Wenying Park

Wenying Park, the oldest park in Taiyuan with 600 years of history, sits in the city center at Hai Zi Bian. Covering 119,000 square meters, it includes Wenying Lake which spans 39,600 square meters. Originally called Hai Zi Yan in the Ming Dynasty, it was later renamed Renmin Park after the founding of the People's Republic. This park has witnessed three dynasties—Ming, Qing, and Republican eras—before getting its current name in late 2009.

Highlights of Wenying Park

Wenying Lake

Wenying Lake, the park's main ecological feature, was historically famous as 'Xunshui Yanbo'—one of Taiyuan's eight ancient scenic spots. 'Xunshui Yanbo' paints a picture of the lake and mountain views in Wenyingshu Park. Located southeast in the city, the lake uses 'Xun' for the southeast direction, giving the name 'Xunshui'. 'Yanbo' means the gentle waves create a misty, dreamlike scene on the water. Weeping willows line the shores, and garden plants like petunias, impatiens, salvia, and chrysanthemums grow in groups. When flowers bloom, the colorful area looks like a vivid oil painting.

Zhuangyuan Bridge

Spanning Wenying Lake to split it north and south, the Zhuangyuan Bridge was once just a small stone slab for walkers. Close to the old exam hall where scholars took imperial tests, it got its fine name as they often came here. In 1952, city funds changed it into a white marble single-arch bridge. Now standing tall, the rebuilt bridge has an oval arch stretching 4 meters, with 17 steps at both ends and railings holding 10 stone lions on each side. Its beauty, rich history, and charming stories gave birth to a special 'Zhuangyuan Bridge Culture'—today, students visit before important exams to pray for success.

Wenying Planetarium

On Wenying North Lake's eastern shore stands the planetarium. Finished in 1985, it has two round buildings with dome roofs connected by a bridge above ground. Inside are two sections: the planetarium theater and the observatory. An 8-meter planetarium projector, brought in from East Germany, uses electricity and light to project the universe and show changing night skies. Though now changed into a Wenying bookstore, its unique round shape still catches the eye while offering quiet time for reading.

Glazed Pagoda

On the park's artificial hill east of South Lake stands the Glazed Pagoda. This Qing Dynasty masterpiece was moved here in 1959 from Taiyuan's Xinmeiyuan on Dongmi Shi Street. As an existing ancient relic in the Four Beauties Garden, the twelve-story pagoda is covered entirely in green glazed tiles. Its hexagonal base has a delicate, fine design with a pedestal, base, platform, body, and spire—lovely to see. Winter snow creates a striking scene with green and white colors shining together. Now paired with the triangular pavilion slightly north and the curved bridge pavilion by Wenyi Lake below, they form a beautiful garden landscape: quiet, elegant, and glowing with reflections.

Educational Value

The Wenying Park Glaze Pagoda, a Qing Dynasty marvel, is a great place to see that era's glazing art and classic Chinese pavilion styles. This twelve-story hexagon tower mimics wooden buildings in a shape like a square pyramid. Bright green tiles cover its body, while its top holds a yellow lotus-shaped bead. Each floor has fake doors, small niches, and railings carved with seasonal flowers. Bamboo designs, meaning 'peace' mark the pillars—all showing the great work of Qing glazing skills.

Activities to do at Wenying Park

Flower Appreciation: March brings flowers to Wenying Park. Early in the month, you'll find yellow forsythia and pink peach blossoms dotting the park's man-made hills and path edges. At full bloom, these flowers become a living oil painting—bright with color and sweet with scent.