Xiamen City Parks
In 1926, Zhongshan Park was initially built in the center of Xiamen downtown area in commemoration of Dr.Sun Yat-sen and his spirit of "the Whole World as One Community" which is also the origin of the park's name. The park had experienced several ups and downs until 1983 when the city government appropriated special funds to rebuilt and fit it up so that it takes on new looks to visitors everyday.
The four main gates each presenting a particular style in the four directions. The one in the south is the most significant.
Dr.Sun Yat-sen's Monument. The monument is 20 meters high and was inscripted with "the Whole World as One Community".
The grand and respectful standing bronze statue of Dr.Sun Yat-sen.
Kuixing Hill, Kuixing River, Liaohua Brook and the many booths, pavilions, stages and bridges forming a pleasant and joyful traditional Chinese painting of mountains and waters.
Gardens within one park. The Carefree Mood Garden, the pleasure ground, the zoo and the flower show hall all add delights to the park.
Hongshan Park is located on Hongshan Hill in the central part of South Siming Road. There used to be a Hongshan Temple before which the wind quickly changes directions and as it rains, the drizzle falls vertically and horizontally, thus forming one of the eight major sights of Xiamen-- "Hongshan Weaving Rain". At the beginning of Qin Dynasty, General Zheng Chenggong built a fortress on the hill and its relics are still preserved. Now the hill top has been turned into a park with flowers and trees planted everywhere, high rocks and precipices surrounded by stone pathways which wind in the dense shade of woods.
Looking at the Gulangyu Island from the western hillside is like enjoying a horizontal scroll of traditional Chinese painting of mountains and waters. By the fortress, there is a castle in ancient style--Jia'er Garden. Inside the garden are ponds, pavilions, booths, flower terraces, grassplots, natural rockeries, and the elaborate craftwork-- stone carving "sleeping child".
Jingzhou Park is in southeast Xiamen Island. The park is surrounded by mountains in three sides and faces the sea. It is a European styled garden and a modern amusement center as well. The park was officially opened in July 1995. Now the "Taiwan Folk Custom Village" has opened too. The village is located along the golden beach and surrounded by the sea and hills.
In addition to various theme exhibition including butterfly, exotic stone, root carving, miniature trees and rockery, orchid, dinosaur and peacock, visitor to the village can also enjoy traditional acrobatics, singing and dancing by ethnic groups from Taiwan and have a full understanding of Taiwan culture. It is the only village that shows the folk custom of Taiwan in Mainland China.
Jinbang Park is in the center of Xiamen City and besides the railway station. There are four main sites inside the park. It is a nice place for meditating on the past.
Sunrise on Hongji Summit. Hongji Mountain is the highest mountain on Xiamen Island, with its summit Yunding Rock (Cloud Rock) of 339.6 meters height above sea level. From the summit you can get a bird's-eye-view of the whole Xiamen, as well as the islands to the east. Yunding Rock is better known in Xiamen than Hongji Mountain, so people usually call this spot as Watching Sunrise on Yunding Rock.
