Ning'an Bohai Folk Culture Park

　　Bohai Folk Culture Park is a renowned scenic tourist area newly developed by the people of Bohai in recent years. Shortly after its opening, it gained fame both within and beyond the province. Every tourist season, visitors flock here in an endless stream, with leaders from municipal, provincial, and even central governments coming to visit and inspect.

　　Bohai Folk Culture Park is located north of the royal palace of Shangjing Longquanfu, the capital of the Bohai Kingdom during the Tang Dynasty. The main scenic area, Xuanwu Lake, covers 800,000 square meters of water surface. Legend has it that this place was originally the royal garden behind the palace; other experts believe it was once a quarry for building the royal palace. Excessive extraction of basalt created a large deep pit, which later filled with water from the Hulan River, forming a vast body of water—thus the name Xuanwu Lake. Before the Cultural Revolution, Xuanwu Lake was merely a fishing ground, later abandoned and left neglected, with jagged rocks and overgrown weeds along the shore, giving it a desolate appearance.

　　However, in today’s era of reform and opening-up, and in the new period of developing a socialist market economy, the descendants of Bohai, under the leadership of the town and city governments and with the strong support of far-sighted individuals from all walks of life, have drawn on the ancient Bohai Kingdom as their cultural foundation. They have vigorously excavated and promoted historical culture, highlighted ethnic customs and local characteristics, and made full use of this unique natural resource. Viewing tourism development as a rising sun industry, they went through repeated deliberations, scientific planning, and meticulous design. Adopting a "who builds benefits" approach, they forged a successful path for community-driven tourism development. The park broke ground in March 1997, opened to the public on June 28 of the same year, and achieved the miracle of planning and constructing in just 100 days, yielding annual revenues exceeding ten million yuan in its first year.

　　The gate tower of Bohai Folk Culture Park is simple and classic. Above the lintel, the bold and striking characters reading "Bohai Folk Culture Park," inscribed by Xu Youfang, then Secretary of the Heilongjiang Provincial Committee, are fresh and eye-catching. Inside the park, attractions such as the Baishan Western Stockade, Heishui Ancient Stockade, Ge Mo Water Fort, Shangguan Fishing Village, Royal City Street, Water Curtain Cave, Korean Folk Culture Garden, and Jurchen Courtyard each possess distinct charm and unique layouts. Facing those log cabins built entirely from linden wood with an authentic primitive vibe, the ancient streets and towers exuding Tang-style elegance, the waterside complexes adorned with fluttering flags, fortified gates, and warships densely lined up, and the totem artifacts showcasing the religious beliefs of the Bohai people, you feel as if you’ve journeyed through a historical tunnel into the royal city of the Bohai Kingdom or the primitive tribes of its early inhabitants. It’s impossible to escape the rich folk culture and the profound historical ambiance.

　　The park's landscapes are dazzling and fantastical, offering more than the eye can take in. The lake spans thousands of acres of azure water, with islands nestled among it. Curving corridors and waterside pavilions extend gracefully toward the center of the lake. The pavilions and towers are elegantly built and thoughtfully arranged. The lakeshore is shaded by lush trees, dotted with flowers and grass, where bees fly and butterflies dance. Outside the park, slow-turning waterwheels and endless rice paddies present a peaceful pastoral scene. When night falls, the park is illuminated with sparkling lights that rival the stars, creating a surreal, dreamlike view akin to a mirage. In such a magical setting, visitors find it hard to leave, enchanted and captivated by the beauty.