye Chen, to Suzhuang to bestow the name "Fulou Village" upon Jinxi Village. The Kaihua Grass Dragon has a unique local style and strong rural flavor. The procedure of the grass dragon dance corresponds to the rising and setting of the Mid-Autumn moon, divided into three steps: Rising Mountain Moon, Full Mountain Moon, and Setting Mountain Moon.

  • Rising Mountain Moon: Before the dragon dance, villagers offer sacrifices to their ancestors in the ancestral hall. The host instructs on the dragon dance, begins the dragon worship, burns incense and candles, recites sacrificial prayers, and sets off ceremonial firecrackers, creating a solemn and sacred atmosphere. After the "Calling the Dragon" ritual, several firelock shots sound. The prepared crowd surges forward, each holding a pine torch, quickly lighting the incense on the dragon's head, body, and the accompanying ceremonial objects. The grass dragon then comes alive like a fire dragon.
  • Full Mountain Moon: The "dragon" is held high, led by rolling fireballs. The grass dragon surges out from the ancestral hall's main gate, accompanied by folk music bands both in front and behind. With the sound of suona horns and firecrackers, various "imperial carriages" follow behind as it circles the village. On the Mid-Autumn night, under the bright, hazy moonlight, a long fire dragon is seen dancing wildly, leaping and tumbling in the fields just after harvest. The villagers dancing the dragon move freely, performing various dance postures. 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