Lanxi Youth Park

　　   Lanxi Youth Park is situated in the central part of Putuo District. Bordered by Lanxi Road to the east, the District Central Hospital to the south, Huaxi Road to the west, and CaoYang YiCun to the north, the park’s main gate is at No. 151 Lanxi Road, covering an area of 12,620 square meters.

　　   The site was originally sloped farmland on the north bank of the Qiu River, dotted with abandoned graves and a single temple known as - Shrine, which was destroyed during the Japanese invasion in the Anti-Japanese War. After liberation, the land was once requisitioned for the construction of Putuo Hospital but was later abandoned for various reasons. In 1957, in an effort to achieve financial self-sufficiency, the district government took over the land through its Labor Production Committee. The District Youth League mobilized young volunteers to reclaim the wasteland, planting fruit trees such as peaches, pears, apples, and grapes, and digging ponds for fish farming, thus establishing the “Communist Youth League Orchard.” In 1980, over ten acres of land in the north were allocated to the Putuo District Central Hospital, resulting in the current size of the park. In 1981, during the planning of the Scenic Huanbang area, this site was designated as one of the three major scenic zones, with construction design preliminary completed in 1982. After two years of development, the park was opened to the public in May 1984, named after Lanxi Road and the Communist Youth League Orchard.

　　   At the park’s inception, it complemented the greenery on the southern bank of Huanbang, forming a unified whole within the scope of modern natural landscape design, characterized by simple and clean lines. The park features three main scenic spots: the first sight upon entering originally included a fountain with a gushing water feature, backed by the “Textile Workers” sculpture, which was replaced by an European-style outdoor plaza by the end of 1998. Moving right from the entrance, another scene can be found along the riverbank, consisting of a flat-roofed umbrella pavilion, a partition flower wall, and a paved square area in between, serving as a central gathering spot for visitors. Further to the northeast corner lies a small plaza centered around a circular flower bed—this third scene, though lacking in decorative garden features, offers a unique view of the southern bank of Huanbang from under the wisteria-covered corridor on the north side.

　　   In 1986, to align with adjustments to the scenic spots along Huanbang and enhance the park’s landscape, the green area south of the stream was integrated into the park, and a new stone arch bridge named “Gui Xiang Bridge” was built, along with the “Lanxi Boarding the Boat” waterside pavilion scene. Set against a backdrop of lush, staggered-layered palm groves, the pavilion, boat dock, and winding bridge formed a tranquil, picturesque path where every step reveals a new view.

　　   The park still houses two noteworthy sites: one is a walnut tree behind the wisteria arbor, with a diameter of 45 centimeters at breast height, bearing abundant fruit each year. In 1998, municipal landscaping experts estimated the tree to be 111 years old, and it has since been designated as a municipal-level ancient and famous tree (No. 1401). It is one of the rare large woody oil-bearing trees in the city, as well as the only walnut tree over a century old, and was specially protected during the park’s development, becoming the focal point of the third scenic area. The other is a national Class-A benchmark stone marker erected in 1923 with the number 157. Though no longer in use, this stone has endured the test of time and remains a testament to the city’s early surveying history.