Shantou Zhongshan Park

Shantou Zhongshan Park

Shantou Zhongshan Park is a national AAA-level tourist attraction.

Shantou Zhongshan Park in Guangdong Province was founded and constructed in Shantou City in the 15th year of the Republic of China (1926), and was completed and opened to the public on August 28 two years later (i.e., 1928). Located by Yuemei River in the urban area, it is one of Shantou’s “New Eight Scenic Spots” known as “Orioles Singing in the Moon Garden.” The total area of Zhongshan Park is 20.18 hectares, including Wangjian Lake which covers an area of 3.6 hectares. The park is surrounded by water on all sides, with Shantou’s main river, the Han River, to the north and artificial waterways on the other three sides. The park is connected to downtown Shantou via three bridges.

Shantou Zhongshan Park is the earliest-built, largest, and most historically and culturally rich comprehensive park in eastern Guangdong, covering a total area of 309 mu. Surrounded by water, with Yuemei River encircling the park, it is connected to the urban land by three bridges: Zhongshan Bridge, Yuemei Bridge, and Yingchun Bridge. The Yujian Lake within the park spans nearly 100 mu and boasts breathtaking scenery, renowned both at home and abroad.

The park is divided into eastern and western sections along the western shore of Yujian Lake.

The eastern section features excavated lakes and stacked hills, forming five small islands including Turtle Hill and Snake Hill. Eight uniquely designed bridges of various sizes—including the Zigzag Bridge, Blue Wave Bridge, Rainbow Bridge, Red Bridge, Locust Shade Bridge, Jade Belt Bridge, Hibiscus Bridge, and Ding Shui Bridge—span the water and connect the hills, creating a landscape rich in classical Chinese garden charm, primarily for sightseeing and leisure. The larger western land area is divided into several green zones by pathways, planted with ornamental trees, shrubs, and flowers, serving as the main area for activities and entertainment. The entire park has a well-integrated layout, combining Chinese and Western styles with a mix of motion and tranquility, reflecting landscaping features from both ancient and modern times, as well as both domestic and international influences.

Three garden structures in the park—the Memorial Archway, the Rockery, and the Zigzag Bridge—are hailed as the “Three Wonders” of the park. The 18-meter-high Memorial Archway stands with towering pillars and blue-tiled roofing, exuding grandeur and majesty. Its front is inlaid with four embossed golden characters “Zhongshan Park” handwritten by Tan Yankai, while the back features four embossed golden characters “The World Belongs to All” handwritten by Dr. Sun Yat-sen. Behind the archway stands a full-body bronze statue of Dr. Sun Yat-sen. To the east of the archway lies a three-tiered rockery covering 1,700 square meters, meticulously built with sea stones, featuring grotesque rocks, winding paths, hidden caves, and panoramic views of the entire park from its heights. The base of the rockery retains a relief mural depicting the prosperous scene of Shantou in the 1930s, titled “Shantou Commercial Port Map,” which has been listed as a municipal cultural relic protection unit. The Zigzag Bridge is located at the northern end of Yujian Lake, covering an area of 298 square meters. It is the largest zigzag bridge of its kind in China’s garden architecture, featuring nine turns, a double-layered main pavilion, and two auxiliary pavilions. The bridge, pavilions, and railings are organically integrated, offering visitors picturesque lake and mountain views, reflections on the water, and playful fish, creating a delightful atmosphere.

The park has a long history and numerous historical relics, including 11 pavilions of varying sizes, among which the most significant are the Haoran Pavilion and the Shengzhi Pavilion. The rectangular Haoran Pavilion, located north of the park’s main playground, features glazed blue tiles and ethnic-style design. Originally built in 1932 and reconstructed on-site in 1989, it commemorates the achievements of Lin Xiuyong, a committee member involved in the park’s establishment. In 2009, it underwent a comprehensive renovation, including environmental upgrades and the creation of a peach blossom forest landscape. The Shengzhi Pavilion, situated in the children’s play area, was built in 1931. This 7-meter-high hexagonal reinforced concrete Western-style pavilion was erected to honor Gao Shengzhi, the founder of Shantou’s hydroelectric industry, for his patriotic support of the Xinhai Revolution and contributions to local public welfare.

The Guanhua Palace (also known as the Flower Exhibition Hall), located southwest of the park, was opened in 1986 and has undergone three phases of construction, with increasingly complete facilities. It is an ideal spot for viewing potted plants and rare trees. Designed using traditional Chinese garden techniques, the hall features winding corridors connecting courtyards and halls. It houses century-old banyans and podocarpus trees—rare in eastern Guangdong—as well as other rare species, along with a variety of exotic flowers and precious potted plants for visitors to admire. Among these are award-winning potted plants such as elm, banyan, hornbeam, and podocarpus, cultivated by the park’s horticulturists and having won first, second, and third prizes in national potted plant competitions. It is the largest potted plant garden in eastern Guangdong and also an important venue for receiving domestic and international guests.

Turtle Hill, located northeast of the park, was established in 1934, covering a total area of 5,400 square meters, and was built by excavating the lake and piling up earth from the lake to form the hill. Named for its resemblance to a clever turtle swimming in the lake—as if a “divine turtle emerging from water”—it neighbors Snake Hill and blends seamlessly with Yujian Lake, complementing the surrounding landscape with strong classical Chinese garden charm. In the autumn of 2009, the Turtle Hill area underwent comprehensive renovation and beautification, enhancing its elegance and pleasant environment. Turtle culture elements were incorporated, adding attractions such as a wishing stone turtle, love locks, and a wishing tree, better conveying traditional Chinese cultural meanings of blessings, longevity, and wellness. This creates a visiting environment where humans, nature, landscapes, and emotions intertwine.

