East City Cultural Square

　　   Leizhou West Lake Park is a picturesque and culturally vibrant, comprehensive garden-style park that integrates natural scenery, historical relics, and a range of amusement facilities. Visitors not only witness the unique charm of southern China but also feel as if they are listening to a dramatic and undulating history of Leizhou.

　　   Let’s start with the “lake”: Before the Song Dynasty, West Lake was a vast, misty expanse of wild water, free-flowing and uncontained. It served as a reservoir for the water conservancy projects in the suburbs during the Song Dynasty, delivering life-giving moisture to the vast tidal fields of Dongyang and also functioning as a renowned scenic spot in ancient Leizhou, where many scholars and officials once roamed. It was originally called “Lei Lake,” and at that time, its water surface covered an area about five or six times larger than the present-day West Lake. Over time, due to environmental changes, the area alternated between lake and farmland. Before the Song Dynasty, only the ancient Tianning Temple stood by the lake, accompanied day and night by the clear waters. During the Xianchun era of the Song Dynasty, eight pavilions were built along the lakeside: Hengzhou, Xi’ou, Zhuofei, Fangsheng, Zongyi, Liushui Guzhou, Zhouzhi Meimu, and Popodi. A bridge, Huiji East and West, was constructed across the southern embankment. Later, the Sugu Pavilion and other pavilions with repeatedly renamed titles such as Zhongyu, Xinfang, and Huxin appeared. The elegant and meaningful names of these pavilions and bridges offer a glimpse into the lake’s former splendor—a scene of shimmering waters, pavilions reflecting in the lake, birds flying and fish leaping, and small boats rippling the waves. After the great literary figure Su Shi and his brother reveled here in drunken delight, Luo Lake was renamed West Lake. The transformation from Luo Lake to West Lake spanned a thousand years of ups and downs, periods of prosperity and decline. It was once listed as one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Ancient Leizhou under the name “West Lake’s Emerald Embrace.” In those days, the lakeside was contiguous with the Tianning Zen Temple, which was first built in the Tang Dynasty. It was the lake’s magnificent scenery that helped the ancient temple earn the praise of being the “Foremost Among Ten Thousand Mountains.” Yuan Maomei, a Ming Dynasty scholar-official and regional administrator, provided an exceptionally detailed account of West Lake’s features. He composed eight poems centered around the lake, embankment, pavilions, boats, fields, fish, moon, and rain. One of them, “West Lake Pavilion,” reads: “The lake water ripples gently, pavilions intricately formed. Their reflections lie in the blue sky, like the Seven Stars fallen. Four windows frame the beautiful view, tall trees cast dappled shade. Here one may rest briefly, gazing up and down in boundless openness.” For various reasons, West Lake also experienced desolate times, described as “where cattle sleep in the grass as the sunset abounds.” Starting in the 1980s, local governments undertook the development of West Lake Park as part of a project to promote spiritual civilization. After years of renovation and beautification, the park has revived and become even more picturesque. From the Nine-Bend Bridge, Sugu Pavilion, Bielake Pavilion, and Yingxiu Pavilion, visitors can gaze upon the clear lake, green willows, and shimmering waters. This park, with its subtropical and Jiangnan water town charm, is enveloped in greenery, bathed in the bright moon and gentle breeze, brimming with vitality. Coconut trees, betel palms, and weeping willows—closely tied to the lake—along with a variety of colorful flowers and trees, compete in beauty, creating a magnificent emerald tapestry, within which red walls and green tiles, along with dragon-and-phoenix upturned eaves, are faintly visible. In summer and autumn, cicadas sing incessantly from morning till night. To enhance visitors’ enjoyment, a 200-meter-long section of the park’s street-facing lakeside wall has recently been transformed into a cultural corridor. It consists of transparent railings and ten pavilion-style display windows, showcasing books, poetry, paintings, films, and photos that introduce local anecdotes, historical tales, and promote the Party’s policies. The pavilions and railings, with their classic charm, blend seamlessly with the park’s architecture, offering a novel and unique experience.

　　   The Timeless Ten Sages Shrine: Upon entering the “Song Garden,” on the right you will see a large stone carving titled “Record of the Leizhou Ten Sages Hall.” This marks the former site dedicated to the worship of the “Ten Sages” of the Song Dynasty. It was first built in the 10th year of the Xianchun era of the Song Dynasty (1274). Inside the shrine, there is another smaller stone carving of the “Record of the Ten Sages Hall.” This tablet is a rare cultural relic that survived numerous wars and upheavals. The inscription was penned by the famous Southern Song Dynasty statesman and patriotic poet Wen Tianxiang, who wrote it in tears. The original manuscript was kept by descendants of Qin Guan, one of the “Ten Sages,” until...

