Page 43 - BSAM 2015 Q3

square meters and houses the biggest teahouse in Eu- rope. It was designed by the garden and landscape architect Professor Li Zheng from Wuxi and built by Chinese artists and craftsmen from Zhenjiang, sister town of Mannheim in the Jiangsu province, central China. The goal of both cities in this joint venture project, was to create a place of rest and relaxation, but foremost, a meeting point of two cultures and their traditions. It took only two years from the formal agreement in 1999 to its opening in 2001.
Some of the wooden buildings such as an arch of honor, teahouse, pavilions, and corridors were pre- manufactured in China and transported by ship to- gether with more than 200 tonnes of Taihu rocks and “Bamboo sprout tips” (special type of rock) to Ger- many. Then, all materials were assembled by Chinese experts into one of the most beautiful Chinese gardens outside China.
The appearance of Chinese gardens is very differ- ent from the gardens of Europe. All buildings within the garden in Mannheim show characteristic features of Chinese architecture. The roofs have a sweeping curvature that rises at the corners of the roof. The roof of the teahouse is a combination of saddle and hipped roof. The tiles terminate at the eaves with discs decorated with auspicious symbols such as bats, one of the most popular symbols of luck in China. Also
Top; View of the two-storey teahouse, the largest of its kind in Europe.
Middle left; The arched bridge spans over a pond and connects the entrance arch with the teahouse.
Middle right; The tiles terminate at the eaves with discs on which auspicious symbols are featured.
Bottom; The zigzag bridge keeps evil spirits away.
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