Guangzhou People's Park
The park is situated along Guangzhou’s traditional central axis, covering an area of 44,600 square meters, and is the city’s earliest established comprehensive park. Known as the “No. 1 Park of Guangzhou” and also called Central Park, the location has been used as government offices since the Sui Dynasty. In the Yuan Dynasty, it was the site of the Guangdong Circuit Censorate, during the Ming Dynasty it housed the Regional Military Command, and it once served as the royal palace of the Southern Ming Shao Wu regime. In the Qing Dynasty, it was used as the residence of the Prince of Pingnan and later as the office of the Governor of Guangdong. In the early years of the Republic of China, there were no public parks in Guangzhou. In 1917, Sun Yat-sen advocated for the creation of a park, which was completed in 1918 and named the “Municipal No. 1 Park.”
Sun Yat-sen gave numerous speeches here to promote democratic revolutionary ideals. In 1966, it was renamed People’s Park, a name it retains to this day. As the first park in Guangzhou to remove its walls and offer free entry, People’s Park naturally became a leisure and recreation spot for local residents. In the densely populated city center, having such a “green lung” is truly rare.
The park follows an Italian-style formal garden layout, featuring a symmetrical square design. It boasts ancient towering trees, green hedges, and flower beds, all rich in local character. Highlights include white marble stone lions carved in the early Qing Dynasty and a music pavilion built in 1926. Later additions include a bonsai garden, children’s playground, pavilion for the elderly, open-air music teahouse, and an exhibition hall. In 1987, six sculptures were added: “Years of Turmoil,” “Lu Xun,” “Xian Xinghai,” “Warrior,” “Bride,” and “Coconut Grove Maiden.” These statues were crafted from materials such as bronze, yellow sandstone, white marble, and other stones, bringing them to life with artistic vitality and forming a distinctive feature of the park. Since 1978, the park has hosted annual chrysanthemum exhibitions, Spring Festival flower shows, and Mid-Autumn lantern festivals.
Address: Fufu Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou
Type: Urban Park
Recommended Visit Duration: 2–3 hours
Opening Hours:
Open all day
Ticket Information:
Free admission.
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