Yu Garden, with a history stretching back to the end of the Qing Dynasty, is a household name in Nanjing. It was a private establishment built by retired official Hu Enxie, who wanted to provide a good residence for his mother.

The name "Yu" means foolishness, which is a humble expression in Chinese culture that derives from the saying, “A man of great wisdom often appears to be slow-witted”, but because of the surname of the host, the garden was also known as Hu's Family Garden. [China.org.cn/Photo by Yang Suping]