Wanzhou Xishan Park

　　Wanzhou Xishan Park is situated at the southwestern edge of Wanzhou’s old city area. Its north gate meets Wanzhong Road, while the section east of the north gate borders the southern wall of Wanzhou People’s Hospital. The park’s northeastern slope connects to Guoyuan Road. The eastern part of Wanzhou Park lies adjacent to Binjiang Avenue along the Yangtze River and the newly built Wanzhou District Gymnasium. The western part of the park, including Jingyuan (Quiet Garden) and staff residences, neighbors an urban residential and commercial complex south of Wanzhong Road.

　　The park features ancient towering trees with dense foliage, home to numerous rare and historic trees, making it a renowned natural landscape garden in China where urban forest vegetation and ancient trees are exceptionally well-preserved. According to survey data, the park hosts over 320 species of ornamental plants across 160 genera and 95 families (see the Xishan Park Plant List for details). Among these, 913 ancient and notable trees have been documented, spanning 97 species within 54 genera and 39 families. The overall plant community is dominated by subtropical evergreen broad-leaved mixed forests, including major plantings such as camellia groves, osmanthus groves, wintersweet groves, camphor tree groves, and nanmu groves. Throughout the park, there are also tall, ancient yellow catalpa trees and naturally growing species such as wingnut, sweetgum, camptotheca, ormosia, thorny bamboo, and hackberry. Additionally, artificially planted ornamental plants include tall palms, Chinese fan palms, euonymus, podocarpus, magnolia, camphor trees, and michelia. The diverse forest communities open and close in sequence, changing with the seasons, enchanting visitors with their beauty.

　　Wanzhou Xishan Park has a long history. Its name originates from the “Xishan Taoist Temple” built here during the Ming Dynasty. In the early 1920s, it was established as Wanzhou Commercial Port Park. Between 1925 and 1928, Yang Sen initiated the development of Xishan Park, expanding its area to over 560 acres. The park management was overseen by Li Huan, secretary to Yang Sen’s military headquarters and concurrently secretary-general of the Wanzhou Commercial Port Bureau. On September 5, 1926, the British warship bombardment of Wanzhou occurred, and in commemoration, the park was renamed “September 5th Park,” with the name inscribed by Zhu De. In November 1928, to honor the victory of the Northern Expedition, it was again renamed “Zhongshan Park.” Originally planned to cover 600 acres, key structures included the “September 5th Library,” an antiquities exhibition hall, and the historic clock tower. Gardens, ponds, pathways, and pavilions were also developed. In the same year, due to the establishment of Xishan Park attractions, Wang Lingji inscribed the name “Xishan,” leading to its current title. With lush greenery, vast grounds, and sweeping views of the mighty Yangtze River, the park offered a wealth of scenic spots. Even during those turbulent years, Wanzhou Xishan Park gained national renown. On December 8, 1949, Wanzhou was liberated. In June 1950, the People’s Liberation Army Military Control Committee handed over management to the Wanzhou Municipal Government’s Construction Bureau, which later established the Wanzhou City Xishan Park Management Office, continuing its stewardship to this day. After liberation, the park was expanded as a regional comprehensive park, adding cultural, sports, entertainment, and zoo facilities. The surrounding wall was reinforced, park admission was introduced, and six scenic areas were developed: the Clock Tower, Five Continents Pond, Jingyuan, Moon Terrace, and Ornamental Flower and Tree Grove. These enhancements significantly elevated the park’s horticultural appeal, with visitor numbers rising annually, peaking at 800,000 per year.