Linghu Scenic Area

　　Linghu Park is one of the two major parks in downtown Anqing and is a national 4A-level scenic spot located next to the Linghu Campus of Anqing Normal University. It has three entrances: one on Linghu South Road, one on Textile South Road, and one on Huzhongxin Road. With its beautiful environment, Linghu Park is one of the important leisure and recreational destinations for the residents of Anqing. The park not only boasts picturesque scenery but also rich cultural landscapes, such as the Blood-Stained Clothes Pavilion, the statue of Yan Fengying, and the Huangmei Pavilion Stele Museum. It also offers comprehensive entertainment facilities including an amusement park, an ice-skating rink, a bonsai garden, and a water park.

　　Linghu Lake is connected to Lianhu Lake (with Huzhong Road in between), located in the northeast corner of Anqing, covering a total area of eight square kilometers. In the past, it was renowned for its abundant production of water chestnuts, lotus roots, fish, and shrimp. Originally a natural lake with small islands, during the late Kangxi period, the excavation of the Kangxi River led to its expansion into a tourist attraction, which has a history of over 260 years. There used to be a stone tablet inscribed with "Yicheng Tiangan" (Heavenly Moat of Yicheng) by the Ming Dynasty's Shi Kefa when he was stationed in Anqing. Today, there are also exquisite stone carvings by Deng Shiru, a great calligrapher of the Qing Dynasty. In 1921, during the nationally shocking "June 2nd" student movement in Anhui Province, Jiang Gaoqi and Zhou Zhaoji, who sacrificed their lives in the struggle against warlords, along with Zhou’s wife Huang Jiafu, were buried together in the northeastern part of the lake. A memorial hall and the Blood-Stained Clothes Pavilion were built in their honor. The walls of the memorial hall also feature stone carvings of the three figures, and every year on June 2nd, Jiang’s blood-stained clothes were displayed in the pavilion. The site was later destroyed in wartime but has since been restored. Linghu Lake was also the site of ancient naval battles during the Taiping Rebellion’s defense of Anqing. In April 1861, Chen Yucheng, the King of England (a Taiping general), led over ten thousand elite troops from Hubei to Anqing’s Jixian Pass to launch a second relief effort. He built thirteen camps along the northern shore of Linghu Lake, while the Taiping defenders inside the city, led by Ye Yunlai, constructed five camps on the southern shore, facing each other across the lake. At that time, Linghu Lake was connected to Shitang Lake and Pogang Lake to the east, extending all the way to Zongyang.

　　Linghu Lake is known for its water features, with rippling blue waves and crisscrossing waterways. Small islands in the lake are complemented by pavilions and bamboo, while boat races fill the waters with laughter. In summer and autumn, flourishing water chestnuts and lotuses compete in beauty, filling the air with intoxicating fragrance. During the water chestnut harvest season, under the bright moonlight, boating on the lake with oars gently tapping the water and singing melodiously creates a serene and enchanting scene, often referred to as the “Linghu Night Moon,” and is considered one of Anqing’s scenic highlights. Today, the double-eaved square pavilion nestled among the lush lotus leaves offers one of the best views of the “Linghu Night Moon,” hence it is also called the Night Moon Pavilion. The park also features a sculpture of the Huangmei opera performance artist Yan Fengying.

　　In February 1984, four hundred cherry tree saplings were specially brought from Kyoto, Japan, by a Japanese friendship delegation visiting Anqing, and planted in Linghu. On April 18 of the same year, Mr. Oda Fumio led the second Japanese friendship delegation to Anqing to participate in the inauguration ceremony of the “Cherry Blossom Garden” in the park, further strengthening the bond of friendship between the people of China and Japan. The lantern festival is a traditional folk cultural activity in China, an essential celebration where people express their ideals and pray for a bountiful year. Under the nurturing influence of Chinese culture, the Zigong Lantern Festival has evolved into a grand and spectacular event, characterized by its impressive scale, harmonious integration of lights and scenery, and layered mystery. It has earned worldwide acclaim and the reputation of being the “Best Lanterns Under Heaven.” During the National Day holiday, Anhui Business Network, in collaboration with Anqing Linghu Park and Zigong Culture and Art Co., Ltd., jointly invested 5 million yuan to meticulously plan the “2003 Yicheng Autumn Zigong Grand Art Lantern Festival.” This lantern show selected some of the finest works from previous Zigong lantern exhibitions in China and abroad, and added newly designed light installations. Featuring large-scale specialty craft lanterns made from bamboo weaving and porcelain, a total of 38 medium and large lantern groups and 800 uniquely shaped decorative lanterns were created. With themes of joy, peace, prosperity, and safety, and enriched by ethnic customs, mythological legends, Buddhist culture, and children’s elements, the festival aimed to present the 800-year-old art of Zigong lanterns in a brand-new light to the audience of Yicheng.