Lotus Lake

Lotus Lake

Situated by the Chenzhou River at the junction of Chenzhou Avenue and Xiangxue Avenue, the development of the Lotus Lake Scenic Area certainly adds a new chapter to the idyllic city of Chenzhou. As one of the sub-projects underpinning the southward extension and eastward expansion urban development strategy, it emerged in response to urbanization trends. It combines the historical and present-day social, economic, and cultural development of Chenzhou, and is a product of applying modern urban concepts to city management.

The core project of the Southern Hunan Folk Culture Park consists of eleven sub-projects: “One Road, Eight Zones, One Courtyard, and One Lake.” “One Road” refers to Chenzhou Avenue; “Eight Zones” include the Farming Culture Zone, Southern Hunan Residential Culture Zone, Central Villa Zone, Historical and Cultural Zone, Local Deity Culture Zone, Folk Culture Zone, Historic Sites Zone, and Modern and Contemporary Culture Zone; “One Courtyard” is the Lianxi Academy; and “One Lake” is Lotus Lake.

The Lotus Lake Scenic Area, comprising Lotus Lake and the Lianxi Academy, represents just two of the core projects within the Southern Hunan Folk Culture Park. Its theme is derived from the lotus flower depicted by Northern Song philosopher Zhou Dunyi in his essay “Ode to the Lotus,” which symbolizes purity. The creative concept is to promote the rational essence of the Neo-Confucian culture initiated by Zhou Dunyi through the imagery of the lotus and his persona. Its function is to meet the leisure needs of residents and the sightseeing interests of tourists. Although the subject of Zhou Dunyi and his “Ode to the Lotus” is not entirely unique to Chenzhou, Zhou served as an official in Chenzhou for the longest period, and many of his academic ideas were formed during his time there. According to historical research, his famous “Ode to the Lotus” was inspired by the lotuses he observed at the Chenzhou government office. Exploring this theme not only reflects profound historical and cultural significance but also highlights local characteristics of Chenzhou.

Lotus Lake is designed as a theme park centered around Zhou Dunyi and his “Ode to the Lotus,” using the architectural style of ancient southern Hunan residences. This approach anchors the imagery of the lotus described by Zhou Dunyi, the essence of Neo-Confucianism, and the architectural features of ancient southern Hunan homes deeply within the historical development of Chenzhou City. The Lotus Lake Scenic Area was planned, designed, and constructed based on this concept. Covering an area of 148 acres, it includes one lake, one island, one academy, one theater stage, one riverside scenic belt, two plazas, two memorial archways, two statues, four bridges, and dozens of smaller attractions. Among them, the Lianxi Academy is one of the largest of its kind in China, spanning over 3,000 square meters. Its architectural layout follows a traditional Chinese academy design, symmetrically arranged along a central axis, and includes a main gate, main hall, screen wall, side rooms, courtyard, Lotus Pond, Lotus Bridge, and Gentlemen’s Pavilion. Architectural decorations incorporate elements of southern Hunan traditional houses such as horse-head walls, upturned eaves, brick carvings, wood carvings, stone carvings, and polychrome ornaments, further enhanced by the extensive use of bluestone, resulting in a classic southern Hunan ancient architectural style. Memorial archways, statues, lush trees, and blooming flowers create a scene at every step; pavilions, terraces, small bridges, flowing water, and winding paths evoke the charm of classical Jiangnan gardens.

The stone and wood carvings at Lotus Lake are made from meticulously selected materials. The mountain gate, memorial archways, entrance doors, bridge surfaces and railings, corners of the academy walls, parts of the ground, and pathways are all crafted from pure bluestone. Since the purity and strength of locally sourced bluestone did not meet design requirements and was prone to cracking, all bluestone used in the Lotus Lake project was imported from Jiaxiang County in Shandong Province. The use of this stone in the classical-style architecture enhances its antique luster and smooth texture. The wood carvings are made from merbau wood imported from Indonesia, which is of high quality and capable of vividly reflecting the artistic effects of sculpture.

The Qingfeng Bridge draws inspiration from the Guapo Bridge in Yizhang County, preserving the style of southern Hunan stone bridges. With a vertical height of 18 meters and a semi-circular arch span of 48 meters, it is the largest flat-arch bridge in the province. The bridge railings feature double-sided stone carvings with a lotus flower theme.

The Lotus Archway is the largest pure bluestone memorial archway in China, featuring a six-pillar, five-gate, three-tier structure. It is 28 meters wide and 18 meters tall, with the central gate’s crossbeam spanning an impressive 8 meters—the longest of its kind nationwide. The Lotus Archway blends the styles of the Jiahe Fengxian Archway, Rucheng Sima Archway, and Xiuyi Archway. It employs various carving techniques such as high relief, low relief, and openwork carving, featuring motifs like dragons playing with pearls, lions rolling embroidered balls, and carp leaping over the dragon gate—making it a masterpiece of archway architecture.

On Lotus Island, a 4.5-meter-tall white marble statue of the “Lotus Maiden” is youthful and graceful, with an elegant form. Her pure beauty, reminiscent of “a lotus emerging unsullied from clear water, naturally unadorned,” vividly interprets the image of a lotus that “grows out of the mud unsoiled and is washed by the clear ripples without becoming vulgar.” It serves as the crowning touch of Lotus Island.

The serene and reserved bronze statue of Zhou Dunyi, the exquisitely designed ancient theater stage, the tree-lined silhouettes and building reflections in the lake, the glow of sunset and the moon at dawn, the well-balanced and profound couplets, and the endless “three types of carvings” (stone, wood, and brick)... The Lotus Lake Scenic Area is so rich in content that it cannot be fully described in words.

Only by being there in person can you truly experience its boundless charm.

When the lotus flowers in the lake are poised to bloom like arrows, the scenery becomes even more enchanting.

Suggested Duration

2–4 hours

Transportation

Bus:

Take bus no. 27 or 33 and get off at 【Lotus Lake】.

Take bus no. 13 or 22 and get off at 【Lotus Lake (Municipal Performing Arts Center)】.

Admission

Free

Opening Hours

All day

Location

Intersection of Chenzhou Avenue and Xiangxue Avenue, Suxian District, Chenzhou City, Hunan Province