Yuan Chonghuan Memorial Park

Yuan Chonghuan Memorial Park

Yuan Chonghuan Memorial Park serves as both a science education base and a patriotic education base.

Located on Shuinan Section of Chonghuan East Road, Shijie Town, Dongguan City—birthplace and former residence of Yuan Chonghuan—the Yuan Chonghuan Memorial Park is a patriotic education base in Guangdong Province. Covering an area of over 48,000 square meters and nestled by the Dong River with a distant view of Liuhua, the park features beautiful scenery of lake reflections and willow-lined banks. The site includes a memorial archway, a stone statue of Yuan Chonghuan, the Yuan Governor’s Shrine, relief carvings portraying his life story, his former residence, a ceremonial tomb, and the Sanjie Temple. It officially opened in January 2003. The site of Yuan Chonghuan’s former residence was designated as a cultural relic protection unit of Shijie Town on June 6, 1984. Since February 2010, it has been a public cultural institution in Dongguan.

Yuan Chonghuan was a patriotic hero and renowned general of the late Ming Dynasty who fought against the Later Jin. To showcase his glorious deeds, promote his noble spirit, advance traditional Chinese culture, and cultivate moral excellence, the Yuan Chonghuan Memorial Park adopts the "Chonghuan Spirit" as its core theme. It integrates Ming-style architecture, statues, reliefs, couplets, poetry, and calligraphy to create an important patriotic and moral education base in Guangdong, adding luster to Dongguan’s reputation as a cultural city.

The park houses a meticulously crafted stone statue of Yuan Chonghuan by renowned sculptor Pan He, along with nineteen hand-carved relief carvings chronicling his legendary achievements. The majestic and solemn Sanjie Temple and Yuan Governor’s Shrine, with their classic ancient charm, pay tribute to Yuan Chonghuan’s unwavering loyalty. The park also features pavilions, winding corridors, green-tiled eaves, and red walls arranged harmoniously. In spring, flaming pomegranate blossoms, birdsong, and fragrant flowers thrive; in summer, rippling waters, ripe lychees, and cicada chirps abound; in autumn, sweet osmanthus, elegant bamboo, and fragrant orchids fill the air; and in winter, camellias bloom crimson while fish play in the ponds. It has become a key cultural facility and tourist attraction in Dongguan. (Source: Publicity Department of the CPC Dongguan Municipal Committee)

Address: No. 212, Chonghuan East Road, Shijie Town, Dongguan City

Type: Celebrity Former Residence Memorial

Recommended Visiting Time: 2–3 hours

Phone: 0769-86300062

Official Website: http://www.ych.org.cn/

Opening Hours: 8:30–17:00

Ticket Information: Free admission.

Parking: Free parking available.

Yuan Chonghuan (1584–1630), styled Yuansu and also known as Ziru, nicknamed Yuan Governor, was a famous general of the late Ming Dynasty. Yuan achieved major victories at Ningyuan and Ningjin, effectively resisting Qing forces, but resigned and returned home due to conflicts with Wei Zhongxian. After Emperor Chongzhen Zhu Youjian ascended the throne and purged Wei Zhongxian, Yuan was reinstated. However, he was later falsely accused of colluding with the Later Jin during a battle against Hong Taiji, leading to his execution by lingchi (death by a thousand cuts) under Emperor Chongzhen’s decree. His family was exiled 3,000 li away, and his property was confiscated. Yuan Chonghuan authored poems such as "Failing the Imperial Exam," "Admiring the Moon During Autumn Exams," "Imprisonment," and "Moon Over the Prison…" More details about Yuan Chonghuan++

Shuinan Village: Hometown of national hero Yuan Chonghuan—Shuinan is located in the eastern part of Shijie Town, covering an area of approximately 3.5 square kilometers with a permanent population of 3,400. It consists of four village groups: Dongci, Chenwu, Jiaren, and Maizhou. To the east, it borders the ancient town of Shilong and the Guangzhou-Shenzhen Railway; to the south lies the scenic Dong River; it is 78 km from Shenzhen, west of the Shijie Bridge leading to downtown Dongguan, and 62 km north of Guangzhou. The village enjoys convenient land and water transportation.

In 2005, it ranked 38th among 500 villages in the city with a two-tier net asset value exceeding 200 million yuan and fiscal disposable income totaling over 30 million yuan… More details about Shuinan Village++

Further Reading:

· China National Third-Class Museum