Harmony Square

Harmony Square

Harmony Square is located in the city center of Pingyuan County, on the south side of Ping’an Avenue and east of Communist Youth League Road, adjacent to the county government to the north. Covering an area of 28,000 square meters, the site was originally a residential neighborhood with poor environmental conditions. In 1997, demolition was carried out, and the site was redesigned and planned by the Shandong Urban Planning and Design Institute and named Central Square. On July 1, 1997, the night of Hong Kong’s handover, a ceremony was held to mark the inauguration and lighting of Central Square. It became one of the county’s key landmarks and provided residents with a venue for leisure, fitness, and recreation. The completed Central Square featured a fountain, spotlights, green spaces, and elevated lighting, with green areas accounting for 80% of the total space. In 1999, the square underwent further demolition and expansion—structures such as the Yaolian Commercial Building and the square management office were removed on the west side, and the square was extended eastward to Xinhua Road. The area grew from the original 20,000 square meters to 28,000 square meters. The total investment in the two phases of demolition and construction in 1997 and 1999 exceeded 3 million yuan. In 2007, the county government invested 9 million yuan to upgrade and renovate Central Square, renaming it Harmony Square. The redesign was undertaken by Shanghai CSCEC Architectural Design Institute following the concept of a cultural-themed square. From east to west, the sections are named Tianhe (Heaven Harmony) Square, Renhe (People Harmony) Square, and Dihe (Earth Harmony) Square, symbolizing the harmonious development of heaven, earth, humanity, nature, and human society.

Source: Qihe County Chronicles Office