Shen Gui Carrying the City Cultural Park in Wei County

Shen Gui Carrying the City Cultural Park in Wei County

Shen Gui Carrying the City Cultural Park in Wei County is located beside Provincial Highway S313 in the northwest of the county town. It is an important part of the "Three-Year Urban Transformation" project and the creation of the "Pear Town Water City" initiative in Wei County. The planning and design concept of the park originates from an ancient mythological legend. It is said that in ancient times, a massive flood struck the Central Plains, turning the North China region into a vast expanse of water, submerging many cities under the water—only the ancient city of Wei remained standing proudly above the floodwaters. Moreover, as the water level rose, so did the city; the more the water increased, the higher the city rose. It turned out that beneath the city lay a ten-thousand-year-old turtle that had attained immortality. During the crisis of the catastrophic flood, the divine turtle came to the rescue, lifting the city high above the waters. As the water level rose, so did the turtle, keeping the city and its people safe from the flood. After the flood receded, to show their gratitude to the divine turtle, the local people buried a stone tablet at the west gate of the city as a memorial.

In 2008, as the "Three-Year Urban Transformation" project and the creation of the "Pear Town Water City" were fully launched in the county, to explore Wei County’s long and rich history and culture, the local government built this park at the site of the Shen Gui Carrying the City Monument. The park spans Provincial Highway Handan-Daqing in the north-south direction, borders the Minyou River to the west, and covers an area of 190 mu. Its overall appearance resembles a turtle carrying a city on its back, hence the name Shen Gui Carrying the City Cultural Park. The park consists of three main parts: the city entrance and exit gates, the welcome wall, and the welcome square.

At the front of the welcome wall lies the welcome square, which is raised in the middle and slightly sloped along the edges, resembling the back of a turtle. A circular landscape water channel encircles the welcome wall and the welcome square. Six uniquely styled landscape bridges are built over the channel. Among them, the arched bridges on the west and east symbolize the turtle’s head and tail respectively, while the other four curved bridges represent the turtle’s four limbs. The bridges and “islands” are interconnected, forming a harmonious whole.

Shen Gui Carrying the City Cultural Park combines the grandeur of a “city” with the spirit and elegance of water, merging classical culture with modern architectural style. The project is majestic in scale and profound in meaning, creating a beautiful gateway to welcome guests from all over the world, adding a captivating ecological sightseeing spot, and introducing a new highlight to Wei County’s landscape and cultural heritage.

Transportation Guide

Location: Beside Provincial Highway S313 in the northwest of Wei County, Handan City, Hebei Province