Banyan Garden Introduction
The ancient banyan trees gather on the northern bank of Taihu, giving rise to the imagery of "Banyan Garden." Most of the banyan trees in the park have taken root here for decades, their aerial roots growing robustly beyond a century. The branches and leaves twist and turn in the sky, forming vast green umbrellas that provide a great place for people to seek shade. Meeting here in the afternoon to play chess and enjoy tea embodies the most authentic living scenery of Kinmen. Wei Lu (慰廬) is a traditional Minnan-style house located within the Banyan Garden, featuring the most common layout in Kinmen known as "one fall and four columns." The ancient house is situated in what was once known as "Xi Hong," famous for having "less than a hundred residents, with thirty-six officials." It is the former residence of Hong Shou, an associate instructor at the Imperial Academy during the Ming Dynasty. Hong Shou was highly learned and served as a professor in state and county academies. Many of his students achieved success in the imperial examinations, leading him to be honored as "the Master."
