Attractions > Green Lake Park of Kunming
Overview
Chinese Name:翠湖公园English Name: The Green Lake Park
Opening Time: Year-round from 06:00 to 00:00 the next day (Entry stops at 23:30)
Climite Condition: Subtropical Plateau Mountain Monsoon Climate
Average Altitude: 1887 meters
Background
Green Lake Park is a scenic area located in the central area of Kunming City, Yunnan Province, at the foot of Wuhua Mountain. It covers an area of 0.216 square kilometers, including about 0.06 square kilometers of land, about 0.123 square kilometers of water, and a capacity of 151,000 cubic meters. It is an oval shape, 675 meters long and 500 meters wide. Green Lake Park faces Biji Mountain to the south and is adjacent to the Yunnan Provincial Science and Technology Museum. It overlooks Snake Mountain to the north and is next to Yunnan University. It is connected to the former site of the Yunnan Army Lecture Hall to the southwest.The Green Lake Park has water on eight sides, bamboo on all four seasons, and willow trees in spring and summer, hence the name "Green Lake." The park has a long history and a deep cultural background, and it is known as the "Emerald Gem" of the Spring City. In the late Yuan Dynasty, it was called "Cai Haizi" (Vegetable Sea), and because there were "nine springs coming out and converging into a pool" in the northeast of the lake, it was also called "Jiulongchi" (Nine Dragon Pool). In the Ming Dynasty, Mu Ying planted willows and raised horses in Green Lake. In the Qing Dynasty, Wu Sangui changed its name to the new government "Honghua Fu." In the 31st year of Emperor Kangxi's reign (1692), Wang Jiwen, the Yunnan patrol officer, built "Biyi Pavilion" on the island in the center of the lake, and it was designated as a scenic area. In the fifteenth year of Emperor Daoguang's reign (1835), Ruan Yuan, the Governor-General of Yunnan and Guizhou, built a long embankment running north-south, named "Ruan Embankment." In the eighth year of the Republic of China (1919), Tang Jiyao built a long embankment running east-west, named "Tang Embankment." The two embankments intersect at the lake's central island, dividing the lake into four parts. Green Lake Park is composed of scenic spots such as Shuiyuexuan, Haixinting, Jiulongchi, Gu Yu Lou, Linhua Temple, Southwest Island, and Bamboo Island, with the landscape features of "ten acres of lotus flowers and fish world, half a city of willows and Buddha temples."
Scenic Area Layout
Within Green Lake Park, two famous willow embankments intersect in a "cross" at the lake surface, dividing the water surface into four parts. The north-south horizontal embankment is called "Ruan Embankment," which was built during the Daoguang period by Ruan Yuan, the Governor-General of Yunnan, to imitate the beauty of West Lake's "Su Embankment." The east-west longitudinal embankment is called "Tang Embankment," which was built during the Republic of China period. The intersection of the two embankments is the central island of the lake, with the Lake Heart Pavilion as the main axis, forming the central tourist area. The Lake Heart Pavilion is also called "Biyi Pavilion." The pavilion has a beautiful appearance, with upturned eaves and yellow tiles, adorning the spring scenery of Green Lake. There are two inner courtyards inside the pavilion, used for holding various exhibitions.Green Lake Park is divided into five areas: east, west, south, north, and center. Each area has historical buildings with a strong humanistic atmosphere, as well as natural scenery dominated by water bodies, bamboo forests, and willow forests. The central island scenic area is dominated by the Lake Heart Pavilion and other Qing Dynasty buildings, the southeast is Shuiyuexuan and Goldfish Island, the northeast is Bamboo Island and Jiulongchi, the south is Gourd Island and Nine-Bend Bridge, and the west is Haixinting. The east, south, nine-bend bridge, west, and north gates form the main entrance of the park.
Important Attraction
Fish Viewing Pavilion
The Fish Viewing Pavilion complex, also known as "Linhua Temple" and "Lake Heart Pavilion."The Lake Heart Pavilion's north and south corners still have two three-story octagonal glazed pavilions built by Long Yun, the chairman of the Yunnan Province during the Republic of China period.
The spacious courtyard retains the layout of the original grand theater stage, with glazed tile roofs and painted buildings, is a place for holding art exhibitions, lantern exhibitions, and calligraphy and painting exhibitions.
