Shouyi Park

Shouyi Park

On the east side of Hubei Provincial Library on Wuluo Road in Wuchang, beneath towering plane trees stands a quaint memorial archway inscribed with: Shouyi Park. Outside the gate, traffic flows ceaselessly and noise abounds. But once inside, you’re greeted by lush greenery and a serene atmosphere.

Monument to the Wuchang Uprising of the 1911 Revolution

Group Sculpture of Figures from the 1911 Wuchang Uprising

About 180 meters up the hillside, the first thing that catches your eye is the “Gunfire of the Uprising” memorial sculpture: a rebel soldier stands proudly upright, his right hand raised high holding a “Hanyang-made” rifle, his index finger on the trigger, his left hand gripping a V-shaped emblem, his gaze firm and forever forward. Gazing at the statue, one can almost see the surging tide of revolutionary soldiers and hear the shots of the uprising.

Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Monument

Former Residence of Lu Liqun

The Wuchang Uprising of the 1911 Revolution is a glorious chapter in history. To commemorate the revolution and support the lives of wounded Uprising soldiers, in 1921, Xia Daonan (who served as an advisor to the Hubei Military Government during the Wuchang Uprising and later as Chief Councillor of the Military Affairs Department) and others proposed the establishment of Shouyi Park. Construction began in 1923, and the park was completed in 1924. Shouyi Park is the earliest park in Wuhan, predating Wuhan’s Zhongshan Park in Hankou by three years, and it was also the first park to be free of charge.

Wuchang Uprising Artillery Battery on Snake Hill

Baobing Hall

In 1932, the Hubei Provincial Government designated the entire Snake Hill area as Wuchang Park. Due to poor management, Shouyi Park was abolished. Although Wuchang Park had a management office, conditions did not improve, leading to the park’s neglect. In 1935, Wuchang Park was renamed Shouyi Park again. During the Anti-Japanese War, it was called Snake Hill Park. After the fall of Wuhan in 1938, the park fell into disuse. After the war, in June 1946, following a proposal by the Hubei Provincial Senate, Snake Hill Park was once more renamed Shouyi Park, the name it still bears today.

Former Site of Hubei Provincial Library

Former Residence of Li Shucheng

After 1949, Shouyi Park was taken over by the military administration committee and underwent comprehensive renovation, including leveling trenches to build roads and planting trees. In March 1950, with the strong cooperation of 39 organizations including Huazhong University, Huazhong Agricultural College, and the Hubei Military Region, over 50,000 cypress trees were planted, which have now grown into a dense forest. During the construction of the Wuhan Yangtze River Bridge, the park was relocated to the area east of Wuchang Road around Baobing Hall, and the main gate was moved to Wuluo Road, adjacent to Hubei Provincial Library. The current total area of the park is 16.6 hectares.

Martyrs’ Shrine on Snake Hill in Wuchang

Commemorative structures related to the 1911 Revolution are the core attractions of Shouyi Park. In 1928, to commemorate the third anniversary of Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s passing, those involved in the Wuchang Uprising built the “Monument to President Dr. Sun Yat-sen” and a memorial hall on the western section of Snake Hill in Wuchang, which were later moved to their current location in Shouyi Park. In 1981, to mark the 70th anniversary of the Wuchang Uprising, the state allocated special funds to construct a 11-meter-high granite monument between Baobing Hall and the Plum Corridor on the southern slope of Snake Hill. The front of the monument is inscribed with “Monument to the Wuchang Uprising of the 1911 Revolution” written by Ye Jianying, while the base describes the course and great achievements of the uprising. Other commemorative structures in the park related to the 1911 Revolution include the group sculpture of uprising figures, the Uprising Memorial Pavilion, and the Uprising Artillery Battery. Additionally, at the foot of the hill are the former residence of Li Shucheng and Hubei Provincial Library.