Nanning South Lake

Nanning South Lake

Nanning South Lake: Located southeast of Nanning City, Guangxi. The lake covers an area of 1,900 mu. It was formed in the early 1950s by damming an ancient riverbed of the Yong River to store water. The lakeside is adorned with pavilions and corridors. Nearby are bamboo forests, orchards, and flower beds, creating a beautiful and pleasant scenery.

Nanning South Lake Park in Guangxi is located in the southeastern part of Nanning City. Officially opened as a park in 1972, it spans a total area of 191.92 hectares, including

90.12 hectares of land area and 101.8 hectares of water area. It is a comprehensive park that combines aquatic landscapes with subtropical garden scenery, ideal for water-based recreational activities. The park features attractions such as the Li Mingrui and Wei Baqun Baise Uprising Exhibition Hall, a bonsai garden, an orchid garden, a flower garden, a children’s playground, and a water recreation city. Surrounding the lake are attractions like South Lake Square and the Famous Trees Expo Garden, making it a great destination for sightseeing, leisure, and entertainment, as well as a key venue for cultural events during major holidays. Park Overview: Located in the southeastern part of Nanning City, South Lake Park is a comprehensive park primarily focused on ornamental plants, showcasing the ethnic characteristics of Guangxi and the scenery of the subtropics. The park is situated in the Langdong Development Zone of Nanning, bordered by the Maoqiao Flood Control Dyke, Langdong Village, and Langxi Village to the east, Binhu Road and Shuangyong Road to the south, Taoyuan Road to the west, and the Guangxi Arts Institute, - Village, and Xiaoma Village to the north. It covers a total area of 191.92 hectares, including 90.12 hectares of land and 101.8 hectares of water. Originally consisting of the South Lake Nursery and South Lake Fish Farm, it merged into the South Lake Scenic Area in the mid-1960s and was officially named South Lake Park in July 1973. It opened to the public for free on October 1, 2002, attracting over 5 million visitors annually.

To enjoy South Lake, you can either go boating on the lake or fishing along the shore; or admire the subtropical flowers and plants. The lakeside greenery features tropical trees such as palms, Chinese fan palms, and king palms; roadside plantings include butterfly trees, paperbarks, and silver birches. The Hundred Flowers Garden cultivates over a hundred varieties of precious flowers, including golden camellias, as well as rare bamboos and trees like Buddha’s Belly Bamboo, Norfolk Island Pines, and Taiwan Acacia.

South Lake Park boasts a prime location and vast grounds, primarily offering services for sightseeing, entertainment, garden flower production, and aquaculture. The park includes attractions such as the Li Mingrui and Wei Baqun Baise Uprising Exhibition Hall, the Betel Garden, the Bonsai Garden, the Orchid Garden, the Children’s Playground, and other mini-parks and facilities. Surrounding the lake are sites like South Lake Square and the Famous Trees Expo Garden. The park features shimmering waters, gentle waves, and the sensation of drifting on a jade ribbon; the land is filled with blooming flowers, fragrant scents throughout the seasons, lush green lawns, making it a perfect spot for tourism, leisure, and cultural events during major holidays. Key Attraction: South Lake

South Lake is the largest inner lake within Nanning’s urban area. In ancient times, it was the old course of the Maoqiao River (Yongxi Stream), and whenever the Yong River flooded, water would backflow into it, causing inundation in southern Nanning.

During the Yonghe era of the Tang Dynasty (710–711 AD), Lu Ren, the magistrate of Yongzhou, mobilized laborers to construct a flood diversion and storage project here, forming a lake to alleviate flood disasters. The shallower parts of the lake were later turned into farmland. After the founding of New China, the lake underwent multiple dredging projects, and trees and flowers were planted along its shores, gradually developing it into a scenic area.

The lake stretches from east to west and is divided into three sections: Upper Lake, Middle Lake, and Lower Lake, featuring a predominantly linear water system with a relatively large geographical span. The total shoreline of South Lake is approximately 7,975 meters, including 3,560 meters on the north bank, 330 meters on the east bank, 3,685 meters on the south bank, and 400 meters on the west bank. The lake now has cross-lake causeways, a seven-arch bridge, an 8.17-kilometer lakeside walking path, and a roughly 30- to 40-meter-wide green belt encircling the lake. Visitors can take leisurely walks or enjoy boat rides on the water.

Due to its expansive waters, lush trees, and proximity to the city center, South Lake Park attracts a concentrated flow of visitors, and many cultural performances are held here during festivals.

