Author ｜
Feng Xian-liang
Abstract ｜
Human landscape and living space in Jiangnan have been changing since the late Ming Dynasty, especially reflected in urban daily life. The most attractive living surroundings outside the city walls was Shantang, located between Changmen and Tiger Hill, which was stretching 3.5 kilometers and was the place replete with relaxation and refined interest. Linked with Tiger Hill, it became a famous tourist attraction in Jiangnan. During the middle Qing Dynasty, the affluent life and unique landscape of Shantang, together with the sense of space and identification from all descriptive records, were endowed with people’s sentiment from varying dynasties, which vividly demonstrated the local characteristics and changing times of Shantang. As a local center of recreation and relaxation, its human landscape had been enriching and expanding since Ming Dynasty and eventually became Romantic places. Since the late Qing Dynasty, however, Shantang’s landscape has undergone a great change which was the location transference of life and dwellers. Just like other places in Jiangnan, Shantang prosperity was transferred to Shanghai,illustrating the profound influences of historical transformation on the life choices of gentry and citizen.
keywords ｜
Qing Dynasty, Jiangnan area, Shantang, Living space, Human Geographical Landscapes