Overview
Lou Lim Ioc Garden, also known as Lou Ioc Garden or Lou Kau Garden, is named after Lou Lim Ioc, son of the 19th-century Chinese merchant Lou Cheok Chi. It is the only Suzhou-Hangzhou style classical garden on the Macau Peninsula. The garden features pavilions, towers, ponds, bridges, artificial hills, waterfalls, winding paths, and corridors, showcasing the quintessential charm of Jiangnan gardens. It also incorporates Southern European architectural elements, such as the Chun Cao Hall (Spring Grass Hall) and surrounding walls, reflecting Macau's unique blend of Chinese and Western cultures.
Key Information
- Address: No. 10 Estrada de Adolfo Loureiro, Macau
- Area: Approximately 11,846 square meters
- Opening Hours: Daily, 6:00–24:00
- Admission: Free
- Contact: +853 2833 7676
- Public Transport: Public Bus Information Station
- Facilities: Exhibition Room, Public Toilets
History & Features
The garden was originally commissioned by Lou Cheok Chi (also known as Lou Wa Sio) on a low-lying, muddy plot. His son, Lou Lim Ioc, later expanded it significantly, with construction completed in 1925. The Chun Cao Hall was used to receive guests. After Lou Lim Ioc's death, parts of the garden were sold. In 1973, the then Macau government purchased and renovated the garden before opening it to the public.
Garden Highlights
- Main Gate: Features the largest Red Gum tree in Macau and a moon gate with a stone crane mosaic.
- Yi Cui Pavilion: Behind it is a replica bas-relief "Hou Yi Seeks the Elixir" by Guangzhou sculptor Li Zhao Quan, flanked by couplets.
- Chun Cao Hall: Resembles a waterside residence facing the main building, set beside an irregular-shaped pond with fish, turtles, and a Guanyin stone statue.
- Landscape: Meandering bridges, towering rockeries, quiet bamboo groves, murmuring waterfalls, and interlocking corridors create a vivid, three-dimensional painting.
- Lotus Pond: A prime spot for viewing lotus flowers in summer on the Macau Peninsula, with willow trees along its banks.
- Nine-Bend Bridge Area: Home to a rare and precious Glyptostrobus pensilis (Chinese Water Pine), a nationally protected endangered species endemic to China.
- Hundred-Step Corridor: A traditional Chinese corridor near Mei Ting (Plum Pavilion) with rare plants. It serves as a gathering place for seniors' exercises and hosts small exhibitions like annual orchid and bonsai shows.
- Bonsai Displays: Around the Yi Cui Pavilion, visitors can admire beautifully shaped bonsai trees in various forms.