Li Mingrui and Wei Baqun Baise Uprising Exhibition Hall

Completed in November 1984. The architecture of the exhibition hall imitates the style of traditional Zhuang-style houses from Donglan, where the martyrs once operated, presenting a simple yet elegant design with strong ethnic characteristics. Party and state leaders such as -, -, and Mo Wenhuai, as well as veteran Red Army soldiers, have visited the museum and inscribed words of commendation. The exhibition hall displays 52 artifacts, over 140 photographs, and 42 historical documents (volumes) related to martyrs Li Mingrui and Wei Baqun, as well as the Baise Uprising, Longzhou Uprising, Red Seventh Army, and Red Eighth Army, vividly documenting the revolutionary journeys and achievements of these two martyrs. It also showcases the grand historical narrative of the Baise Uprising, Longzhou Uprising, and the establishment and struggles of the Red Seventh Army, Red Eighth Army, and the Left-Right River Revolutionary Base from 1929 to 1931, all under the leadership of proletarian revolutionaries like - and Zhang Yunyi.

In front of the exhibition hall stands the Monument to the Baise Uprising, with a square base measuring four meters in height and topped with a group sculpture of the martyrs. The front of the base bears an inscription by Comrade - on December 11, 1981: “In memory of comrades Li Mingrui, Wei Baqun, and others; the revolutionary martyrs of the Baise Uprising will live forever.” The back of the base is inscribed with the full text of the “Monument Inscription.”

The Baise Uprising Exhibition Hall has become an important site for commemorating revolutionary martyrs and providing revolutionary tradition and patriotic education to citizens, especially youth. Every year, large numbers of visitors, including students, come here to pay their respects. In November 1996, the exhibition hall was officially designated as a Nanning Patriotic Education Base and National Defense Education Base. In January 1999, it was named a Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Patriotic Education Base.

Orchid Garden

The Orchid Garden is the only specialized orchid exhibition garden in Nanning. The elegant and fragrant orchids fill the air with their scent. During the International Dragon Boat Invitational Tournament held at South Lake,

then Chairman - personally visited South Lake and instructed: “More orchids loved by the people should be planted.” Subsequently, the park began constructing the Orchid Garden, which opened in the spring of 1973. Covering one hectare, the garden cultivates 52 varieties of Guangxi-native orchids, totaling over 1,000 pots. Year-round displays feature precious varieties such as Spring Orchid, Cymbidium, Summer Orchid, and Ink Orchid, as well as 26 tropical orchid varieties with unique leaves, beautiful blooms, vibrant colors, and delightful fragrances, totaling over 400 pots. The garden’s orchids compete in beauty, exuding subtle fragrance, while butterflies flutter and birds sing amid pavilions, corridors, ponds, small bridges, and flowing water, creating a refined and enchanting atmosphere.

Bonsai Garden

The Bonsai Garden is the only specialized bonsai exhibition garden in Nanning, covering 1.2 hectares. Opened in December 1978, it was one of the main projects celebrating the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The garden features exquisite and unique designs, integrating pavilions, corridors, shelters, trees, bridges, water features, and rocks, with winding paths and delicate charm, embodying the style of southern gardens. It displays over 350 bonsai pieces, including landscape and tree-stump bonsai, featuring species such as Murraya paniculata, Ficus microcarpa, elm, elm, Fujian tea, snow rose, and bamboo. The first section of the garden greets visitors with a mix of large and small stone mountain bonsai and potted plants shaped from the evergreen Murraya paniculata. Passing through a bamboo path leads to the second section, designed around fixed pine-stone, bamboo-stone, and mountain scenes, featuring various large, medium, and small bonsai. Stepping onto a wooden bridge reveals the third section, showcasing small, intricate stone mountains, tree plantings, pavilions, bridges, boats, white cranes, and human figures, all lifelike and captivating, leaving visitors relaxed and reluctant to leave.

South Lake Rainforest Lakeside Landscape Belt

The South Lake Rainforest Lakeside Landscape Belt is one of the most important scenic points in Nanning’s urban green space system. The “Rainforest Landscape Belt” features multi-layered and multi-row tree planting, complemented by patchy and blocky flower belts and flower mirrors. Vertically, from ground level to the treetops, the rainforest landscape consists of ground cover plants, shrubs, vines, flowering plants, and trees. Horizontally (from South Lake Bridge to Jintou), there are five major scenic sections: the first is the Aerial Root and Board “Big Tree Forest” Mist Forest Landscape

Root Landscape Section, primarily featuring species like banyan trees, kapok, and figs; the second is the Old Stem Flowering and Fruiting Landscape Section, mainly showcasing jackfruit and figs; the third is the Unique Leaf and Fruit Shape Landscape Section, highlighting species like schisandra, snake gourd trees, and breadfruit trees; the fourth is the Climbing, Hanging, and Epiphytic Plant Landscape Section, dominated by bird’s nest ferns, monstera, and pothos; the fifth is the Foliage Plant Landscape Section.

