Bright Float Court

The Danfu Yuan (Tan Fook Yuen) is located in the Xiahui (Ha Hoi) Scenic Area of Yanfeng (Ngan Fung) Mountain in Linxi Town, Chaozhou. It is an open‑style collection house initiated by Mr. Guo Fengyuan, a renowned Chaozhou‑born overseas Chinese leader in Thailand, and built with enthusiastic donations from many distinguished figures both at home and abroad.

At the entrance stands a towering grand stone archway, a three‑gate hip‑roof structure rising 16 metres high, exuding majestic grandeur. The central plaque reads “東粵菁華” (The Essence of Eastern Guangdong), flanked by “金聲” (Golden Sound) and “玉振” (Jade Resonance), all inscribed by the renowned sinologist Professor Jao Tsung‑I. From the archway to the main hall, there are three tiers of stone steps, and the courtyard gardens are adorned with stone carvings of auspicious creatures such as qilins, green lions, coiled dragons, and iron oxen.

The majestic and splendid main hall features double eaves with protruding pavilions, glazed flying roof tiles, and four rose‑red granite columns, exuding stability and solemnity. The central plaque bearing the three gilded characters “淡浮院” (Danfu Yuan) is the calligraphy of Pu Jie, the younger brother of the last emperor of the Qing Dynasty. The wooden couplet hung outside the door, “遠望觀雲，登高視野” (Gaze afar to observe the clouds, ascend high to broaden the view), was personally inscribed by the late President of the Buddhist Association of China and renowned calligrapher Zhao Puchu. Inside the hall are representative cultural artefacts of Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism.

When visiting Danfu Yuan, the greatest attraction for tourists is undoubtedly the “Forest of Steles of Chinese Calligraphy Through the Ages” in the long corridors flanking the main hall. Here, authentic masterpieces of calligraphy by great masters from the Shang and Zhou dynasties down to the contemporary era are gathered. In an instant, visitors can take in five thousand years of calligraphic works; with a turn of the foot, they can behold treasures from all over the world—truly priceless.

On the square above the stele corridors stands the Jiaotai Hall, the main exhibition hall of Danfu Yuan. The name “Jiaotai” is the same as that of the treasure‑seal hall in the Beijing Palace Museum, both derived from the meaning of “heaven and earth in harmony” (天地交泰) in the Book of Changes (I Ching), but here it also signifies cultural exchange between China and Thailand. Inside the hall are a set of golden Buddha statues, “Maha Mongkut Buddha Images”, personally bestowed by the King of Thailand, as well as representative artefacts of Chinese culture.

On the western side is the Danfu Yuan–Yanfeng Academy, featuring inscriptions by renowned masters such as Huang Miaozi and Jao Tsung‑I. This lecture hall regularly hosts talks and training sessions on Chinese culture, and also offers accommodation for distinguished guests, allowing them to return from the city to nature, from bustle to tranquillity, and to enjoy the serene beauty of lush mountains and clear waters.

Surrounding the area are a hundred‑fruit orchard, exotic flowers and rare trees, flying bridges and flowing streams, verdant lawns and a treasured cauldron, as well as Chaoshan tea and delicacies—making it a spiritual home of Chinese culture that integrates culture and leisure.