The park offers comprehensive amusement and service facilities. The boating area is located in the Turtle Hill scenic zone, with Yujian Lake spanning 6.3 hectares. The lake is serene with clear waters, surrounded by beautiful landscapes, swaying tree shadows, shimmering reflections, and a delightful ambiance. There are nearly 100 boats of various types, including red-head boats, vintage cars-on-water, laser speedboats, pedal boats, and rowboats, providing services for scenic boating. The fishing area is also within the Turtle Hill scenic zone, featuring fishing platforms by the lake—an ideal spot for leisure fishing. The amusement park is located southwest of the park and was fully completed in 2007. It introduced large amusement rides such as the log flume and Tornado Knight, filling a gap in eastern Guangdong. With a well-planned layout, the amusement park offers over ten rides including pirate ships, bumper cars, space walks, and golden dragon roller coasters, suitable for all ages and becoming a favorite spot that keeps visitors coming back. Adjacent to the amusement park is the children’s play area, once the park’s main free play zone for children. It was fully renovated and refurbished in 2008 and now features three slides and a large sandbox. With a pleasant environment, shaded by lush trees, it is the perfect place for children to play and a nostalgic spot for Shantou residents to relive childhood memories. The park’s lantern riddle stage and chess tables host regular lantern riddle events and chess activities, making them key cultural activity venues. The Yueyuan Tea House, located next to the Workers-Peasants-Soldiers Stage in the central park area, was fully renovated in 2009. With a beautiful environment and shaded by trees, it is an ideal spot for leisurely tea drinking and enjoying song and dance performances.

Zhongshan Park Swimming Pool was built in 1991, covering an area of 5,400 square meters. It features a standard competition pool measuring 25×50 meters with 10 lanes, along with a children’s swimming pool. The swimming facilities are comprehensive. In 2007, it underwent a full renovation, introducing an Australian water treatment and circulation system, professional lifeguards and equipment, swimming training courses, and strict hygiene supervision. Facilities include changing rooms, clothing storage rooms, and a convenience store, making it an ideal place for citizens to swim and escape the summer heat.

The park boasts abundant plant resources, with greening efforts already well-established. It is shaded by lush trees, vibrant with greenery, and adorned with colorful flowers. Over a hundred varieties of ornamental plants are planted, including small-leaf banyans, elm trees, mangoes, kapok, royal palms, coconut palms, false betel palms, podocarpus, and cycads. In recent years, the lotus pond has been renovated and a peach blossom forest planted, creating a greening beauty of “peach blossoms in winter and lotus flowers in summer,” making it an ideal place for citizens to exercise and relax. The annual chrysanthemum exhibition held from November to December is the city’s most influential chrysanthemum show and a must-visit for traditional chrysanthemum appreciation.

To enrich citizens’ cultural and recreational activities, the park actively hosts diverse events. During holidays such as Spring Festival, National Day, and New Year’s Day, the park attracts large crowds—not only locals but also visitors from nearby cities like Chaozhou, Jieyang, and Chenghai. This historic park is now radiating new charm.

Shantou Museum is a comprehensive museum. Its location is set within the serene and elegant environment of Zhongshan Park. Established in 1960, it serves as the primary institution for collecting, educating, researching cultural relics and specimens in the Chaoshan region, as well as being an important patriotic education base and youth education service center in Shantou.

The Chaoshan Anti-Japanese War Memorial Hall is located within Zhongshan Park in Jinping District, Shantou. The museum displays numerous precious relics from the war period, including documents of abducted laborers, materials on Chaoshan pilots during the war, various issues of pictorials published by Japan during its invasion of China, weapons used by Japanese forces in Chaoshan and by local Chaoshan people in the anti-Japanese resistance, military and Japanese supplies, overseas Chinese donation letters supporting the resistance, and even handwritten testimonies of Japanese atrocities and battlefield message books left by young women in aid corps. With over 350 items, all these relics have been donated by private collectors and related charitable organizations.

Shantou Zoo is located next to the rockery in Zhongshan Park, Shantou City. Established in 1954, it is the only zoo in eastern Guangdong. Fully renovated in 2007, it now has a completely renewed look and houses over 100 rare animals of more than 40 species, including giraffes, white tigers, hippos, Siberian tigers, lions, leopards, black and white swans, etc. The zoo has built facilities such as Monkey Hill, the Red Panda House, and the Bird Viewing Platform, and offers large-scale animal performances, making it a favorite visiting and entertainment destination for citizens, especially children. The amphibian house, built next to the zoo in 2009, introduced rare amphibians such as crocodiles, sea turtles, pythons, and lizards, and also features sea lion performances, further enriching the zoo’s animal resources.

Sun Yat-sen (1866–1925), whose given name was Wen, courtesy name Zaizhi, art names Jixin and Yixian, childhood name Dixiang, and alias Zhongshan Qiao, often used Zhongshan as his name. He was 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 Guangdong people, he admired the revolutionary cause of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. He was a pioneer of China’s modern national democratic revolution, a great forerunner of the Chinese 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 anti-feudalism... More detailed information about Sun Yat-sen ++