Another innovative highlight of South Lake Park is the “Wizard of Oz” effect created by its unique tree irrigation system. Unlike traditional flood irrigation or the commonly used drip and spray irrigation systems in other cities, this beautiful southern green city has pioneered a mist-spraying irrigation method. This system operates similarly to a humidifier, with nozzles installed atop trees to sprinkle fine droplets over the woods and lawns while creating a mist in the air. Under sunlight, the mist-covered park resembles a mythical fairyland, becoming a much-anticipated scenic spot for couples and visitors.

South Lake Lakeside Walking Path

The South Lake Lakeside Walking Path project commenced in November 2008, spanning a total length of about 4,100 meters, including 1,715 meters on the north bank, 360 meters on the east bank, 1,755 meters on the south bank, and 270 meters on the west bank, with 8,401.5 square meters of leisure areas (including wooden boardwalks and platforms).

The walking path is designed around the linear water body and rich plant landscape of South Lake, centered on ecological principles, and creates a waterfront ecological space through a network of green corridors. Integrating pathways, open spaces, and the lakeside loop road, the walking path forms a complete and interconnected leisure network, extending the range of visitor activities and organically combining lakeside recreation with ecological rainforest greening. It maximizes the ecological benefits of “water” and “trees,” creating a sustainable green waterfront corridor that coexists with nature. The walking path is divided into four scenic sections: Green Ecology, Lakeside Leisure, Sports & Culture, and Entertainment & Landscape.

The Waterfront Promenade is designed based on the ribbon-like water body of South Lake and its rich plant landscape, with an ecological concept at its core. It creates an ecologically friendly waterfront space around South Lake through a network of green corridors. Integrating with park pathways, open spaces, and the lakeside road, the promenade forms a complete and connected leisure walking network. This achieves an "extension" and "growth" of visitor activity areas, organically combining lakeside recreation with ecological rainforest greening. It maximizes the ecological benefits of both "water" and "trees," creating a sustainable, nature-coexisting green waterfront corridor. The promenade is divided into four scenic sections: the Green Ecology Section, the Lakeside Leisure Section, the Sports & Culture Section, and the Entertainment & Landscape Section.

A well-connected network of leisure pathways in the park extends and expands visitors' activity areas, organically integrating waterfront gardens with ecologically rich rainforest greenery. This maximizes the ecological benefits of both "water" and "trees," creating a sustainable, nature-coexisting green waterfront corridor. The water-friendly pathways are divided into four scenic sections: the Green Ecology Section, the Waterfront Leisure Section, the Sports & Culture Section, and the Entertainment & Landscape Section.

Green Ecology Section: With a total length of 1,495 meters, the design primarily continues the landscape model of the waterfront promenade and viewing wooden platforms from the demonstration section, adding leisure facilities such as landscape pergolas. The waterfront promenade adopts a free and lively curvilinear layout, while the revetment renovation incorporates riverbank stones and accents it with blooming shrubs along the water. In localized areas such as Xiaolangkou, cantilevered arc-shaped leisure platforms are combined with waterfront pathways to meet both circulation and sightseeing needs.

Waterside Leisure Section: Spanning 1,120 meters in total, this section is close to key landmarks such as the Wei Baqun and Li Mingrui Martyrs Exhibition Hall and the Nine-Arch Bridge, featuring good greening and well-equipped facilities.

Sports & Culture Section: Located on both the east and west sides of Nanhu Lake, this area has a combined waterfront promenade length of 1,350 meters. Based on current pedestrian activity patterns and the geographical layout of Nanhu Lake, the important function of sports and fitness is integrated into the lakeside promenade, along with local and ethnic cultural elements, fully meeting the needs of nearby residents and showcasing strong regional and cultural characteristics.

Scenic Leisure Section: This area mainly extends from the north gate of Nanhu Park to the Art Academy, with a shoreline stretching 1,600 meters and a waterfront promenade of 1,200 meters. The landscape design mainly employs the technique of borrowed scenery, setting up wooden boardwalks, waterfront promenades, and viewing platforms in areas with open sightlines along the lake, highlighting the functions of viewing and appreciating the scenery. Durable natural stone materials are predominantly used in this section.

South Lake South Square (Famous Trees Expo Garden)

Located by the picturesque South Lake, the South Lake South Square covers an area of 31 hectares and was opened to the public on November 17, 2002. With its unique landscape charm and beautiful, expansive environment, the square is an important component of the South Lake scenic area—the Famous Trees Expo Garden within it features "large tree bonsai."

