Qingying Park in Yingquan District

Qingying Park in Yingquan District

Fuyang Qingying Park was first built in October 1953, covering an area of 9.7 hectares. Located in the bustling commercial center of Fuyang, it sits along the (Quanhe) River. With fragrant flowers and birdsong throughout the four seasons, the park is known for its serene beauty and has long been hailed as the “Green Pearl” and the “Urban Oxygen Bar.” It boasts a distinctly modern garden atmosphere, and is especially notable for the comprehensiveness of its services, the completeness of its facilities, and the scientific design of its cultural landscapes. The park emphasizes the rich cultural heritage of Fuyang and the natural, ecological philosophy behind its design. It is a high-end, high-quality comprehensive park that combines ecology, culture, leisure, entertainment, and sightseeing.

Qingying Park was initially established in the mid-1950s, transformed from the courtyard of an agricultural unit, and was named “Qingying Park” upon completion. During the Cultural Revolution, the character “Qing” (清) was changed to “Qing” (青) under the reasoning that “Qingying carried feudal cultural connotations and did not reflect the spirit of the times.” The misusage of “Qingying” as “Qingying” has persisted for over 40 years and should now be corrected to restore its original name.

Historical research shows that the term “Qingying” has existed since ancient times and was especially frequently used since the Song Dynasty. Su Shi, when serving as the prefect of Yingzhou, frequently used “Qingying” in his poetry, letters, and exchanges with Huang Tingjian, Su Zhe, and others. For example, in “Farewell to Zizhi at Yingzhou,” he wrote, “The sailing boat hoists sail in the west wind, parting tears drop into the clear Ying River”; and in “Man Jiang Hong: Thinking of Zizhi,” he wrote, “The clear Ying River flows eastward, my sorrowful gaze follows the lone sail appearing and disappearing, amidst the official travels, green mountains and white waves pile up layer upon layer.” Zizhi refers to Su Shi’s younger brother Su Zhe, with whom he shared a deep bond and experienced three reunions and farewells in Yingzhou. The “Zhengde Yingzhou Annals” record that Yan Shu, after resigning as prime minister and taking office in Yingzhou, built the “Qingying Pavilion,” and later poets inscribed, “When the world is in chaos, the Ying River is murky; when the world is at peace, the Ying River is clear.” This shows that “Qingying” carries the hope for peace. Su Shi also bid farewell to his brother Su Zhe at the “Qingying Pavilion,” hence the line “parting tears drop into the clear Ying River.” Other poetic lines such as “After the frost, the grand Huai Pavilion is lost, only the murmuring clear Ying River can be heard,” “Do not say the clear Ying waters — from here we lament across the river,” and “Before the cup of clear Ying wine, my robe is soaked, ten years of wind and moon with an old friend” all express the poets’ deep attachment to Yingzhou. The term “Qingying” originates from Yingzhou and is the crystallization of Fuyang’s Ying River culture. Modern names such as “Qingying Tower,” “Qingying Book Academy,” “Qingying Magazine,” “Qingying Scholar Society,” including “Qingying Park,” are all accumulations and extensions of Qingying culture. Correcting the name “Qingying” is a way to protect and promote the culture of Fuyang.