Nanchang Bayi Park

Nanchang Bayi Park

In the Qing Dynasty, Bayi Park was the site of the Imperial Examination Hall. In 1932, it was turned into Lakeside Park, and on April 3, 1946, it was renamed Chiang Kai-shek Park. In July 1950, it was given its current name. The park covers a total area of 23.7 hectares, with a land area of 6.4 hectares. It features lush trees and vibrant flowers. The park can be divided into a lake area and a land area. Major attractions in the lake area include East Lake, Baihua Islet, Baihua Bridge, Guan’ao Pavilion, Su Causeway, Supu Garden, Shuimuqing, Huaguan, as well as the Zigzag Bridge, Lake Center Pavilion, and boat dock. The land area mainly consists of a cultural relics lawn plaza, where more than ten stone statues from the Jin, Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties are erected. There are also tea houses, a children’s playground, greenhouses, and other facilities for visitors to rest. Located in the bustling city center, the park is shaded by lush greenery, with rippling lake waters. Two of the “Ten Scenic Spots of Yuzhang”—“Moonlit East Lake” and “Spring Dawn at Supu Garden”—are both found here.

Bayi Park is situated in the heart of the city, within East Lake. It borders Minde Road to the north, Zhongshan Road to the south, and Supu Road to the east, covering an area of approximately 13 hectares. In the third year of the Yuanhe era (802 AD) during the Tang Dynasty, Regional Inspector Wei Dan initiated the dredging and tree-planting efforts around the lake to prevent flooding, which led to the creation of the “Ten-Thousand Willow Embankment” and the “Golden Embankment.” Du Mu once praised it as “a vast lake of ten hectares bordered by willow-lined dikes.” Since then, East Lake has been a renowned scenic spot. After the Ming Dynasty, it was divided into three sections: East, West, and North Lakes. In the Republican era, the shores were reinforced with red stones, and North Lake was further divided into South and North sections. Today’s West Lake is connected by bridges and culverts, and since the Song Dynasty, the area has been collectively referred to as East Lake.

Within East Lake are three small islands, two of which lie within Bayi Park—Baihua Islet and the site of the Youth Palace. The name “Baihua Islet” originated in the Song Dynasty. Ouyang Xiu wrote a five-character quatrain titled “In Response to Shengyu at Baihua Islet,” and Xiang Zicai mentioned “the old osmanthus blossoming profusely at Baihua Islet” in the preface to his poem “Butterflies in Love with Flowers.” During the Shaoxing era of the Southern Song Dynasty, Zhang Cheng, the military governor of Yuzhang, built the “Military Training Pavilion” on the southern islet to train naval forces. In the 11th year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1746), Provincial Governor Peng Jiapin inscribed the three characters “Baihua Islet” on a large stele, which later broke. In November 1983, the stele was recarved, and a stone stele pavilion was constructed.

In the Qing Dynasty, Bayi Park was the site of the Imperial Examination Hall. In 1932, it was turned into Lakeside Park, in 1946 it was renamed Chiang Kai-shek Park, and in July 1950, it received its current name. The park spans a total area of 23.7 hectares, with 6.4 hectares of land area. The park is rich in trees and blooming flowers. It is divided into a lake area and a land area. Major attractions in the lake area include East Lake, Baihua Islet, Baihua Bridge, Guan’ao Pavilion, Su Causeway, Supu Garden, Shuimuqing, Huaguan, the Zigzag Bridge, Lake Center Pavilion, and the boat dock. The land area includes a cultural relics lawn plaza featuring over ten stone statues from various dynasties including the Jin, Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing, as well as tea houses, a children’s playground, and greenhouses for visitors to relax.

Located in the heart of the city amid lush greenery and rippling waters, the park encompasses two of the “Ten Scenic Spots of Yuzhang”: “Moonlit East Lake” and “Spring Dawn at Supu Garden.” Thanks to its tranquil setting in a busy urban area, the park attracts large crowds daily. It also hosts large-scale flower and lantern exhibitions every year, drawing many visitors.

Suggested Duration

30 minutes

Transportation

Accessible by taking bus routes such as 205 and 27

Admission

Free

Location

No. 106, Minde Road, Donghu District, Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province