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The design of the South Lake South Square mainly follows a sparse woodland and grassland style, characterized by the planting of large and famous trees. There are 21 species and over 600 large trees planted here, including more than 170 with a diameter at breast height of over 1 meter, and over 300 large-sized palm plants. The trees planted are mainly native species and subtropical plants, such as banyan, mango, and royal palm, with a small number of foreign species introduced, such as bodhi and date palms. Due to the high cost of planting large trees, to raise funds, the Capital Greening Committee held a “Donation Mobilization Meeting for Building the South Lake South Square” on September 24, 2002, calling on all citizens to contribute their love and strength for creating a better home. The people of Nanning responded enthusiastically, donating generously. During the three-month fundraising campaign, over 7.8 million yuan was collected, resolving most of the funding issues.

The central area of the South Lake South Square features the March 3rd Folk Song Square, which serves as the main event venue. The architecture of the folk song square is simple yet majestic, embodying the ambiance of “blue sky, clear water, fragrant grass, and the resonance of folk songs among green city trees.”

South Lake Square

Exiting the South Lake South Square and crossing Minzu Avenue, you’ll arrive at South Lake Square, which is just a road away. South Lake Square was one of the key urban construction projects in Nanning in 2000, completed on September 28 of that year with a total investment of 18 million yuan. The construction area covers 78,900 square meters, including 52,900 square meters of green space, achieving a green coverage rate of 79%, and 11,300 square meters of paved pathways. Its landscape mainly includes a large-scale integrated water feature project combining music fountains. The water area of this project exceeds 8,800 square meters and consists of the fountain center square, municipal square, high-end South Lake Park—mesmerizing night views.

Golf-themed landscape greenery, garden lighting, supporting garden buildings, and small landscape facilities.

South Lake Square is a strip-style open green leisure plaza, fronting South Lake directly and adjacent to the east side with administrative office zones such as the municipal government, Nanning News Center, and Xinhua News Agency Guangxi Branch. These modern urban landscapes, dominated by high-rise buildings, form a distinctive facade backdrop for the square. The integration of “water” and “city” meets the recreational, entertainment, and sightseeing needs of residents; the golf course also allows ordinary people to experience the nobility and elegance of the sport.

The lighting design of South Lake Square is very refined. The ship-shaped high-mast lights, made of imported materials, feature novel and unique designs. In addition to the high-mast lights, there are also varied courtyard lights, lawn lights, 4.5-meter reflective lights, 2.5-meter streetlights, and lakeside column lights.

The music fountains at South Lake Square come in three control modes: sound-controlled, programmed, and manually controlled, with sound control offering the best effect. The fountains are controlled by imported variable frequency speed regulation systems, producing patterns that jump up and down with the intensity of the signals. Notable water patterns of the music fountains include “Return to Nature,” “Flowers in Full Bloom,” “Soaring to the Clouds,” “Celebrating a Bumper Harvest,” “Threads of Light,” “Thriving,” “Prosperity,” and “Harmony between Man and Nature.”

South Lake Water Screen Movie

The South Lake New City Water Screen Movie Integrated Water Feature Project is a key project under Nanning’s “136” initiative in 2003, invested in by the Xincheng District Government of Nanning. This water feature project integrates a water screen movie, laser shows, and music fountains, spanning approximately 330 meters in total length, with a total investment of over 26 million yuan. It is currently the largest, most diverse in expression, and highest in technological content integrated water feature project in China.

Currently the largest comprehensive water show project in China in terms of scale, the richest variety of presentation forms, and the highest level of technological content.

The water screen movie integrated water feature creates a dazzling, colorful, dreamlike, magnificent, and mirage-like dynamic water spectacle through water screen imagery, artistic lasers, 3D animation, music fountains, water mist paintings, underwater fireworks, and sound and light effects. It delivers an extremely powerful audiovisual impact and represents the most popular high-tech water feature art internationally. The project has a total installed capacity of 2,800 KW, with 6,620 nozzles, 8,381 underwater colored lights, 6 computer-controlled color spotlights with a projection height of 1,000 meters, and 282 kilometers of cable lines. The fountain arrangement spans 330 meters in total length, featuring various water patterns, including the powerful main jets “Century Rainbow” and “Thousand Horses Galloping” reaching up to 80 meters, as well as the delicate and elegant “Hibiscus Flower” and “Sea Breeze Playing the Zither.” It also includes internationally pioneering designs utilizing aerospace technology such as “Star of Technology,” “Golden Dragon Spouting Water,” and “Flying Saucer,” along with various new freely interchangeable domestic water patterns. The water screen movie system uses the latest American high-lumen projectors and full-color lasers, not only projecting clear and realistic images on the water screen but also displaying vivid specially produced water screen films. There are also custom-made films showcasing the beautiful scenery of Green City Nanning and the ethnic culture of Guangxi. Additionally, it is compatible with playing various LD, VCD, and DVD films. Most interestingly, through on-site projection, people can see their own reflections on the water screen, enabling interaction with the water screen and providing a brand-new entertainment experience.

