Beibuwan Square

Beibuwan Square

Beibuwan Square is located at the intersection of Beibuwan Middle Road, Sichuan Road, and Changqing Road in the city center of Beihai. It was first built in December 1985, with an original area of 2 hectares. The design was selected from six influential architectural planning proposals nationwide, and the design by the Department of Architecture at Tsinghua University won the bid. The city’s landscaping department organized technical personnel to develop a landscaping plan based on the design, and in the spring of 1986, carried out the planting of greenery in Beibuwan Square. According to the plan, tall trees such as longan, kapok, Norfolk Island pine, and king palm were planted in the square. A centuries-old banyan tree located on the north side of the square was transplanted in one day by a team of about 300 people from the landscaping department and 17 other organizations during the Qingming Festival in 1986. The 120-year-old tree, weighing approximately 60 tons including soil and root ball, originally stood in front of the municipal government on Jiefang Road, and was moved to Beibuwan Square. This was a remarkable achievement in the landscaping history of Beihai and even Guangxi.

In 1986, according to the plan, the “Pearl of the South Soul” sculpture was built on the north side of the square. The sculpture design was created by the renowned Chinese sculptor Professor Ye Yushan. The entire sculpture covers an area of 600 square meters and consists of three parts: a pool, a sculpture group, and a monument. The pool is circular, with a diameter of 13.8 meters and a water capacity of 150 square meters, symbolizing the sea. At the center of the pool stands a pearl shell-shaped monument that is 12 meters high. The three-dimensional three-petal shell holds a 1-meter-diameter stainless steel sphere, symbolizing a radiant pearl nurtured within the shell. Surrounding the main monument in the pool are three groups of uniquely designed sculptures: a pearl maiden riding a sea fish, a young fisherman riding a sea turtle, and an old fisherman riding a sea horse. Each group of statues is 5 meters high and cast in alloy bronze. In 1993, lighting and fountain facilities were added to the pool. When night falls, the monument, sculptures, lights, and fountains create a magnificent and splendid scene.

From 1996 to 1997, to meet the needs of urban development, the municipal government invested 15 million yuan to carry out a large-scale third-phase renovation and expansion of Beibuwan Square. The area of the square expanded from the original 2 hectares to 4 hectares. The renovated and expanded Beibuwan Square consists of five functional areas: the “Pearl of the South Soul” central area, the municipal square area, the central axis area, the cultural square area, and the large lawn area. The central area, with the “Pearl of the South Soul” statue as its iconic structure, serves as the core functional zone of the square. The pool, fountains, sculpture group, and surrounding flower stands set off the grand and majestic “Pearl of the South Soul” sculpture, fully reflecting the culture of southern pearls and local characteristics. It has become a key attraction for visitors to enjoy the cityscape and the centerpiece of the square. The hard-surface space near Sichuan Road is the municipal square area, mainly designed for small gatherings and leisure activities. The landscaping in the municipal square area features the broad-leaved tree Alstonia scholaris as the main species. This tree, rich in subtropical characteristics, has smooth and simple trunks, beautiful layered tower-like shapes, resembling a large umbrella that provides ample shade, creating a neat and harmonious leisure environment.

The cultural square area, close to Beibuwan Middle Road, consists of a shaded plaza, an open-air performance plaza, and an exhibition hall. The shaded plaza’s landscaping primarily uses the broad-leaved tree Ficus microcarpa var. fuyangensis, which can be pruned into square or spherical shapes according to growth, forming a neat and orderly green landscape for the plaza. Under the trees, there are simple yet distinctive “C”-shaped wooden benches with a tropical flair, along with lively-designed newspaper stands. The open-air performance plaza is an open public cultural, entertainment, and rest area built on the original terrain, covering an area of about 2,000 square meters. Following the natural slope, it includes a long water curtain wall, a giant relief sculpture “The Rhythm of the Sea,” an open-air performance stage, a music teahouse, tiered audience stands, arcade-style shops, sloped flower beds, and wheelchair-accessible ramps. These landscaping features create an elegant and uniquely scenic outdoor environment. The exhibition hall is a uniquely designed building with a spherical shell roof, repurposed from the original water plant reservoir. Covering an area of about 500 square meters, it features a beamless brick arch structure. It preserves historical architectural craftsmanship while serving as a public exhibition space, enriching the cultural content of the square.

Between Changqing Road and the “Pearl of the South Soul” sculpture lies the central axis area of the square. On both sides of the central axis are two large lawns. Near the planned roads and square roads, the lawns are planted with a large number of tropical palm plants such as coconut trees, betel palms, and sugar palms. The use of strip flowers, large flower stands, and shaped shrubs ensures a suitable proportion between the hard and soft surfaces of the square, integrating them seamlessly and reflecting the rich subtropical urban scenery with a strong modern city feel. After the renovation and expansion, the five functional areas of Beibuwan Square are both independently functional and closely interconnected, forming an overall spatial layout of “one center and three wings.” This establishes a comprehensive, integrated modern urban square functional system, making it a key destination in Beihai for sightseeing, leisure, recreation, events, and hosting cultural and entertainment activities.