Ningbo Garden at the China International Garden Expo in Wenzhou. [Photo/Yongpai app]

Ningbo Garden has opened at the China International Garden Expo in Wenzhou, presenting a walkable landscape that combines traditional Jiangnan academy architecture with literary culture and ecological design. 

The garden has quickly emerged as one of the most visited spaces at the exhibition, drawing steady crowds with its calm atmosphere of grey-tiled courtyards, flowing water features, and dense greenery. Rather than presenting a single scenic view, it invites visitors to move through a sequence of interconnected spaces that shift in terms of both mood and scale.

At its core, the design is inspired by the concept of a traditional academy, translated into a spatial journey that blends built form with landscape. Architectural elements such as pitched roofs, enclosed courtyards, and restrained material tones are paired with natural features to create a rhythm of movement.

A key structure within the garden references a historic academy site in Ningbo's Moon Lake area and incorporates locally sourced stone, reinforcing the project's connection to regional craftsmanship and materials.

Vegetation plays a central role in shaping the experience. More than 170 plant species from Ningbo and Wenzhou have been used across the site, with planting designed to soften architectural edges and create gradual transitions between built and natural elements.

In some areas, greenery is encouraged to grow from stone surfaces, allowing vegetation and structure to merge more organically.

Due to climatic differences between the two cities, the planting schemes and flowering cycles were carefully adjusted to ensure seasonal balance throughout the garden.