In 1980, a major renovation of the Fish Viewing Pavilion complex was carried out. The wooden structure two-story building was rebuilt into a brick-concrete structure, the side rooms were changed from two stories to one story, and other layouts were rebuilt as before. It formed a classical garden architecture group composed of corridors, pavilions, and bridges, costing 600,000 yuan. It was completed and opened to the public on May 1, 1981.
The Fish Viewing Pavilion complex has been repainted many times. Lawns are planted in the garden, and seasonal flowers are planted all year round. A set of colorful lights and fountains have been newly installed in the fish pond, and ornamental red fish and koi are raised in the pond, re-presenting the historical landscape of "viewing fish on the bridge" from the old days.
Southwest Island
Southwest Island is also known as Gourd Island because it resembles a gourd.Originally, the terrain was low-lying, and the soil was filled, trees were planted, and grass was laid twice in 1954 and 1965. In 2000, hundreds of palm trees on the island formed a forest, with banana groves, lush green grass, and green walkways. In the center of the island, a circular platform was set up. On the platform, the People's Musician Nie Er's sandstone sculpture was erected, with the support of the Communist Youth League Kunming Municipal Committee, on July 17, 1985.
After Southwest Island was built, it fell into disrepair for more than ten years, with uneven ground, exposed soil, and water accumulation in the walkways. In 1995, red soil was backfilled, the ground was leveled, brick walkways were paved, palm trees were replanted, and new lawns were planted. In the southeast of the island, the old iron shed was dismantled, and a new heavy-eaved pavilion corridor with an area of 250 square meters was built. The Nie Er sculpture square was paved with granite bricks, and the surroundings were planted with holly, red maple, and pagoda arborvitae. The sculpture, under the background of the spacious square and red maple and green cypress, looks solemn. At the same time, the roads, seawalls, and iron railings of Southwest Island were renovated. Southwest Island has been renovated twice, with flat roads, green grass, palm trees, and comfortable seats, showing a vibrant subtropical scenery.
Shuiyue (Water Moon) Pavilion
"Shuiyue Pavilion" is in the central area of the park and is also the main scenic area for tourists to relax and exercise.A large number of weeping crabapple trees are planted in the park, and the red blossoms in March make it very beautiful. Weeping willows surround the lake embankment, with red flowers and green willows, which are particularly intoxicating. Under the trees are stone tables and benches, and the environment is quiet, where tourists can play chess and drink tea.
In 1995, a set of stone carvings "Green Lake Playing with Seagulls" was newly placed in the park. In 1998, a sculpture of a girl and a seagull made of stainless steel with the theme of seagulls was newly built on the lake. It is named "Xiang" (Soar) to commemorate the seagulls flying to Green Lake and to show the integration of people and nature.
A group of twelve zodiac stone sculptures is installed next to the pool leading to Goldfish Island. Passing the small bridge is Goldfish Island, which is shaded by green trees and a good place to cool off and drink tea.
Jiu Long (Nine Dragons) Pool
Jiu Long (Nine Dragons) Pool was once one of the underground water sources in Kunming.In the early days of the People's Republic of China, Kunming City's drinking water was mainly supplied by Nine Dragon Pool water. In the sixth year of the Republic of China (1917), the first tap water plant in Kunming City was built in Nine Dragon Pool, and the water pump room and equipment were still preserved in the park. Since 1986, Nine Dragon Pool was rebuilt as a potted landscape garden and opened in September 1988. In Jiu Long (Nine Dragons) Pool, nine huge white dragons are sculpted to play with water, and the pool is surrounded by pavilions, flower stands, curved bridges, flower beds, and lawns, which is a place for holding flower and bonsai exhibitions.
In March 1999, Jiu Long (Nine Dragons) Pool was renovated again, the old white dragon sculptures and the management room and the surrounding wall on the north side of the pool were demolished, the nursery was moved, and the green space and roads were replanned, the pavilions and corridors were renovated, and large areas of lawns were paved and trees and flowers were planted. A water tower shaped like a clock tower was newly built in the east of the pool to supply water for automatic sprinkling and watering flowers and grass. In the same year, on the southeast side of Jiu Long (Nine Dragons) Pool, the city tap water company was responsible for renovating Kunming's first tap water pump room, enriching the display content to make it a Kunming Tap Water History Museum for visitors.
