Fairy Park

Fairy Park

Fairy Park is a National AA-level Tourist Attraction.

Fairy Park: Rated as a National AA-level Tourist Attraction in December 2011. Built in 1985, it is located on the east bank of Mangdao River in the old town area of Jiangdu District, north of Qizha Bridge, covering an area of 15.7 mu, and is a National AA-level scenic spot. The entire garden is based on the culture of Fairy Temple, with classical-style architecture forming garden landscapes that have the unique charm of a classic Jiangnan-style garden.

“The beauty of the garden lies in its landscape; the wonder, in its hidden depths; the charm, in its flowing continuity; the depth, in its suitability for both winter and spring.” A scholar from Jiangdu captured the distinctiveness of Fairy Park in just 28 characters. Built in 1985, the park is not large, covering just over ten acres, but its ingenious layout and picturesque scenery leave a lasting impression. The site is situated on the east bank of Mangdao River, at the east end of Qizha Bridge, nestled by the water and the embankment. To the west, the ancient waters of Mangdao River meander, shimmering with light; to the south, the Qizha Bridge spans the two banks of the river like a rainbow lying on the waves.

In front of the entrance to Fairy Park stands a stone memorial archway, simple yet majestic, built from light red ax-cut stone. Its four pillars are all shaped like ornamental columns, entwined with cloud motifs. The front of the archway is inscribed with “Scenic Dragon River,” while the back reads “Traces of the Fairy,” both bold and elegant, with strokes of classical simplicity. These eight characters not only point out this celebrated Dragon River site and the old fairy legends of Jiangdu, evoking a sense of historical nostalgia, but also ingeniously embed the characters “dragon” and “fairy” at the start of four words, naturally bringing to mind the famous line: “A mountain need not be high — it is famous so long as there is a fairy; a river need not be deep — it has spirit so long as there is a dragon.”

The entrance hall and the memorial archway share a central axis, shaped like a ruyi (a traditional Chinese good-luck symbol), suggesting that visitors will enjoy good fortune upon entering the park. Right after the entrance hall is a small garden where Taihu rocks are stacked along the terrain to form flower stands, accented perfectly by a few green bamboo plants. At the garden gate, ancient seal script characters reading “Immortal Stroll” catch the eye. Upon entering, you’ll find the Five-Tiered Waterfall to the west, where a “flow of jade” cascades from the top of an artificial hill, with the water’s source resembling a dragon’s head. The stream flows continuously, splashing against rocks with a sound like the notes of a zither. Lush yellow-hued mountains and green trees frame the waterfall, while a fairy statue stands gracefully by the stream, dressed simply, pure as ice and clean as jade. Willow trees by the brook kiss the water, and the vibrant flowers and foliage set off the fairy figure, making her appear all the more enchanting.

Walking along the eastern corridor, you’ll encounter a sprawling artificial hill lying across like a resting dragon — its head to the east, its tail to the west. This hill does not aim for detailed resemblance but captures an overall imposing aura: winding caves, undulating peaks, secluded cliffs and valleys, and clear springs swirling through. A poet praised it as being “like light clouds veiling the sun, like flowing wind swirling snow,” which is no exaggeration. ...

Fairy Park is breathtakingly beautiful, and served as a key filming location for many TV dramas such as “Tang Bohu” and “Pu Songling.” The renowned author Qiong Yao filmed one of the outdoor scenes for the final installment of her “Six Dreams” series, “Green, Green Grass by the River,” here. After shooting, Qiong Yao remarked, “If I have more dreams, I’ll still want to make them here — at Fairy Park.”