Municipal Government Square

Municipal Government Square

Hefei Municipal Government Square holds a special geographical position, bordered by the Provincial Government to the south and the Municipal Government to the north. It functions as both the city's political activity hub and the center of its commercial, financial, and transportation networks. The square is enclosed by four surrounding roads, covering a total area of 50,000 square meters, with the central plaza alone spanning 25,000 square meters. It consists of a ground-level plaza and an underground parking facility, with a total investment of 110 million yuan. Construction began in March 2000, and the square officially opened to the public on May 1, 2001.

The architectural design of Municipal Government Square fully reflects Hefei’s identity as both a historic and cultural ancient city, and a modern hub of technology and garden landscapes. The layout of the square emphasizes one focal point and three axes: using the Municipal Government office building as the core, it introduces a Cultural Axis, a Technology Axis, and a Natural Axis that embody Hefei’s character, organically combining them into a unified central plaza.

The first thing that catches the eye is the square’s Technology Axis. Centered around the dry fountain in the plaza and aligned with the Life and Movement theme sculpture on the northern section of Huayuan Street, this axis features modern structures made of stainless steel and other technologically inspired materials, along with touch-based multimedia displays, musical fountains, clock fountains, and contemporary lighting, all highlighting the theme of technology.

The Century Globe, with a diameter of 2 meters, symbolizes Hefei’s warm welcome to visitors from all over the world, as global interactions become increasingly frequent. It invites people to sightsee, relax, travel, and invest here. The Hundred-Meter Technology Corridor is located along one side of the Technology Axis. Composed of individual steel plates, it has a sleek and lightweight appearance, with a theme design based on a reverse-curved, soaring shape that represents the advancement of technology. A 9.8-meter-high stainless steel sculpture named “Far” symbolizes the confidence and capability of Hefei’s people in the new century to create a bright future for the city, forging ahead toward a promising tomorrow.

At the intersection of the Cultural Axis and the Technology Axis lies a large musical fountain. The fountain’s design ingeniously incorporates a ground mosaic that forms the map of Hefei’s urban area. The large musical dry fountain has a diameter of 35 meters, with water jets reaching up to approximately 26.5 meters in height. Whenever music plays, the water dances to the rhythm of the melody, creating a powerful and uplifting atmosphere that adds joy and harmony to the square. The flagpole at the square’s national flag platform stands 21 meters tall, symbolizing our entry into the 21st century.

Turning to the right leads you to the square’s Natural Axis. This axis serves as the plaza’s leisure corridor, embodying the modern concept of being nature- and people-oriented. The green landscaping throughout the square is designed to be cohesive and unified, reflecting the simple and vibrant characteristics of a modern urban plaza. The layout mainly features expansive and open lawns, interspersed with smooth and continuous flower bands. Trees, shrubs, and lawns are layered in a transition of heights, creating a dynamic visual effect. Tree species include the city tree, the magnolia, as well as ginkgo, osmanthus, and pomegranate shrubs.