Integrating protection of historic site, leisure, environmental improvement, and emergency measures against disasters, this is a modernized city site park of cultural and historical content.
Dadu city of the Yuan Dynasty was built 700 years ago, between 1267 and 1276. The ten-meter-high remain of its northmost part, which were left outside the city when the north city wall was moved southward in the early Ming Dynasty, can still be seen and are popularly known as tucheng, or the earthen city wall. In 1957 it was designated by the government of Beijing as a key historic site under municipal protection. On Sept. 25, 1974, a greening team was formed in Chaoyang District to protect the relics. On March 10, 1988, the government approved the building of a park named “Yuan Dynasty Dadu City Wall Site Park”.
The park, 4.8 kilometers long and 130-160 meters wide, covers an area of 0.67 hectares. It is divided into 7 parts by 6 roads. It has nine scenic areas-new look of the Yuan city wall, heyday of Dadu, dragon pond, emperor's travel in two capitals, guests from the world, Chinese crabapple blossoms, light of peace, lights on water street, and turrets. Xiaoyue River is the main water-covered scenic spot in the park. On its south bank is the wall relics protection zone; on its north bank, the landscaping zone.
In 2003, to protect the relics as part of the Olympic landscape, the Greening Administration of Chaoyang District had the park updated in a comprehensive way. When that was completed, the park became the largest belt-shaped park in Beijing; it began to have the largest outdoor sculpture groups and the largest artificial wetland in the city; it became the first park to serve as an emergency shelter. As a result, Beijing became the first city in the country to set up an emergency shelter and has sign board of it.
Dadu Bar Streetin the “water street and dragon pond” area: The bars are on both sides of the East Huixin Street. They mainly serve white-collar workers, high-level professional managers, foreigners living in Beijing, celebrities, and college students. Most of the bosses, who are from the cultural circle, run their bars not simply for profits, but for cultural or idealistic purposes. As a result, the bar street is characterized by high taste and rich cultural ambience. Since it started business in 2004, customer flow has been steadily going up, thanks to advertisements in newspapers, magazines, on TV, and on the Internet, and thanks to such theme activities as the opening ceremony, Christmas Carnival Night, Dadu Bar Street Romantic Lovers' Night, One-year-old Bar Street Celebrating the 56th National Day, and Romantic Carnival Night.
The “guests from the world” area: Lying on the south of the Chinese Ethnic Garden, it reflects the openness of the Yuan Dynasty, when ambassadors from many countries came to China to offer tributes or do business. The sculptures on the three sunken squares in its north–Flower-patterned Porcelain, Arrows and Shield, and Impregnable Fortress–reflect the dynasty's artistic and military achievements.
The “Chinese crabapple blossoms” area: Lying on the east of Xiongmaohuandao, it has been preserved by renovation and improvement. In it are planted nearly 2,000 crabapple trees of various breeds. They form the largest crabapple grove in the downtown area of the city.
The “heyday of Dadu” area: This lies on the east of Xiaoguanlukou, Anding Road. The awe-inspiring group sculpture named Heyday of Dadu (the largest outdoor group sculpture in Beijing), an 80-meter-long mural, and stone horses, stone sheep, and wooden pavilions show the features and achievements of the dynasty in politics, economics, military affairs, science, culture, and lifestyle. They reflect the features of nomadic culture, and suggest the profundity of Chinese culture and Beijing's long history. With them, the park has become a large outdoor art museum.
The “dragon pond” area: This lies in the east corner of the park. It is a 17,000-square-meter delta area shaped like the head of a dragon cut out by the city light rail and Xiaoyue River. As the largest artificial wetland in the city, it suggests natural scenery in the countryside.
Address:No.8A Shaoyaoju, Taiyanggong, Chaoyang District, Beijing |
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