Yangzhou Kangshan Cultural Park

Yangzhou Kangshan Cultural Park

Yangzhou Kangshan Cultural Park

Located by the ancient canal, Yangzhou Kangshan Cultural Park is a model for interpreting the city’s ancient culture. Known as the “City of Alleys,” Yangzhou is dotted with beautiful gardens and classic Chinese architecture scattered throughout its charming lanes. Among these diverse and exquisite gardens, Kangshan Cultural Park stands out with its unique charm.

Stepping into Kangshan Cultural Park, visitors are greeted by the classic Chinese elegance of Kangshan Thatched Cottage, the winding and tranquil pavilions and towers, and the marvelous stacked rockeries that soothe the mind and lift the spirit. As you stroll through, you’ll soon spot the Fanshu Pavilion towering on a small hill, its gracefully upturned eaves exuding refined beauty. It earned the name “Fanshu” (Counting Sails) because it sits at the highest point in the park, offering a vantage to count the boats and sails passing along the canal. Though sailboats are rarely seen today, the various scenic views along the ancient canal remain fully on display. In harmony with Kangshan Cultural Park is the Grand Shuiwan Landscape Project, shaped like a ruyi (a traditional Chinese good-luck scepter), featuring small bridges over flowing water and lush greenery that perfectly complements the surrounding scenery.

Yan Bingsen, a municipal cultural heritage expert, spoke highly of the reconstruction of Kangshan Cultural Park and shared with reporters the origin of Kangshan: it is said that during the Ming Dynasty, the top scholar Kang Hai once lived here. Skilled in singing, playwriting, and composing sanqu poetry, Kang Hai authored the zaju drama “The Wolf of Zhongshan,” which brought fame to the area, hence its name “Kangshan.” When the renowned calligrapher and painter Dong Qichang visited, he inscribed the name “Kangshan Thatched Cottage.” The Kangshan Cultural Park was built primarily around the backdrop of this cottage. Yan Bingsen believes that the newly reconstructed Kangshan Cultural Park not only restores the original site but also inherits and promotes Yangzhou’s culture. In particular, the Water Culture Museum and Huaiyang Cuisine Museum, thoughtfully integrated within the park, make optimal use of space and set an example for the preservation of Yangzhou’s ancient city and cultural heritage. As a key project in the protection and utilization of Yangzhou’s ancient city, Kangshan Cultural Park embodies cultural essence and the charm of the old town. Blending seamlessly with the ancient canal, it serves as a new landmark integrating culture, leisure, exhibition, and tourism.