A Beijing garden stands witness to Sino-French relations

When French physician Jean Louis Bussiere went through the belongings of his father, who died more than 60 years ago, he came across 3,000 photos and an even larger number of documents that told the story of his relationship with China. Some of the items were gifts from people the physician later found are big names in Chinese history.

For instance, Yuan Shikai (1859-1916), a controversial politician during the early Republic of China days, and Mei Lanfang (1894-1961), the legendary Peking Opera artist, were among the celebrities, whom his father, Jean Augustin Bussiere, met.

Bussiere senior was a doctor and in China he built a garden, where many French and Chinese people exchanged their views about the two nations.