Longchuan Square

Longchuan Square

Longchuan Square is located in the southwest corner of Jiangdu District and its layout embodies the essence of "Longchuan culture," subtly highlighting the themes of "dragon," "water," and "green." On the southeast side of the square, the Jiangdu Museum features 3,000 square meters of exhibition space along with a rich collection of calligraphy and paintings by renowned artists and cultural relics that captivate visitors.

Located in the southwest corner of the urban center of Jiangdu District, Yangzhou City, Jiangsu Province, Longchuan Square is an important part of the River Diversion Scenic Area. As one of the province’s premier “urban living rooms,” the 100,000-square-meter square integrates functional zoning while embodying the essence of "Longchuan culture" both as a whole and in its details. It aggregates the profound meanings of the "Dragon’s Soul" and the "Stream’s Charm," blends in modern design techniques, and showcases the harmonious unity between humanity and nature, subtly revealing the themes of "dragon," "water," and "green."

At the main northern entrance to the sunken plaza lies a naturally formed reclining stone inscribed with the four characters "Longchuan Square" written by Shen Peng, Chairman of the China Calligraphers Association. Water gushes from beneath the stone and cascades down in layers along the character “龙川” (Longchuan), eventually flowing into the "Dragon Pool" at the center of the square.

Panoramic view of the square

The "Dragon Pool" houses a musical fountain where visitors can enjoy spectacular views created in harmony with the rhythm of music. At the center of the "Dragon Pool" stands the theme sculpture of the square — "Soaring Dragon." Crafted using a blend of abstract and realistic modern sculptural techniques, the sculpture weighs over 30 tons, is clad in stainless steel, and reaches a total height of 21 meters. It symbolizes the bright future of the "Longchuan Scenic Land" in the 21st century, serving as both the compositional and visual focal point of the entire square. Surrounding the "Dragon Pool" are the square’s activity areas, arranged in three concentric rings. The inner ring covers a total area of 2,000 square meters, symbolizing the arrival of the new millennium. Its green pool walls feature four sets of reclining bas-reliefs, each 1.5 meters high and 30 meters long, carved from "Snowflake White" stone. The relief "Fairy Legend" recounts the historical tale of two maidens, Du and Kang, who saved the people; at the end of the relief, a reproduction of Huai Su’s handwritten "Inscription on the Holy Mother Stele" adds an ancient aesthetic. "Ancient Town Charms" depicts portraits of notable historical figures from Jiangdu, all portrayed with noble bearing. The area’s scenic spots, as well as stories such as Xie An’s flood control and Yue Fei repelling the Jin army, are also vividly illustrated through bas-reliefs. "Longchuan Panorama" portrays both historical landmarks along the Mangdao River in the urban area and contemporary cityscapes, reflecting the region’s rich cultural heritage and modern construction achievements. "River Diversion Anthem" condenses Jiangdu’s history, culture, landmarks, and natural scenery, showcasing the city’s identity as the "Land of Fish and Rice," "Land of Flowers and Trees," "Land of Silk," and "Land of Construction," as well as its status as a hub for water conservancy, power, and transportation. It allows visitors to reflect on history and life within an elegant environment. The middle ring of the square spans 13,320 square meters, symbolizing the total area of Jiangdu City, which is 1,332 square kilometers. It consists of dragon pillars and a green landscaping composition. Twelve towering dragon pillar stone carvings stand 6 meters high, with their capitals cast in bronze and featuring representative dragons from twelve historical periods: ancient times, Shang, Spring and Autumn, Warring States, Han, Northern and Southern Dynasties, Sui, Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing. The main bodies of the pillars are carved from single blocks of granite, adorned with decorative patterns and brief descriptions from corresponding eras, revealing a thousand years of dragon history and the evolution of "dragon culture." The outer ring has an average radius of 108 meters, symbolizing Jiangdu’s population of 1.08 million. It features a large-scale water conservancy bas-relief titled "Soul of Water," which is 30 meters long and 4 meters high. With vivid lines and classic designs, the artwork centers on the theme of water and the water systems of the Yellow River, Yangtze River, Huai River, and the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. It showcases the achievements of China’s famous hydraulic projects, ranging from Yu the Great’s flood control to the modern Three Gorges Dam.

The music stage located in the southwest of the dragon sculpture plaza can accommodate 1,200 spectators and is dedicated to public performances and group activities. The stage is designed around the theme of a circle, with a diameter of 16 meters, resembling a pearl or a full moon. It is surrounded by a pool of water, connected to the plaza via a small bridge, drawing inspiration from the "Fish Pond Flying Bridge" design concept from the Northern Song Dynasty, reflecting classical cultural charm. The grandstand has 16 tiers, with arc-shaped seating that comes together in perfect rhythmic harmony. The entire structure resembles a clam shell, with the stage as its pearl, symbolizing the image of a "jade clam offering a pearl" — a perfectly composed design.

Directly opposite the music stage, to the east and west, is a three-story sightseeing pavilion with a modern style. Located at the highest point of the square, it offers a distant view of the River Diversion hydraulic hub to the south and an overlooking panorama of the entire square to the west. Each level of the viewing area is open-air, providing visitors with excellent sightseeing spaces — making it an exceptional urban vantage point.

The Yu Zhizheng and Liu Lishang Art Gallery is located on the southeast side of the square, adjacent to the sightseeing pavilion. It is a building composed of a circular main structure and fan-shaped units, combining simplicity with richness to create an innovative and dignified exhibition space. The civil air defense facility of Longchuan Square is situated in the northeast corner, laid out in an "L" shape and positioned opposite the music stage. Its northern entrance is entirely made of glass and steel, forming a crystalline, multi-eaved pyramid structure, which boasts a uniquely elegant design.

Green is the keynote of the square. With a green area of 70,000 square meters, the square adopts a streamlined wave-pattern design and green landscaping layout, complemented by winding paths paved with granite and colorful pebbles. Over 150 ancient and famous trees have been transplanted here, including camphor, osmanthus, and photinia. Among them, the osmanthus trees are over a hundred years old, with the oldest being 365 years old — creating a green landscaping style that is "natural, simple, and bright," highlighting the characteristics of the "Land of Flowers and Trees."

The night scene is novel, bright, soft, and enchanting. The square is illuminated by a total of 752 lights. The imported Italian "City Light" system utilizes cutting-edge color gradient technology to enhance the three-dimensional effect of the "Soaring Dragon" sculpture, accentuating its unique presence. The advanced "Palm Tree Lights" appear as artificial palm trees during the day and emit a soft glow at night, adding rich colors and depth to the square. The "Firework Lights" create a dynamic artistic effect of "twinkling stars," intensifying the visual impact. Combined with a scattering of lawn lights and tall biomimetic garden lamps, the entire square dazzles under the lights, offering a mesmerizing experience that visitors find hard to leave.