Congtai and Zhaoyuan parks

Rem Sapozhnikov / April 2014

During my first trip to China, I noticed that the Chinese are real master gardeners. Therefore, in every city I go, I try to look at local parks. In this regard, I was pleasantly surprised in Handan: there are a lot of beautiful well-kept parks.

The most famous park in the city is Congtai (丛台公园 - Cóngtái gōngyuán). In 1999, it got shortlisted in "100 most famous parks in China". In 2007, it was rated AAAA as a tourist attraction. Later in different years, it received several more titles, including "one of the top 10 parks in Hebei Province". The entrance to the park is free.

Flowerbed in front of the entrance to the Park.

Congtai Park was formed around a three-story pavilion which is built on a small hill.

The ruler of Zhao State, Wuling Emperor (赵武灵王 - Zhàowǔlíngwáng), who reigned from 325 to 299 BC, loved to watch dancing and musical performances, as well as military parades, from this pavilion. There used to be more such pavilions. It is not a mere coincidence that Congtai is translated from Chinese as a "thicket of towers". I have not took a photo of the observant alcove pavilion, so I set a photo from another website - http://enbbs.gmw.cn.

The monument to a soldier, a worker and a peasant woman (she has a reaping-hook in her hand. The photo didn’t capture it). (工农兵 - Gōngnóngbīng).

This monument was erected during the "Cultural Revolution" period in the early 70s of the 20th century. Under the monument there are 4 plates. One of them contains the following inscription: "The great teacher, the great leader, the great commander, the great helmsman. Long live! Long live! Long live the Chairman Mao!".

Map of Congtai Park. ↑ Click for detailed view ↑

Once again, the entrance to the park Congtai, shot in the morning light.

It is only 9 am of an ordinary weekday, but the park is already full of dancing couples.

Zhaoyuan Park (赵苑 - Zhàoyuàn). South entrance.

Previously, the territory of the modern park was a place for training camp for archers, military parades and performances. Moreover, there are several tombs of the rulers of Eastern and Western Han dynasties.

Map of Zhaoyuan Park. ↑ Click for detailed view ↑

Most likely, this panel picture depicts Wuling Emperor with his troop forces. He was known for his love for war and constant attacks for his neighbors.

To increase the power and the efficiency of his army, he held a modernization: changed the uniform of the soldiers, dressed them in trousers borrow from the culture of the northern nomad tribes, as well as created a new branch of the armed forces - horse archers. Until then, the Chinese fought in battle chariots and involved dismount warriors with spears.