|

Entrance to the main building of Fanhu Caotang, a culture center in Jiaxing. [Photo/cnjxol.com]

Fanhu Caotang, a culture center in Jiaxing, East China's Zhejiang province, recently won the third prize award for the Chinese region of the 2021 Active House Award, local media reported on Nov 17.

Active House is a vision of buildings that create healthier and more comfortable lives for their occupants without negative impact on the climate, moving people towards a cleaner, healthier, as well as safer world.

Officially opened on October 1, Fanhu Caotang serves as a place for local residents to read books, share information, and communicate with each other.

The culture center echoes the characteristics and appearance of traditional gardens in Jiangnan, which refers to regions south of the Yangtze River in China, with grasslands, ponds, as well as bridges.

The transparent glass decorations refer to the gauze from the legend that fish were attracted by Xi Shi when she washed gauze by the river. [Photo/cnjxol.com]

Located on the opposite side of Fan Li Lake Park, the culture center's design also integrates elements of the park, including wooden furniture, rattan-plaited articles, and wall paintings about Fan Li Lake.

The park is believed to be the place where Fan Li, a military strategist, politician, and businessman during the Spring and Autumn period (770-476 BC), as well as Xi Shi, one of the renowned Four Beauties of ancient China, lived in seclusion.