Fuchuan Ruiguang Park

Fuchuan Ruiguang Park

Fuchuan Ruiguang Park, located in a corner of the southern suburbs of Fuchuan County, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, is essentially the city park of Fuchuan. It likely got its name from the ancient Ruiguang Pagoda within the park. Though not very large, the park features facilities with distinct Yao ethnic characteristics. Many major cultural and recreational events in Fuchuan, such as the annual Yao Panwang Festival, are mostly held here.

Entering Ruiguang Park from the main streets of the county town, you first have to pass through a wind-and-rain bridge. This bridge serves as the gateway to the park and is rich in Yao ethnic architectural features. It has a covered corridor structure, and many of the couplets on the bridge are quite eloquent. For example, the phoenix-head-style couplet at the bridge’s name reads: “Scenic views delight people; people enjoy the scenery, blending into a fairyland. A painted bridge in the rain hides within the rain, yet the bridge surpasses Penglai.” The east gate couplet reads: “Overlooking the Yue region, the Pearl River’s source flows leisurely eastward, while the Fushui River winds back toward the South Sea. Gazing afar at the Chu sky, the ancient Qin Emperor’s road stretches far north, with Mengling Ridge unguarded, leading all the way to Chang’an.” The west gate couplet reads: “A golden phoenix cries in the east as a pagoda soars, where the ancient Ci Yun Temple weathers wind and rain. A jade dragon comes from the west as three bridges leap across, as the bright city of Fuyang experiences the passage of dynasties.”

Ruiguang Pagoda is situated about 500 meters south of the county town of Fuchuan Yao Autonomous County, at a sharp bend on the western bank of the Fushi River. It is commonly known as the Guanyin Pagoda or Guanyin Pavilion because it once housed a recessed-carved statue of the Goddess of Mercy.

The pagoda is a seven-story, hexagonal brick structure in the pavilion style, standing 28 meters tall. Its foundation is buried 4.8 meters deep, and the spire is topped with a 400-kilogram bronze finial. Each level has a door that rotates clockwise in orientation. The top level features windows on all six sides. Inside the pagoda, a spiral brick staircase with 78 steps leads to the top. From the summit, visitors can enjoy views of three of the “Eight Scenic Spots of Fuchuan”: “Rushing Waters of Fushui,” “Layered Peaks Towering in Verdure,” and “Mountain Springs Cascading Down.” The area around the pagoda is shaded by lush trees, with the clear Yuquan Spring adding to the serene and elegant atmosphere.

The Fuchuan Yao Ethnic Museum features a highly creative design. The structure of the building resembles the Chinese character “富” (Fù, meaning “prosperous”), while the three small bridges in front of the museum resemble the character “川” (Chuān, meaning “river”).