Kaiyuan Northern Rare Plants Garden

Kaiyuan Northern Rare Plants Garden

The Northern Rare Plants Garden is situated on both sides of the Daqing River in Kaiyuan’s Waterfront New Town, extending from the Qinghe Bridge on National Highway 102 in the east to the Harbin-Dalian Railway in the west. With a planned area of 3.88 million square meters, the north and south shores are designed around two cultural themes — “Moonlit Qinghe” and “Ancient Southern Charm” — featuring “four zones,” “ten gardens,” and “sixteen scenic spots.” It primarily showcases rare plants of Northeast Asia while also providing functions such as sightseeing, sports, fitness, and cultural leisure. This creates a unique waterfront landscape belt that reflects the natural and cultural characteristics of Kaiyuan.

Based on the features of various plants, the Northern Rare Plants Garden is divided into ten specialized gardens using easy-to-understand “image types”: Coniferous Plants Garden, Vine Plants Garden, Colorful Plants Garden, Wild Flowers Garden, Herbaceous Ornamental Plants Garden, Shade-loving Fungi Plants Garden, Aromatic Plants Garden, Edible Fruit Trees Garden, Timber Trees Garden, and Wetland Plants Garden. These vibrant and richly colored plant landscapes reflect Kaiyuan’s millennia-old cultural heritage and profound historical depth, presenting an evergreen, colorful, and breathtaking ecological scene.

Plant landscapes bring life to the park, ecological landscapes enrich its charm, and cultural landscapes serve as the finishing touch that reveals the park’s essence. During the construction of the Northern Rare Plants Garden, efforts were made from three aspects — history, culture, and the new town’s water system — to divide the entire garden into four major cultural landscape zones: Prosperous Kaiyuan, Relics of Fangcheng, Dancing Under the Moon, and Moon Reflected in Jade Lake. These are themed around modern Kaiyuan culture, historical culture, moon culture, and the Moonlit Qinghe, respectively. Sixteen cultural scenic spots have been designed, including Prosperous Kaiyuan, Evening Crossing at Qinghe, Relics of Fangcheng, Time-Honored Antiquity, Ancient Canal and Willow Smoke, Old Scenes of Mi Bay, Century-old Artistic Heritage, Battlefields of Yore, Moonlit Strolls, Dancing Under the Moon, Moonlit Homesickness, Moon Reflected in Jade Lake, Moonlit Qinghe, Poetic Moonlight, Worshiping the Moon on a Jade Terrace, and Moonlit Labyrinth. These showcase the “soul” of Kaiyuan city.

The scenic area is planted with over a hundred well-known northern tree species such as the Northeast yew, birch, ginkgo, and Mongolian oak, as well as more than a thousand rare plants including wintersweet, red lilac, tulips, perennial phlox, blue salvia, purple iris, and lilies. Sculptures and small features such as leisure plazas, landscape pillars, metal red gates, steel moon structures, and musical fountains are arranged throughout the landscape zones, forming an ecotourism destination with distinctive northern characteristics. Construction began on May 15, 2012, and the garden officially opened to visitors on May 1, 2014.

The Worshiping the Moon on a Jade Terrace Plaza is located on the eastern side of the park. “Worshiping the Moon on a Jade Terrace” consists of three levels. As you ascend the steps, your thoughts gradually calm under the solemn aura of the bluestone bricks and white marble railings. Standing at the top level and looking north, you can take in the full view of the ancient Xianzhou City, with its soaring yellow dragon sculpture and the backdrop of an ancient pagoda.

The “Moonlit Labyrinth” is enclosed by plants — not too densely, yet not too sparsely. Walking along the gravel path, time seems to slow down; strolling through it, you can rest in the pavilions, admire the viewing platforms, enjoy the flowers, and feel the comfort of a slow-paced life.

The Moonlit Qinghe Plaza is located on a small island within the park’s artificial lake. Inspired by one of the famous Eight Scenic Spots of Kaiyuan — “Moonlit Qinghe” — and incorporating the artistic ambiance of the renowned pipa piece “Spring River Flower Moon Night,” the plaza presents the theme of “Moonlit Qinghe” through a series of landscape designs including garden boardwalks, fishing boats, courtyards, and plants. It creates a unique and charming scene of small bridges, flowing water, and lotus reflections.

The “Poetic Moonlight” area is located toward the eastern part of the park, separated from the outside by Huizhou-style courtyard walls. Within the courtyard, famous poetic lines and uniquely shaped stones create scenic views at every turn, delivering a sense that the garden is filled with scenes, poetry forms paintings, and visitors stroll within those paintings. Works by renowned calligraphers from across China are carved onto landscape stones, forming a long corridor of calligraphic stone inscriptions that highlight a unique cultural atmosphere and create a culturally rich corridor distinctive to Kaiyuan.

The “Moon Reflected in Jade Lake” area uses the heavenly jade pool and immortal realm as its main design elements, representing the unique image of the moon in the hearts of Kaiyuan residents. It is the largest plaza in the park. The plaza includes landscape pillars, a musical fountain, a metal red gate, a moon sculpture, and also houses rare plants such as yews and tulips. To the east, it borders the artificial lake, featuring ponds and waterways running through it, where the sky and water blend harmoniously. The pleasant scenery and delicate floral fragrance make it a place people never want to leave.

The “Moonlit Homesickness” thematic scenic area consists of three plazas: Butterfly Plaza, Moon Reflection Plaza, and Homesickness Plaza. Butterfly Plaza resembles a butterfly in flight, nestled in a beautiful sea of flowers; Moon Reflection Plaza looks like a full moon reflected in the scenic area, highlighting Kaiyuan’s moon culture; and Homesickness Plaza contains over a hundred plant species that form a natural oxygen bar, offering fresh and comfortable air.

The “Sailing Under the Moon” landscape is a boat-shaped artificial island, serving as the central visual and landscape focal point of the entire park. Covering an area of 66 mu, the center of the island features a tall five-bladed metal sail. With the bright moon overhead and colorful lights shining, when viewed from afar, the river island resembles a giant ship sailing forward against the wind, its sails billowing. This uniquely creative concept symbolizes the gathering and sublimation of strength, representing unity and striving, development and progress. It signifies that the new Kaiyuan will surely surge forward like a steel giant ship, breaking through waves on the journey of reform, innovation, and development, and creating even greater glories.