The South Lake Water Screen Movie Integrated Water Feature Project took only six months from design and construction to completion and was officially put into use on the evening of September 3, 2003. During the 2003 National Day holiday, over 400,000 citizens watched the water screen movie. Within just half a year of opening, inspection groups from over 10 provinces (autonomous regions) and cities—including Beijing, Gansu, Inner Mongolia, Guizhou, Zhengzhou, Ningbo, Tangshan, Hohhot, Beihai, and Baise—visited the site. The China Water Feature Fountain Committee praised it as “the largest water screen projection, laser performance, and large-scale music fountain integrated water feature project in Asia to date, reflecting the pinnacle and innovation of domestic fountains.”

South Lake South Bank Cruise Terminal: (Three painted pleasure boat routes) South Lake South Bank Cruise Terminal Map

The South Lake South Bank Cruise Terminal is located behind the water screen movie, near the Wharton International Hotel and the South Lake Bridge. In Nanning, you can take buses 12, 25, 29, 33, 46, 49, 56, 220, 607, 609, 705, or 706 to reach the terminal (bus stop: South Lake Square). Currently, Nanning Water City Tourism Development Co., Ltd. operates three cruise routes from the South Lake South Bank Cruise Terminal. The boats also cater to various business meetings, weddings, private charters, and other events.

Boarding an antique-style pleasure boat at the South Lake South Bank Cruise Terminal, you gently glide across the lake. At night, the artificial waterfall of the South Lake Bridge is dazzling, and the tallest building in Nanning—the Diwang Building—comes into view. As the tallest building in Southwest China, it stands 276 meters high with 58 floors and a total investment of 500 million yuan. The Diwang Building is positioned as Nanning’s only international 5A-grade premium office building. The nighttime scenery of Langdong is fully visible. A 752-meter cultural corridor—connected to an open channel—is adorned with relief murals made from locally sourced Guangxi stone, designed by renowned sculptors from Guangxi with international acclaim. The murals employ a restrained, atmospheric, and simple carving style, highlighting the historical and cultural heritage of Nanning, the capital of Guangxi, and authentically integrating distinctive Guangxi features.

Pleasure Boat Route 1: South Lake – Connected Open Channel – Manual Ship Lock – Xianbin Lake – Bamboo Raft River – Folk Song Lake

List Price: 100 yuan/person during the day, 150 yuan/person at night

Business Hours: 9:00–18:00 during the day, 19:30–23:00 at night

Boarding Terminal: South Lake Terminal, Estimated Duration: About 60 minutes

Services Included: One captain, one guide, one sailor, and one bottle of mineral water per person.

Discount Policy: Seniors, military personnel, and students receive discounts with valid ID; please inquire at the ticket window for details. Children under 1.3 meters are free (without occupying a seat), and one adult may bring one free child. Children between 1.3 and 1.5 meters enjoy a 50% discount off the list price.

Pleasure Boat Route 2: South Lake – Connected Open Channel – South Lake

List price: 50 RMB/person during the day, 50 RMB/person at night

Business hours: 9:00–18:00 during the day, 19:30–23:00 at night

Boarding dock: South Lake Dock | Tour duration: approx. 40 minutes

Services included: one captain, commentary service

Discount policy: Children under 1.3 m are free of charge (no seat provided), one adult may bring one free child;

Children between 1.3 m and 1.5 m enjoy a 50% discount off the list price.

Painted pleasure boat tour route 3: South Lake pleasure boat lakeside cruise

List price: 30 RMB/person during the day, 30 RMB/person at night

Business hours: 9:00–18:00 during the day, 19:30–23:00 at night

Boarding dock: South Lake Dock | Tour duration: approx. 30 minutes

Services included: one captain, electronic commentary

Discount policy: Children under 1.3 m are free of charge (no seat provided), one adult may bring one free child;

Children between 1.3 m and 1.5 m enjoy a 50% discount off the list price.

Guide service: If guide commentary service is required, one guide will be assigned at a rate of 50 RMB per boat trip.