Nanfeng Square

　　    Nanfeng Square gets its name from the "Song of the Southern Wind" and is located at the intersection of Hedong Street, Renmin Road, and Yudu Avenue, covering an area of 200 acres, with a width of 320 meters from east to west and a length of 380 meters from north to south.

　　    For thousands of years, the salt fields to the south of Yuncheng city have nurtured the civilization of the middle reaches of the Yellow River. This area was once the capital of Yao, Shun, and Yu, and was the earliest place known as “China.” Faced with the vast salt fields, one of the “Three Sovereigns,” Emperor Shun of Yu, couldn’t help but sing: “The southern wind is warm, it can soothe my people’s grievances; the southern wind is timely, it can enrich my people’s wealth!” This is the "Song of the Southern Wind." It conveys a prayer to heaven, wishing for the health and wealth of the people. Nanfeng Square is named after this message. The name also carries another meaning: to promote the corporate image of our city’s leading enterprise, Nanfeng Group.

　　    "Dancing Phoenix" Sculpture: Named after the Phoenix City

　　    In the center of the square is a modern sculpture titled "Dancing Phoenix," featuring a fiery phoenix dancing joyfully. Yuncheng was anciently known as the Phoenix City, and the phoenix is the symbol of Yuncheng. In Eastern culture, the phoenix is regarded as a sacred bird—noble, auspicious, and a bringer of blessings. Its life is eternal, and every 500 years it bathes in sacred fire and is reborn, forever full of vitality. The base of this main "Dancing Phoenix" sculpture is 6.14 meters high, symbolizing June 14, 2000, when the State Council approved Yuncheng’s establishment as a prefecture-level city. Since then, Yuncheng has soared like a phoenix reborn from fire. The main sculpture itself is 21 meters tall, symbolizing the new-era Phoenix City flying high in the even more splendid 21st century. When the sculpture was first completed, some citizens noticed that around 7 a.m. each day, due to the reflection of sunlight, a bright spot appeared in the phoenix’s eyes, as if the phoenix was opening its eyes and gazing into the distance. This phenomenon was called the “Morning Light Phoenix Eye” wonder.

　　    On the front of the main sculpture's base are inscribed four golden Chinese characters reading “Nanfeng Square.” The south side features an inscription stone recounting the history of building the square, the east side is engraved with Emperor Shun’s "Song of the Southern Wind," and the west side is inlaid with a map of Yuncheng City.

　　    White Marble Dragon Pillars: Symbolizing Blessings

　　    Eight white marble dragon pillars stand on both sides of the central axis of Nanfeng Square. One set of four pillars represents the four directions, and the two sets together signify all directions. Each pillar has a diameter of 2.3 meters and a height of 12.27 meters, representing December 27, 1947, the day Yuncheng was liberated. Each pillar features five intertwined dragons, representing the “Five Blessings.” As noted in the "Book of Documents · Hong Fan": “The Five Blessings are: first, longevity; second, wealth; third, health and peace; fourth, virtue; fifth, a peaceful death in old age.” In other words, it expresses the hope that the people will enjoy long life, prosperity, health, kindness, and a happy old age.

　　    -The Plaza: A Gathering Place for Citizens

　　    North of the sculptures is a large circular plaza with a diameter of 188 meters. The entire Nanfeng Square uses 5 million tiles, and the tiles of the central plaza are arranged into 13 patterns in different colors, symbolizing the 13 counties (cities, districts) under Yuncheng’s jurisdiction and the 5 million people of Hedong working together with determination, striving forward, and advancing toward a bright future.

　　    Directly ahead of the plaza is a massive LED color screen display, measuring 160 square meters and costing 6.5 million yuan, which can be viewed by nearly 100,000 people simultaneously.

　　    At the center of the square are a dry fountain and a musical fountain. The central plaza’s musical fountain plays 42 pieces of music with distinct rhythms and solemn, joyful melodies, such as "Ode to the Motherland," "Ode to the Yellow River," and "Ode to the Salt Lake." The water jets rise and fall with the rhythm of the music, varying in height and intensity. At its highest, the water can shoot up to 50 meters, creating a majestic waterfall-like effect; at its lowest, it sprays just tens of centimeters above the ground, forming mist, floral shapes, or bead-like droplets like a heavenly maiden scattering flowers. At night, with the changing lights, it takes on a thousand forms, delighting the eye and lifting the spirit. The interplay of the dry fountain and the musical fountain fills the square with a lively, joyful, and harmonious atmosphere.

　　    Children’s Activity Center: Looking Forward to the Future

　　    On the southwest side of the square is the Children’s Activity Center. Twelve zodiac animal stone sculptures encircle a yin-yang fish pattern that represents harmony between man and nature, allowing children to gain new knowledge and inspiration while playing.

　　    The square also features a Peace Pigeon Square, Rainbow Bridge, small amusement park, spherical universe sky dome, and a statue of Sima Guang breaking the vat, reflecting children’s longing for peace and closeness to nature. Some facilities will be completed by the end of the year.

　　    Cultural Corridor: Showcasing the Long History and Culture of Hedong

　　    To the north of the square is the Cultural Corridor, which is 148 meters long, 13 meters wide, and 8 meters high, displaying the development history of Yuncheng, centered around Yellow River culture. Along the northern side of the corridor, from east to west, are 16 murals depicting, in sequence: Pangu Creating Heaven and Earth, Houyi Shooting the Suns, Nüwa Mending the Sky, Kuafu Chasing the Sun, Jingwei Filling the Sea, Chang’e Flying to the Moon, Yu the Great Taming the Floods, Houji Cultivating Crops, hunting, fishing, farming, teaching, social activities, warfare, entertainment, and rituals. Each mural is 64 square meters. From a distance, they are majestic, recreating the historical stories, legends, and daily lives of people from Yuncheng’s 5,000-year civilization, reviving the history of Yuncheng’s civilization, and promoting the root culture of our city as the birthplace of the Chinese nation.

　　    On the southern side of the corridor, there will be 42 bas-reliefs of notable historical figures from Hedong, including Nüwa, Chiyou, Leizu, Fenghou, Yao, Shun, Yu, Houji, Fu Yue, Duke Wen of Jin, and Marquis Wei of Wei—historical figures who have been famous throughout Hedong’s history. This project will be completed in October. By then, as you stroll through the cultural corridor, you’ll take a historical journey and have a “dialogue” across time with these timeless figures.

　　    The square also includes zones for leisure activities, fitness, and “Sunset Red” for the elderly. The overall layout is well-planned, serving not only as a recreational space for residents but also as the political, economic, and cultural hub of Yuncheng City.

　　    Information source: Yuncheng Local Chronicles Compilation Committee