Shuyang County Youth Square

Shuyang County Youth Square

Shuyang County Youth Square serves as a patriotic education base.

The entire Shuyang County Youth Square covers an area of 118 mu, with a construction area of 12,000 square meters and a total investment of over 20 million yuan.

Designed by Southeast University, the project started in 1998 and was completed within one year. The main design is based on a quarter-circle arc as the organizational axis, with a landmark tower serving as the central axis from which the layout gradually expands outward, forming the shape of the Chinese character “青” (meaning “youth”). Due to its elegant design concept and superior construction quality, it was recognized as a provincial-level excellence project.

Approaching Shuyang from the southern or eastern suburbs, visitors can spot, several kilometers away, a towering, sail-shaped tower building located in the southeastern part of the city — that is the landmark of Shuyang Youth Square: the Plaza Tower. Surrounding this tower are architecturally diverse buildings clustered together with a vast plaza adjacent to them, forming Shuyang County’s youth activity hub embracing the new century — the Youth Square. This square is a scientific and cultural dissemination venue established by the Shuyang County Party Committee and County Government to implement the strategy of revitalizing the county through science and education.

The main entrance of the square faces north, with a side entrance to the west. Ascending the steps from the main entrance leads you to a 35,000-square-meter leisure space. In the center stand three flagpoles — left, middle, and right — flying the national flag, the Communist Youth League flag, and the Young Pioneers flag, fluttering in the wind. To the east and west of the flagpole bases and in front are cascading fountains. On sunny days, the water jets leap and shimmer like piles of snow; at night, colorful lights dance on the glistening water, resembling a shower of rainbow hues. Flanking the fountains are several rows of flower stands where seasonal blooms unfold in vibrant competition, creating a rich tapestry of colors.

At the heart of the square rises the sail-shaped tower, piercing the sky like a colossal sail propelling all of Shuyang forward, riding the waves toward a bright and happy future. The tower stands 36 meters tall with 13 floors, making it the highest structure in the entire city. The upper sections of the tower’s northern and western faces are inlaid with seven golden characters “Shuyang Youth Square,” calligraphed by the renowned artist Wu Zhongqi, gleaming brilliantly under the sunlight. Ascending via the internal spiral staircase, you reach the rooftop, where four observation decks face the cardinal directions and high-powered telescopes allow daytime views of the whole city and nighttime vistas of countless illuminated homes. Surrounding the tower are several 3- to 5-story curved buildings housing the Youth Palace, Workers’ Cultural Palace, Science and Technology Museum, Women and Children’s Activity Center, and Commercial Service Center, offering a range of functions including exhibitions, training, conferences, fitness, entertainment, and shopping.

The Youth Palace offers various training courses during holidays in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and performing arts, becoming a vital second classroom for the county’s youth. The Science and Technology Museum regularly hosts popular science exhibitions to enhance young people's understanding of science and technology. The Workers’ Cultural Palace and Women and Children’s Activity Center conduct healthy and enriching recreational activities year-round, contributing to the cultural life of the community.

Southwest of the complex is the Square Kindergarten, which has 12 classes for different age groups and features advanced facilities such as computer labs, language rooms, closed-circuit television, and activity rooms. There is also a small zoo and a botanical garden where children can observe animals and plants and learn about nature. With its high standards, new equipment, comprehensive facilities, and scientific setup, this kindergarten now serves as an experimental base for the Nanjing Normal University’s “One Computer, Bilingual” early childhood education program. It is an ideal environment for children’s growth and learning, and a starting point on Shuyang’s fast track to nurturing high-caliber talent.

South of the kindergarten lies the Square Amusement Park, a Shuyang investment-attracting project constructed with an investment of 2.6 million yuan by Hangzhou Meilihua Enterprise. It currently includes various attractions such as a mini train, bumper cars, luxury carousel, car chasing games, and flying saucers. As the largest amusement park of its kind in northern Jiangsu counties, its novel and thrilling rides have made it a popular leisure destination for local youth and residents alike.

East of the kindergarten is the National Defense Park, surrounded by water and shaped like a five-pointed island, connected to the outside by three arched bridges on the south, north, and west sides. At the center of the park stands a scaled-down model (1/20th size) of the Long March 4 rocket. China’s independently developed Long March series of rockets maintain one of the highest success rates in the world, symbolizing pride in the nation’s aerospace achievements. Around the rocket model are displayed fighter jets, tanks, anti-aircraft guns, and other real military equipment used by the army, navy, and air force. Among them is a J-6 fighter jet, once a mainstay of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force, which participated in numerous missions and test flights, achieving remarkable feats. Shortly before being donated to the park, it was still flying in the skies.

South of the National Defense Park stands a white marble statue of martyr Wu Lingsheng, framed by pine and cypress trees, symbolizing his eternal presence. Wu Lingsheng, a native of Yanji in Shuyang, took part in the May Fourth Movement and once served as Secretary of the CPC Shandong Provincial Committee. He was executed by the Kuomintang reactionaries in Jinan in 1931. Before his execution, he shouted revolutionary slogans at just 32 years of age. The designers of the square ingeniously placed Century Pavilion — the final touch in the completion of the Youth Square — to the east of the martyr’s statue, making it the last highlight for visitors touring the plaza.

Additionally, inside the Youth Square complex, the Shuyang County Folk Custom Museum was established on New Year’s Day 2002. Covering over 600 square meters, the museum features four exhibition halls — Production, Daily Life, Entertainment, and Notables — showcasing more than 2,000 items that reflect the customs and traditions of the Shuyang region, attracting many both local and out-of-town visitors.

Owing to its scientific design, perfect architecture, advanced facilities, and comprehensive functions, the Shuyang Youth Square has become a striking scenic attraction. It serves as an iconic project embodying the spirit of Shuyang and as one of the windows showcasing the city to the outside world. As a result, it has been designated as a patriotic education base by the Provincial Party Committee Propaganda Department.