Peach and Willow Embankment

　　Peach and Willow Embankment is located at the head of Qianjian Bridge on Tianjin’s Inner Ring Road, by the North Canal. It is a long-renowned scenic spot. When the peach blossoms are in full bloom, the area is bustling with visitors. Some come in groups of friends, while others bring their families to enjoy the spring outing and admire the flowers. Poets also gather here for literary salons, composing and reciting poems, finding great joy in the experience.

　　The Peach Garden covers an area of 13,000 square meters and was built along the embankment of the North Canal. Peach trees are planted along the dike, while willows are lined up on the slopes. As early as the Yuan Dynasty, the area was already lush with foliage, and during the Ming and Qing dynasties, it became one of the celebrated scenic spots in Tianjin. When Qing emperors passed through here during their southern tours, they were so captivated by the beauty of the peach blossoms that they stopped their boats to go ashore and admire the view, composing poems on the spot.

　　Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty wrote the ci poem “Dian Jiang Chun” (Touching the Vermilion Lips) in praise of the Peach Blossom Embankment: “Previously passing Zhejiang, I saw peach blossoms in bloom. Now returning to Tianjin, I see them flourishing again. Tune: ‘Dian Jiang Chun’ — ‘Once more I see peach blossoms, their red hues still radiant by the river gate. Just returned to the capital, I wonder if spring has arrived twice. Royal barges gaze through starlit nights, at dawn emotions drift afar, under the radiant sun they sway, not like drooping willows grown old.’”

　　Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty visited Tianjin many times. He once rode on horseback to inspect the embankment and composed the poem “Two Poems on Xigu”: “Where three waters converge at Xigu, the north and south canals flow clear in between. Relying solely on embankments won’t suffice — we must guide the waters wisely to ensure smooth flow. At dawn, returning from the city inspection, I ride my horse westward along Xigu, passing through misty villages and reaching the great embankment, where the imperial boat awaits by the riverbank.”

　　Poets and scholars have also written countless exquisite verses about the peach blossoms. During the Qianlong era, poet Wang Hang wrote in his “Miscellaneous Poems on Tianjin Affairs”: “Outside the Peach Blossom Temple, the peach trees stand, still greeting the imperial procession even as spring departs. Don’t marvel at the master weaver’s skillful artistry — the crimson clouds protect the imperial visit.” Another Qianlong-era poet, Jiang Shi, wrote in “Miscellaneous Verses on the Gu River”: “At the mouth of Peach Blossom, there lies the Peach Blossom Temple, where temple peach blossoms herald two springs. The peach blossoms, in welcome of the imperial visit, bloom especially richly, each branch reflecting crimson over the willow-lined river.” During the Republican era, Tianjin’s poetry societies often gathered on the Peach Blossom Embankment to compose poetry. In early April 1923, over ten members of Lübo She (Green Wave Society), one of the earliest influential modern literary groups in Tianjin—including Zhao Jingshen, Gong Nanmai, and Jiao Juyin—traveled here by boat to admire the peach groves and composed new-style poems celebrating the peach blossoms. One poem read: “O peach blossoms, undiscriminating peach blossoms, scatter your seeds across the world!” Clearly expressing a fresh perspective. In short, whether through the verses of emperors or the odes of literati, the Peach Blossom Embankment—this scenic marvel of Tianjin—has been widely praised, endowing it not only with natural beauty but also rich cultural significance.

　　The present-day Peach Blossom Embankment was reconstructed in 1985 and 1991 under the auspices of the Hongqiao District Government, surpassing its former glory. Not only are there weeping willows covering the slopes, but there are also over 500 mountain peaches and peach blossoms on the embankment top. When the peach blossoms bloom, they create a vibrant sea of pink, as splendid as fire. Additionally, historical sites have been restored, including the imperial dock where Emperor Qianlong moored his boat to go ashore, the You Pavilion, the Dragon Wall, and the Welcome Pavilion. The imperial dock consists of a stone platform and white marble railings. Inside the hexagonal Dragon Pavilion, a stone stele is inscribed with the three characters “桃柳堤” (Peach and Willow Embankment). The Dragon Wall features colorful tiles arranged into five dragons in various hues. The Welcome Pavilion displays historical documents and photos related to “Famous Historical Figures in Hongqiao” and “China’s Renowned Garden Shuixizhuang.” Visitors to this site can not only bask in the spring sunshine and enjoy the misty scenery but also gain historical knowledge and appreciate cultural heritage. Peach and Willow Embankment is truly a serene and beautiful retreat that nourishes both body and mind.