Xingtong Park

Xingtong Park

Lin Yi Xingtong Park was built to commemorate Xingtong, a notable historical and cultural figure from Lin Yi. Xingtong, whose courtesy name was Ziyuan, was born in Xingliuxing Village, Lin Yi. He became a successful candidate in the imperial examination during the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty, eventually rising to the position of Assistant Minister of the Court of Imperial Entertainments. Later, he resigned from his official post and returned to his hometown, where he built a "garden" and established the "Laiqin Pavilion" as a place for study. Xingtong was renowned for his calligraphy, which followed the styles of the Two Wangs (Wang Xizhi and Wang Xianzhi), and he engraved the "Laiqin Pavilion Calligraphy Collection" (one of China’s top ten famous calligraphy collections), authored the "Laiqin Pavilion Anthology" (included in the Complete Library of the Four Treasuries), and ultimately became a celebrated cultural figure of his time.

The pavilion is a Ming-style building, covering an area of 2,070 square meters. The park is divided into two main sections: water and land, and consists of six major areas: a public activity zone, a senior citizens’ activity zone, a children’s activity zone, a sports activity zone, a cultural memorial zone, and a featured plant and bonsai display zone. Within the park’s Xingtong Memorial Hall, there are precious calligraphic works and ancient stone engravings by Xingtong, as well as the Yugui Pavilion featuring works by the renowned artist Master Song Yugui.

Additionally, the park offers recreational spaces for leisure activities such as a morning exercise plaza, music plaza, civic stage, tennis court, and gateball court. These not only hold high aesthetic value but also carry rich cultural significance. Currently, the park has become a symbol of the new image of Linyi in Dezhou. From 1992 to 1994, three consecutive Xingtong Calligraphy Art Festivals were held here, and in 1997, a symposium on the calligraphy, paintings, and poetry of Xingtong and his sister Xingcijing was hosted.