Changchun Nanhu Park can be considered a landmark of Changchun City. It is the largest free park in the city and also its most representative “urban green lung.” Originally built in 1935, it was formerly known as “Huanglong Park,” renamed “Nanjiao Park” in 1945, and officially named “Nanhu Park” after liberation. After the founding of New China, large numbers of precious tree species such as Korean spruce were transplanted here from Changbai Mountain. Today, there are 137 varieties of trees and plants in the park.
I practically grew up next to Nanhu Park. A new Nanhu Bridge was built in 2017, and Jinshatan (Golden Sand Beach) was renovated in 2022. After numerous rounds of dynamic updates and improvements, today’s Nanhu is completely different from before—it has become a beautiful artificial urban lake with an excellent ecological environment.
The Four Wind-and-Rain Pavilions designed by Yan Huan in 1973
What’s more, trendy internet-famous shops have opened nearby, which I really didn’t expect. In the parking lot of the Mingren Hotel (formerly the Overseas Chinese Hotel), they’ve actually built such a huge open-air restaurant. The design is clearly very thoughtful, the renovation must have cost a fortune, and the food is worth the price. The highlight is the unbeatable view—you can now experience this amazing waterfront open-air dining vibe right at Nanhu. I just wonder what they’ll do when winter arrives soon.
The Changchun Water Culture Ecological Park was formerly the Changchun No. 1 Water Purification Plant (Nanling Water Plant), built in 1932. After the plant relocated in 2015, the original site preserved 350,000 square meters of ecological green space and water purification industrial heritage. The park’s greening rate reaches 80%, with 51 existing plant species and ancient tree communities. The park fully preserves historical building complexes constructed during the Manchukuo period, including the water purification workshop and flocculation workshop; the main facade of the No. 1 Water Purification Workshop retains 36 hollyhock decorative reliefs. The renovation followed the principle of “restoring the old as it was,” using old red bricks to recreate the industrial style, and transforming 108 pieces of historical equipment into sculptural installations, creating distinctive features such as sunken rain gardens and a water purification museum. There are currently 11 heritage protection buildings, 15 renovated buildings, and 10 buildings reconstructed on their original sites using original materials.
In addition, the commercial facilities in the park are much more developed than before, with various cafes and restaurants finally opening up. For example, there’s Sanshan Coffee, which moved here from a residential building. The atmosphere is quite unique and perfect for sitting and zoning out.
Support
Read this article on WeChat