Crocodile Lake Park

Crocodile Lake Park

Crocodile Lake is situated between the upper and lower sections of the old city district, covering a water area of 12 hectares. Though it may not rival the grandeur of Hangzhou’s West Lake — often likened to a lady of noble birth — it can be regarded as a delicate beauty in its own right. Though it lacks the profound historical and cultural depth of West Lake, it is imbued with the cultural and intellectual essence of the Hakka people. Attractions within the park include: Yuanying Pavilion, Huarong Bridge, Mingfeng Bridge, Mingfeng Pavilion, and more.

The Story of Crocodile Lake

According to historical records, Crocodile Lake was dug during the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty. It was commissioned by “Zheng Bangfu of the separate command, Magistrate Lin Guoxiang, and local official Li Tao, who petitioned Regional Commander Chen” to be excavated between the upper and lower city areas, serving purposes of city defense, water storage, and flood prevention. Originally, the lake covered less than 10,000 square meters, with water sourced from springs in Gui Mountain. It was connected to Yingchun Bridge — also known as Yingjiao Bridge — which spanned the upper and lower cities. In reality, it was a very narrow earthen embankment, with a wooden bridge over the midsection where the water was shallow. In the 20th year of the Qianlong reign during the Qing Dynasty (1755 AD), County Magistrate Zhang Lin initiated renovations, raising and widening the bridge, reconstructing the embankment with stone, and renaming it Mingfeng Bridge. A pavilion was also built on the bridge. The northern side of Crocodile Lake featured an earthen embankment that was often flooded, narrow, and uneven, deterring pedestrians. In the 9th year of the Republic of China (1920 AD), local figures Li Kecheng, Qiu Zhaoshan, Jiang Rujie, Xu Guoqing, and others appealed to wealthy merchants and affluent households to fund improvements. The embankment surface was raised, stone railings were installed on both sides, and it was named Feiluan Bridge.

By the eve of liberation, after enduring three hundred years of weathering, Crocodile Lake had seen some repairs by well-meaning individuals, but showed little overall improvement.

After the liberation, the Communist Party and the people’s government placed great emphasis on the renovation and beautification of Crocodile Lake, transforming it into a completely renewed landmark.

In the spring of 1983, the county and town-level governments of Heyuan jointly funded the expansion of Mingfeng Bridge. The bridge deck was widened to 11.2 meters, paved with cement, and flanked by railings, with trees and flowers planted along the sides. The pavilion in the middle of the bridge was restored to its original appearance, featuring a reinforced concrete structure with green tiles and upturned eaves, giving it a distinctive charm. The stone pillars were inscribed with two couplets penned by Xu Guoguan, the father-in-law of martyr Ruan Xiaoxian. The eastern couplet reads: “Leaning on the railing, the light through the phoenix trees returns to the pavilion courtyard, as if phoenixes alight; holding the fishing rod, the waves stir the pond, bringing one close to becoming a dragon.” The western couplet reads: “The pavilion offers shade from the heat — why not leave your footprints, dear traveler? The bridge lies on the main road — as a man passes here, let him lift his head high.”

In 1990, with the support of the Heyuan Municipal People’s Government, the Yuanhui District People’s Government established an urban construction command, raising over 2.5 million yuan to build a street garden and renovate Crocodile Lake. After more than a year of round-the-clock construction, all buildings south of Renmin Road were demolished, connecting Renmin Road, Kuangwutang, and Dongmentang into a unified space, creating Crocodile Lake Park spanning 20,000 square meters. Protective walls were built around the lake; to the east, a wide and straight tree-lined lakeside boulevard was constructed; to the west, a floral path for leisurely strolls was laid out. Using Mingfeng Bridge as the central divider, two lake islands were created on the left and right sections of the lake, covering approximately 500 and 300 square meters respectively. A six-curve flat bridge was erected on the northern section of the lake, leading to a hexagonal pavilion on the island, funded by entrepreneur Mr. Kuang Weifang. The southern section features a stone-arch bridge leading directly to a small island.

On the southern side of Renmin Road, by Crocodile Lake, a street garden was constructed. The garden is adorned with towering 24-meter-high overhead sun lamps at both ends; in the center, there are stone tables, stone benches, and spherical street lamps.

As the bells of the new millennium rang, and the 21st century began, in its drive to become a top-tier tourist city in China, the Heyuan Municipal People’s Government strengthened municipal development. It introduced pleasure boats on Crocodile Lake, built fountains, and invested heavily in renovating and beautifying Hualong Road and Taiping Street. The “Taiping Folk Street” and Renmin Road were revitalized, forming a stunning scenic belt together with Crocodile Lake Park.