The Cunjinqiao Park

The Cunjinqiao Park is located in the west of Chikan District. Built in 1925 by a group of wealthy people from Suixi County and Mazhang District, it was previously known as the West Hill Park and the People’s Park. In March 1981, it adopted the current name to honor the heroic deeds of the Zhanjiang people in fighting against the French invaders.

The Cunjinqiao Park is named after the Cunjin Bridge, which is to pay tribute to the heroes who fought against the French invaders in 1898. In the Central Square of the park now stands the statues of the heroes. It is the biggest tropical garden-style park in Zhanjiang.

The Cunjinqiao Park is the oldest and biggest park in downtown Zhanjiang and covers an area of 513 mu (34.2 hectares). Since its reform and opening, the park has seen rapid development. Now it has 10 major attractions, including the Guanyuan Garden, the Piyuan Garden, flower nursery, the Mandarin Duck Island, the Xianxi Garden, zoo, children’s playground, the Martyr’s cemetery, the Golden Bamboo Dancing Square and the Cultural Square. The layout of the whole park is characterized by gradation, orderliness and grace with the rippling blue lake, rolling slopes, green-carpet-looking lawns, and fresh green bushes. You can see the shady trees, the bamboo forest, towers, terraces, pavilions, verandas and secluded paths. Taking a walk in the park will make you feel relaxed and happy.

Quiet and tastefully laid out, the Cunjinqiao Park boasts beautiful scenery. The Cunjin Bridge was rebuilt in 1959. The process included replacing the stone bridge with a cement floor, 19 meters long and 12 meters wide, 18 columns on each side and a stele at the west end with inscriptions recording the fight against the French invaders.

The bridge was renovated in 1986 again, and the current concrete bridge is 22 meters wide and 24 meters long with one stele at each end of the bridge. One of them is inscribed with the three Chinese characters of "Cun Jin Qiao" based on the handwriting of Dong Biwu (1885-1975), a founding member and leader of the Chinese Communist Party. The other is inscribed with the seven Chinese characters of "Yi Cun He Shan Yi Cun Jin," meaning "single inch of land is worth the same size of gold", based on the handwriting of Guo Moruo (1892-1978), a famous Chinese writer, poet, historian and archaeologist.

The Cunjin Bridge now is a historical relic under the protection of Zhanjiang City. Spanning over the drainage canal of the Moon Shadow Lake, the Cunjin Bridge separates the Beiyuan Garden from the Piyuan Garden. In the big square near the entrance of the park stands the awe-inspiring statues of heroes who symbolize the Zhanjiang people.

Address: 95, Yuejin Rd, Chikan District, Zhanjiang City

How to get there: Take Bus No 11, or No 12, or No 13, or No 15, or No 16, or No 22, or No 23, or No 29, and get off at the Cun Jin Gong Yuan Stop.