The Hidden "Tile Code" of Liyuan Garden in Wuxi

Don't just take photos of the lake view when you visit Liyuan Garden! Along the Thousand-Step Corridor, there is a "Complete Collection of Jiangnan Flower Window Styles" corridor with 80 tile flower windows, each with its own story and scenery at every step! 🪟 What are tile flower windows? They are not wood carvings, nor stone masonry, but are made from the simplest blue tiles pieced together. In Jiangnan, blue tiles are also called butterfly tiles, shaped by hand and kiln-fired to a blue-gray color. The tiles connect front to back to form two-way or four-way continuous patterns. Each window can be said to be a "geometric code" woven by craftsmen’s hands. Patterns like persimmon calyx, copper coin, fish scales, begonia flowers, and double coin knots vary endlessly. The spirit of Jiangnan is all hidden in the curves of the tiles. Famous architect I.M. Pei once said, "In the West, a window is just a window; it lets in light and fresh air. But for Chinese people, it is a picture frame, with the garden always outside it." 🌿 What to see through the flower windows? ▪️ Framed scenery: Look at Lake Li through the flower windows. The window is a painting, the outside is the scene, and the four seasons’ views become a scroll of paintings. ▪️ Light and shadow: Afternoon sunlight passes through the tile gaps, casting flowing light and shadow poetry on the ground. ▪️ Symbolism: Fish scale pattern symbolizes "abundance every year," ice crack pattern means "pure and flawless," persimmon calyx pattern means "everything goes smoothly." 📸 Photo tips 1️⃣ Get close to the window frame to shoot the lake view—create a natural picture-in-picture effect. 2️⃣ Shoot the tile textures with side light—capture the texture of the blue tiles. 3️⃣ Wear solid-colored clothes—to be the most poetic figure inside the flower window. 📍 Location guide No need to go far, just at the Thousand-Step Corridor in Liyuan Garden.