Water wonderland steps back in time
August 28, 2010, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
WATER is part of Chinese art and culture as well as a daily necessity in a major urban area. Celebrating all aspects of the most abundant compound on the Earth's surface is the Shanghai Hanxiang Water Expo Park in Pengpu Village, Maqiao Town in the Minhang District.
The park, a popular visitor attraction, covers about 80 hectares (800,000 square meters) next to the Huangpu River. It was built as an ecological protection barrier around one of Shanghai's major sources of drinking water. The park is a step back in time. It features waterways, pavilions, bridges, trees, flowers and all the elements of Chinese traditional gardens. It celebrates the richness of the past and the prominent role played by the Huangpu River in Shanghai's history.
The park is composed of three zones °?-- an ancient ecological garden that is completed and an ancient cultural garden and a village sight-seeing area still under construction.
The ecological garden occupies about 27 hectares. Here is a simple but elegant replica of streams, bridges, trees, rocks and buildings harking back to ancient dynasties. Inside the garden there are over 600 trees more than a century old and 25 bridges relocated from their original sites. There are also two science pavilions in this portion of the garden.
A second zone is the cultural garden. It's designed to acquaint visitors with the rich history of people who lived along the Huangpu River, including the ancient culture of the Maqiao people and some of the famous figures of history in the region. The site features artifacts of the ancient cultures, displays of how people lived thousands of years ago and includes a painting exhibition of the works of famous local artist Dong Qichang.
The Water Expo Park is sited where the ancient Maqiao people lived more than 3,000 years ago. Their civilization developed all around the Taihu Lake area and is now considered an important chapter in Shanghai's history.
The replicas of the Maqiao culture and lifestyle tell us a lot about how civilization along the Huangpu River evolved and how it influenced the modern day Shanghai city. The Huangpu River is considered "the Mother River" of Shanghai and this cultural garden takes visitors on a tour of the past that gives meaning to that endearing term.
The third zone of the Hanxiang Water Expo Park is a village sight-seeing area themed around the idea of rural entertainment. It displays elements of modern agriculture and the daily life of rural families who still live and work along the Huangpu River.
This section features ecological and agriculture displays, a pavilion recreating a riverside village, an aquatic plants garden, a fruit orchard, a fishing zone, a display of agricultural science and a shopping area.
Walking into the Hanxiang Water Expo Park, you are first greeted with a forest of ancient gingko, camphor and white birch trees. The trees immediately tell visitors that they are walking into a world apart from the modern urban experience.
The trees are interspersed among rocks, some weighing hundreds of tons. Many of the rocks have been transported here from their original sites. There's the Taihu Stone, stalactites, volcanic rocks and the Lingbi Stone, among other sight-seeing wonders.
Many of the rocks suggest other shapes: a girl reading, a monk contemplating, a bird flying, a boat floating. Visitors will marvel at the artistry of nature.
About 50 ancient bridges, originals and replicas fan out into all corners of the garden.
There is the Hanxiang Bridge of five archways and the Xiangjing Bridge of only one. Each has its own story to tell, allowing visitors to dream of other times and other places.
All the buildings, corridors and pavilions in the garden feature gray bricks and black tiles, decorated with carved red wooden doors and windows. The setting reproduces the architecture, colors and mood of ancient China.
This is a park designed to let visitors experience the past. It's a park where visitors may see, understand and appreciate the culture and history of the region. It's a park touched by the magic of water.
Opening hours: 8am-5pm
Address: 3805 Jiangchuan Rd
Admission: 50 yuan (US$7.36)
How to get there: Bus Xinghe Line, Mindong Line, Maqiao No.1
The park, a popular visitor attraction, covers about 80 hectares (800,000 square meters) next to the Huangpu River. It was built as an ecological protection barrier around one of Shanghai's major sources of drinking water. The park is a step back in time. It features waterways, pavilions, bridges, trees, flowers and all the elements of Chinese traditional gardens. It celebrates the richness of the past and the prominent role played by the Huangpu River in Shanghai's history.
The park is composed of three zones °?-- an ancient ecological garden that is completed and an ancient cultural garden and a village sight-seeing area still under construction.
The ecological garden occupies about 27 hectares. Here is a simple but elegant replica of streams, bridges, trees, rocks and buildings harking back to ancient dynasties. Inside the garden there are over 600 trees more than a century old and 25 bridges relocated from their original sites. There are also two science pavilions in this portion of the garden.
A second zone is the cultural garden. It's designed to acquaint visitors with the rich history of people who lived along the Huangpu River, including the ancient culture of the Maqiao people and some of the famous figures of history in the region. The site features artifacts of the ancient cultures, displays of how people lived thousands of years ago and includes a painting exhibition of the works of famous local artist Dong Qichang.
The Water Expo Park is sited where the ancient Maqiao people lived more than 3,000 years ago. Their civilization developed all around the Taihu Lake area and is now considered an important chapter in Shanghai's history.
The replicas of the Maqiao culture and lifestyle tell us a lot about how civilization along the Huangpu River evolved and how it influenced the modern day Shanghai city. The Huangpu River is considered "the Mother River" of Shanghai and this cultural garden takes visitors on a tour of the past that gives meaning to that endearing term.
The third zone of the Hanxiang Water Expo Park is a village sight-seeing area themed around the idea of rural entertainment. It displays elements of modern agriculture and the daily life of rural families who still live and work along the Huangpu River.
This section features ecological and agriculture displays, a pavilion recreating a riverside village, an aquatic plants garden, a fruit orchard, a fishing zone, a display of agricultural science and a shopping area.
Walking into the Hanxiang Water Expo Park, you are first greeted with a forest of ancient gingko, camphor and white birch trees. The trees immediately tell visitors that they are walking into a world apart from the modern urban experience.
The trees are interspersed among rocks, some weighing hundreds of tons. Many of the rocks have been transported here from their original sites. There's the Taihu Stone, stalactites, volcanic rocks and the Lingbi Stone, among other sight-seeing wonders.
Many of the rocks suggest other shapes: a girl reading, a monk contemplating, a bird flying, a boat floating. Visitors will marvel at the artistry of nature.
About 50 ancient bridges, originals and replicas fan out into all corners of the garden.
There is the Hanxiang Bridge of five archways and the Xiangjing Bridge of only one. Each has its own story to tell, allowing visitors to dream of other times and other places.
All the buildings, corridors and pavilions in the garden feature gray bricks and black tiles, decorated with carved red wooden doors and windows. The setting reproduces the architecture, colors and mood of ancient China.
This is a park designed to let visitors experience the past. It's a park where visitors may see, understand and appreciate the culture and history of the region. It's a park touched by the magic of water.
Opening hours: 8am-5pm
Address: 3805 Jiangchuan Rd
Admission: 50 yuan (US$7.36)
How to get there: Bus Xinghe Line, Mindong Line, Maqiao No.1
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