Liwan Lake Park

Liwan Lake Park

Liwan Lake Park was originally the site of Lychee Bay, a historic waterside attraction in Guangzhou. During the Ming Dynasty, "Lychee Bay Fishing Songs" was listed as one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Yangcheng. The park consists of Xiaocui Lake, Yucui Lake, Ruyi Lake, and Wuxiu Lake, with eight pavilions, eight bridges, four corridors, three halls, one veranda, and one pavilion scattered among the green waters and trees, featuring notable characteristics in garden architecture.

Liwan Lake Park is not far from Shangxiajiu, offering a tranquil retreat within the bustling area. It can be visited together with Shangxiajiu and the Xiguan traditional houses.

Liwan Lake Park is located in the western part of Guangzhou, bordered by Huangsha Avenue to the west, Zhongshan 8th Road and the Zhujiang River Bridge Plaza to the north, Longjin West Road to the east, and Xiguan Shangzhi Chong to the south. The park was originally the site of Lychee Bay, a historic waterside attraction in Guangzhou. Historical records indicate that Lychee Bay existed as early as 200 BC. During the Ming Dynasty, "Lychee Bay Fishing Songs" was listed as one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Yangcheng.

Throughout history, the area has been home to many famous gardens and scenic spots, including the Tang Dynasty’s "Lychee Garden," the Southern Han Dynasty’s "Changhua Garden," the Yuan Dynasty’s "Imperial Fruit Garden," the Ming Dynasty’s "Listening to Snow Pavilion," the Qing Dynasty’s "Haishan Immortal Hall" and "Little Countryside," as well as the early Republican-era "Lychee Fragrance Garden" and "Peng Garden." Before the park was established, most of Lychee Bay consisted of paddy fields and fish ponds, renowned for the "Five Treasures of Pantang." Along the Lychee Bay waterway, one could reach the Pearl River. Taking a "painted pleasure boat" to cruise the river and enjoy lychees was a beloved activity known as the "Lychee Bay River Tour." In 1958, the Liwan District People's Government of Guangzhou, in accordance with the city’s urban development plan, aimed to improve the living and ecological environment for residents. On April 4 of that year, the construction project was inaugurated under the leadership of then-Mayor Zhu Guang, with cadres and local residents volunteering their labor to transform the uneven paddy fields, fish ponds, and wastelands of Lychee Bay and Pantang into four artificial lakes, collectively known as Liwan Artificial Lakes, which helped alleviate flooding in Xiguan. In 1960, the park was officially named Liwan Lake Park, with the name inscribed by Shen Junru, former chairman of the China Democratic League and president of the Supreme People's Court. The park consists of Xiaocui Lake, Yucui Lake, Ruyi Lake, and Wuxiu Lake, covering a total area of 278,000 square meters, including 172,000 square meters of water surface and 10,600 square meters of land. It features eight pavilions, eight bridges, four corridors, three halls, one veranda, and one pavilion scattered among the green waters and trees, highlighting unique garden architectural features. The park has an overall greening coverage rate of 84%, with 3,613 trees belonging to 34 species, 9,850 shrubs from 53 species, and 15,000 potted flowers cultivated annually. There are also 20 ancient trees on-site, including large-leaf and small-leaf banyans and kapok trees, along with over 10,000 square meters of lawn.

Lychee trees were originally the main tree species in the park and were widely planted in its early days. Due to severe environmental pollution, the trees stopped bearing fruit. In recent years, pollution control efforts have improved the environment, and by the early 1990s, over 300 newly planted lychee trees thrived, while a surviving old lychee tree also began to bear fruit again. The main activity area of Liwan Lake Park is Yucui Lake, which is equipped with various recreational and fitness facilities. The park also houses a recreation center with an international-standard swimming pool, covering 1,755 square meters, making it a popular spot for cooling off in the summer. Located at Xiaocui Lake, the Floating Fragrance Dock now serves as an exhibition area for rare flowers, birds, fish, insects, as well as calligraphy, paintings, and folk art treasures. At Shiyin Zhou in Ruyi Lake, there are mist propagation rooms and tissue culture labs, serving as a cultivation and appreciation area for rare and precious flower seedlings. The longest waterside corridor in the city, situated at Wuxiu Lake, is composed of bridges, pavilions, corridors, and a veranda, stretching 192.8 meters in total length, with pavilion walls reflecting beautifully on the water, creating a pleasant scenery. In 1985, based on public recommendations and expert evaluations, the park’s Eight Scenic Spots were selected: Dancing Greenery on Flower Lawns, Banyan Shade and Singing, Boating on Jade Lake, Lychees Embracing Rainbow Bridge, Ancient Ferry at Immortal Shrine, Spring Waves and Pine Reflections, Elegant Wisteria Path, and Sandy Islet with Cattails.

Address: No. 155, Longjin West Road, Liwan District, Guangzhou

Type: Garden/City Park/Lake

Recommended Visit Duration: 2–3 hours

Phone: 020-81813626

Opening Hours: Open all day

Ticket Information: Free admission.