Zhongshan Park in Zhongshan City

Zhongshan Park in Zhongshan City

Zhongshan Park

As the hometown of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, Zhongshan City naturally has its own Zhongshan Park.

The site of Zhongshan Park in Zhongshan City is located on Yandun Hill, right in the bustling city center of Shiqi. Yandun Hill is also known as Fufeng or Shiqi Hill. The name “Shiqi” actually comes from Shiqi Hill. And where there is Shiqi Hill, there is also Shiqi Sea. Shiqi Sea refers to the area around today’s Qijiang River, which centuries ago was once a vast expanse of open water. In 1946, overseas Chinese from Zhongshan raised funds to build a park in memory of Dr. Sun Yat-sen. They chose Yandun Hill as the site and named it Zhongshan Park. Covering an area of 90,000 square meters, the park is built against the hillside and is a forested park.

On the mountainside of the park stands the Zhongshan Memorial Pavilion. The pavilion was donated and built by overseas Chinese in 1948. It features four corners and eight pillars, taking the shape of a rectangle. Above the eight pillars, where they meet the green-glazed tile roof, there are patterns bearing the name “Zhongshan.” The front and back sides of the pavilion both have plaques: the front reads “Zhongshan Memorial Pavilion,” while the back displays a plaque with Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s calligraphy reading “The World Belongs to All,” making it quite unique.

There are two archways at the front and back of Zhongshan Park, both built after the liberation. The four large characters “Zhongshan Park” were inscribed by Comrade Ou Chu, a revolutionary veteran from Zhongshan who led revolutionary struggles in Wuguishan during the Japanese occupation and the Liberation War.

Fufeng Wen Tower is a seven-story, eight-sided brick pagoda on the mountain, also known as Yandun Flower Pagoda. It is one of the New Ten Scenic Spots of Zhongshan. The tower was built in the 36th year of the Wanli reign during the Ming Dynasty (1608) and has withstood over 380 years of history. Standing 24.5 meters tall, the tower has internal stone steps leading to the top, offering panoramic views of the surrounding area, with the full scenery of downtown Shiqi laid out before you. In 1983, the People’s Government of Shiqi Town, Zhongshan County, renovated the ancient pagoda, adding lighting decorations to the structure. When night falls and the lights come on, the pagoda becomes even more resplendent.

Fufeng Wen Tower was built in September of the 36th year of the Wanli reign during the Ming Dynasty (1608), established by Magistrate Cai Shanji. This seven-story, octagonal pavilion-style brick pagoda is built on a flat terrace, with interlocking dog-tooth and line-pattern bricks forming its eaves. It is 24.5 meters high, originally hollow inside. In 1952, during renovation, the upper three stories were solidified. The bottle-shaped spire is made of iron. Currently, the first to third floors are open to the public. Visitors can climb the stairs and, upon reaching each level, step out through the doorways onto the tower’s corridors to enjoy the picturesque landscapes and take in the full view of downtown Zhongshan.

Sun Yat-sen (1866–1925), whose given name was Wen, courtesy name Zaizhi, also known as Rixin or Yixian, with the childhood name Dixiang and alias Zhongshanqiao, often used the name Zhongshan. Born into a farming family in Cuiheng Village, Xiangshan County (now Zhongshan City), Guangdong Province. In his youth, influenced by the revolutionary traditions of the people of Guangdong, he aspired to the revolutionary cause of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. He was a pioneer of China’s modern national democratic revolution, a great forerunner of China’s democratic revolution, the founder of the Republic of China and the Kuomintang, an advocate of the Three Principles of the People, and the creator of the Five-Power Constitution. He was the first to raise the banner of complete opposition to feudalism... More details about Sun Yat-sen ++