Plum Blossom Park

Plum Blossom Park

Plum Blossom Park is located in Shahe City. It is named after the lake within the park, which resembles the shape of a plum blossom when viewed from above. The area is also associated with Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty, who inscribed the Song dynasty literary work "Ode to the Plum Blossom" (宋璟《梅花赋》) and painted plum blossoms himself. These imperial calligraphy and painting works gave the area its name. Within the park, there are wall carvings featuring Emperor Qianlong’s calligraphy and his plum blossom paintings.

The park also houses a replica of the Song Jing Stele. The full name of the original stele is "The Divine Way Stele of Song Jing, Former Right Chancellor of the Imperial Secretariat and Posthumously Honored as Grand Tutor, Duke Wen Zhen of the Great Tang" (《大唐故尚书右丞相赠太尉文贞公宋公神道之碑》). It was composed and inscribed by Yan Zhenqing, a renowned calligrapher of the Tang Dynasty. Later generations praised the Song Jing Stele as achieving “a perfect union of calligraphy, text, and person — truly a triple masterpiece.” It is now a nationally protected cultural relic. The original stele is housed at the middle school in Donghu Village, Shahe City, with Song Jing’s tomb site located nearby.