Zhangjiakou People's Park

Zhangjiakou People's Park

Zhangjiakou People's Park was built in 1925, covering an area of 12.43 hectares. Located on the west bank of the Binhe River in the city center, it is the largest comprehensive park in the old urban area of our city. Through continuous renovation and development, the park has become a green-focused space that emphasizes closeness to nature and a people-oriented approach, offering activities for leisure, fitness, cultural entertainment, and connecting with nature.

In 1925, it was used as a nursery. In 1933, during the tenure of Song Zheyuan, chairman of the Chahar Provincial Government, who was stationed in Zhangjiakou, he decided to transform the nursery into a park, stating that such a key frontier town, bustling with merchants, must have a public recreational space. The park initially had some simple structures and planted trees and flowers. Due to its location between the Eastern and Western Taiping Mountains, it was named “Taiping Park” (Peace Park) to commemorate its permanence. During the Japanese puppet regime and the Nationalist government periods, the park underwent minor renovations, introducing some tree species and wildlife. In 1936 and 1937, additional animals were added, including sika deer, wolves, a small black bear, lions, tigers, baboons, and apes exchanged from Japan, as well as amphibians like crocodiles and Japanese muscovy ducks. Most of these animals were killed shortly before Japan’s surrender.

In 1945, after the first liberation of Zhangjiakou, the park was renamed “Peace Park.” In 1948, following the second liberation of Zhangjiakou, the park was officially renamed “People's Park,” the name it retains to this day. In the early years after liberation, the park was managed by the Municipal Construction Bureau under the People's Committee. In 1960, People's Park merged with the municipal office and came under the administration of the Urban Construction Bureau, known as the Municipal Gardening Office. In 1972, after the separation of municipal and gardening departments, the Gardening Management Office was established, and the park has been under its management ever since. In 1973, with approval from the Municipal Revolutionary Committee, the park began charging an entrance fee of two fen. In 2004, the park was opened to the public free of charge. In 2006, in line with the municipal Party committee and government’s initiative to “remove walls and reveal greenery,” the park underwent a comprehensive upgrade. The surrounding walls were demolished, and the small zoo and children's play facilities were relocated to Shuijun Palace.

In recent years, to improve residents' living environment and build an ecological garden city, the Zhangjiakou Municipal Party Committee and Government invested 36 million yuan to renovate and upgrade People's Park in accordance with the provincial “remove walls and reveal greenery” initiative. This transformation completely revitalized the park, allowing it to stand proudly in a new form at the heart of Zhangjiakou’s urban center. The renovation of Zhangjiakou People's Park fully leveraged the city’s historical and cultural resources to showcase regional characteristics. The upgraded park features five functional zones: an ecological recreation area, a riverside greenbelt zone, a central waterscape area, a leisure socializing area, and a fitness activity area.

The construction of the park was designed with ecological functionality in mind, taking both short-term and long-term greening effects into account and emphasizing the harmonious relationship between humans and nature. Integrated with the Renqing River renovation project, it highlights riverside landscape features, focuses on the configuration of plant communities, and enhances the park’s green structure by adjusting and supplementing existing vegetation. This results in a rich diversity of plants, well-balanced layouts, distinct layers, clear seasonal changes, and easy maintenance. At the same time, responding to public needs, the park has expanded its roads and plazas, added performance stages, and provides spaces for showcasing intangible cultural heritage such as Errentai and Hebei Bangzi, helping promote local culture.

Transportation Guide

Location: Middle section of Changqing Road, Qiaoxi District, Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province, west side of the Renqing River

Transit: In Zhangjiakou City, take bus No. 38 and get off at Wenhua Guangchang Station, or take bus No. 16 and get off at Sanzhong Station, then walk along Changqing Road to reach the park.