　　   ...more than 500 years later, in the 9th year of the Jiaqing era of the Qing Dynasty

　　   (

　　   1804), when it was transcribed and engraved in stone by Yao Wentian, a top imperial scholar and education commissioner of Guangdong. People often refer to this inscription as the sister piece to the “Song of Righteousness.”

　　   Ancient Leizhou was located in a remote and desolate border region in the south, where many exiled officials and disgraced scholars were sent throughout history. During the Tang and Song Dynasties alone, seven prime ministers were banished to or passed through Leizhou, and numerous high-ranking officials of fourth rank or above were also sent there. The imperial court exiled these dissenters to this wild land not only as political punishment but also as a personal affront. Of course, among the exiles, there were both virtuous and villainous individuals. The “Ten Sages” represent the most exemplary figures among them—men of noble character, righteousness, profound knowledge, and outstanding political achievements, rather than sycophants who bowed to power for personal gain. Their recognition as the “Ten Sages” reflects the will of the Leizhou people. The Ten Sages are:

　　   --Kou Zhun, Li Gang, and Zhao Ding, all serving as prime ministers (chancellors), were the highest administrative officials responsible for assisting the emperor, leading the ministers, and overseeing national governance.

　　   --Li Guang, demoted from his previous position as Chancellor of the Secretariat, a role equivalent to vice-premier, collectively referred to with the premier as the “Chancellor Duo.”

　　   --Wang Yanshou, who served as Privy Envoy, an imperial advisor in charge of central state secrets.

　　   --Su Shi, Hanlin Academician, also known as the “Inner Chancellor.”

　　   --Su Zhe, Palace Attendant and Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs, a close imperial advisor.

　　   --Ren Boyu, serving as Zhengyan, a remonstrating official.

　　   --Qin Guan, serving as Zhengzi, in charge of proofreading important imperial publications.

　　   --Hu Quan, serving as Bianxiu, responsible for compiling national history, imperial records, and official documents.

　　   In Wen Tianxiang’s “Hall Record” inscription, he specifically criticized Ding Wei and Zhang Dun, who were also prime ministers of the highest rank and contemporaries of the Ten Sages. Despite their lofty positions, they were known for their deceitful characters and were scorned by the people of Leizhou. Visitors to the Ten Sages Shrine, viewing the stone statues, charts, and accompanying texts in the exhibition hall, receive a profound patriotic education that inspires self-respect and motivation.

　　   The Everlasting Spirit of Kou Gong Shrine: “Once plunged into deep waters with no one to tell, I cry for my youth by the river every year.” These are the lines written by Kou Zhun during his stay at the “Western Pavilion,” expressing his inner frustration and sorrow. This accomplished statesman, who experienced the ups and downs of officialdom, was demoted to the minor post of Sima in Leizhou in the first year of Qiánxīng (1022) during the Song Dynasty. Less than two years later, he passed away in the first year of Tiānshèng. Leizhou became the final resting place of his life’s journey. Although his remains were transported back to the Western Capital for burial, his righteousness lives on forever in Leizhou. To commemorate this loyal and distinguished official, the people of Leizhou established a shrine at his former residence, the “Western Pavilion.” In the 5th year of the Shaoxing era (1135) during the Song Dynasty, Emperor Gaozong bestowed the plaque “Clan Loyalty Shrine.” To this day, people gaze in reverence at the statue erected in front of the shrine, study the exhibited deeds, admire the replicated furniture from his former home, recite his moving literary works with tears, and linger sentimentally by the “Laiquan Well.” This well, which has never dried up in a thousand years, provides clear and refreshing water and was once used by Kou Gong. It was named “Laiguo” after Kou Zhun was conferred the title “Duke of Laiguo,” hence later called “Laiquan.” More than 280 years later, in the 4th year of the Yanyou era (1317) during the Yuan Dynasty, Yu Lian, the regional inspector of HaiBeiNan Dao, admired Kou Zhun and had the well cleaned again. The stone plaque “Laiquan Well” was inscribed by the eminent scholar-official Wang Zuo. The corridors on both sides of Kou Gong Shrine are filled with poems praising Kou Zhun. Li Gang, one of the Ten Sages and a prime minister, along with other ancient officials and literati, left many tear-jerking and inspiring poems when visiting the shrine. The Ming Dynasty scholar and imperial censor Wei Han wrote: “In the halls of governance, his strength upheld the nation’s fate, towering like Mount Tai. Why does Leiyang have such a man? How many existed in the Song court? His boat crossed wild ferries on the sea, and his exile shook the stars. Coming south, I ask of the Yazhou gate—did it ever shine anew like his shrine?”