Fromius Tropic of Cancer Monument (Tropic of Cancer Park)

Fromius Tropic of Cancer Monument (Tropic of Cancer Park)

The Fromius Tropic of Cancer Monument (Tropic of Cancer Park) is a cultural tourism attraction and a patriotic education base.

The park’s iconic structure, the Tropic of Cancer Monument, is the tallest and most sizable monument on the Tropic of Cancer or Capricorn in the world to date.

Guangzhou’s Tropic of Cancer Monument is located in Taiping Town, Conghua City (latitude 23°36’28”44). It is currently the tallest and largest monument on the Tropic of Cancer or Capricorn in the world. Traveling north from Guangzhou along National Highway 105 for over 40 kilometers will bring you to the border between Guangzhou and Conghua, where the monument stands. The forest park will be divided into five functional zones: the Monument Science Popularization and Cultural Tourism Area, Hejiapu Reservoir Tourist Area, Park Management Area, Mazishan Hiking Tourist Area, and Mazishan Plant Landscape Area. Five new exhibition halls will also be constructed, including those dedicated to "Astrology, Celestial Charts, and Astronomical Observation," showcasing various astronomical themes. The Conghua Tropic of Cancer Forest Park is also rich in plant resources, with a total of 206 plant species across 73 families, 64 of which are cultivated. All monitoring points within the park have negative ion concentrations exceeding 1500 ions/m³, and sanitary evaluations indicate that the air cleanliness in the park reaches the highest grade A.

The Guangzhou Tropic of Cancer Monument refers to the Tropic of Cancer Monument in Conghua, Guangzhou. Located on the Sanjiazi slope in Youmapu Village, Taipingchang, Conghua City (latitude 23°26’28”44, longitude 113°28′56.16), it is 42 kilometers from Guangzhou and is currently the tallest and largest monument on the Tropic of Cancer or Capricorn in the world.

The monument covers an area of 1,024 square meters and stands 23.5 meters tall. Its body is rocket-shaped, with the main structure made of a granite and concrete composite. The foundation is terraced, and the arrangement of floor stones follows the pattern of the Eight Trigrams. At the top of the tower is a steel sphere, the vertical line of whose circular hole is perpendicular to the intersection point of the meridian and parallel at the base of the tower—through which the Tropic of Cancer passes. At 12:26 PM on June 22, the summer solstice, the sun's direct rays pass through this circular hole. Standing here, you can witness the spectacle of a vertical stick casting no shadow.

The base of the tower is built in the style of the Temple of Heaven, consisting of three tiers. The first and second tiers have square railings, while the third tier is semi-spherical, with each tier having nine steps, all constructed from granite. The tower resembles a rocket ready for launch. At the top is a copper sphere symbolizing the sun, made from 26 pieces of 6mm-thick copper plates, with a diameter of 120 centimeters. Around the monument are four wings indicating the directions of southeast, northeast, southwest, and northwest. The front of the tower is inscribed with seven gilded Chinese characters reading “Tropic of Cancer Monument.” There is one archway each on the east, south, west, and north sides for visitors to enter. At the center of the tower base is embedded a copper core that aligns with the top sphere. The tower is hollow, and the Tropic of Cancer passes right through it. Visitors standing at the copper core at the base and looking up through a hole in the tower core and the copper sphere can gaze at the sky. At 12:26 PM on the summer solstice each year, when the sun’s direct rays pass through this spot, a person standing there will cast no shadow. After the monument was completed, 28 acres of land in Taiping were allocated to establish the Tropic of Cancer Park.

Scenic Area Address: Guangcong South Road, Conghua City, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province (Provincial Highway 304)

Transportation: Take Conghua Bus Route 5

Type: Botanical Garden, Forest, Geological Landform

Recommended Visit Duration: 2–3 hours

Guangzhou Tropic of Cancer Monument

Opening Hours:

Open all day

Taiping Town: Located in the northern suburbs of Guangzhou, Taiping Town is the southern gateway to Conghua City, covering a total area of 210.329 square kilometers with a population of 86,519. It governs 33 administrative villages and 2 neighborhood committees. National Highway 105 and Provincial Highway 118 run through the town from north to south and east to west. It is 3 kilometers from the Beijing-Zhuhai Expressway entrance, 15 kilometers from Baiyun International Airport, and 22 kilometers from the Northern Second Ring Expressway. The upcoming Northern Third Ring Expressway and Jiebei Expressway will cross through Taiping Town, ensuring convenient and smooth transportation. The Tropic of Cancer runs through the heart of the town, signifying its subtropical rainforest climate with spring-like weather all year round;... More details about Taiping Town++