Hongmei Park (红梅公园, Red Plum Blossom Park) is a comprehensive urban oasis located on the eastern side of downtown Changzhou, making it the city’s largest and foremost garden. It derives its name from the iconic ancient structure within its grounds, the Hongmei Pavilion. The park boasts a picturesque environment with exquisite garden design, providing an ideal setting for weekend leisure activities, morning exercises, and boat rides on the lake. Particularly enchanting is the bloom of red plum blossoms during late winter and early spring.
The park is divided into three zones, each featuring unique attractions. The southern section is dedicated to cultural and historical heritage, showcasing treasures like the Hongmei Pavilion and the Wenbi Pagoda. In the northwest, the entertainment zone offers sports fields, the Chunhui Tea House, facilities for youth activities, yachts, the Listening to the Pine Tower, and a dance hall. The eastern part of the park focuses on educational and scientific exploration, housing a zoo, bonsai garden, rose garden, and the Tuyidao Root Art Treasure Museum.
Within Hongmei Park, visitors can also catch a glimpse of the Tianning Pagoda from the Tianning Temple. Strolling along the park’s water features presents numerous opportunities for capturing satisfying reflections of the Tianning Pagoda.
Table of Contents
- Basic Information
- Location and Transportation
- Highlights of Hongmei Park
- Vlog about Hongmei Park
- Useful Tips Summarized from Reviews
- Attractions near Hongmei Park
Basic Information
| Estimated Length of Tour | 2 hours |
| Ticket Price | Free |
| Opening Hours | 24 hours a day throughout the year |
| Telephone Number | 0086-0519-88108020 0086-0519-88104993 |
Location and Transportation
Hongmei Park, a serene and expansive retreat, is strategically positioned on the eastern side of Changzhou’s city center, Jiangsu Province. Its precise location is at 28 Danqing Road, Tianning Distric. To get there, tourists can take bus 7, 8, 11, 17, 19, 23, 53, 78, 220, 303, T100, or Y2, and get off at Hongmei Bus Hub Stop (红梅公交中心站).
Highlights of Hongmei Park
Hongmei Pavilion
At the core of Hongmei Park’s allure lies the magnificent Hongmei Pavilion, a structure that traces its roots back over a millennium to the Tang Dynasty, during the reign of Emperor Zhaozong. Although reconstructed during the Qing Guangxu era, the pavilion exudes an ancient, robust charm, standing at an impressive height of 17 meters and comprising two levels. The upper tier of the pavilion is dedicated to the worship of deities such as Yu Shi, Dou Lao, and Wenchang, while the lower tier houses the ancestral hall dedicated to Zhang Tian Shi, a Taoist deity.
The architectural grandeur of the Hongmei Pavilion is particularly enchanting during late winter and early spring when the vibrant red plum blossoms burst into bloom. Visitors can immerse themselves in the joy of strolling through the park, admiring the plum blossoms, or ascending the pavilion for panoramic views of the snow-covered landscapes. A prominent feature in front of the Hongmei Pavilion is the 2.5-meter-tall Ice Plum Stone, adorned with natural patterns resembling plum blossoms.
Wenbi Pagoda
Another jewel in the crown of Hongmei Park is the Wenbi Pagoda, originally built during the Southern Dynasty (479-482 AD) as the Jianyuan Temple Pagoda. Renowned for its distinctive shape resembling a writing brush, the pagoda was later aptly named Wenbi Pagoda. A collaborative effort led by overseas Chinese, including Liu Biru, facilitated its restoration in November 1982, opening its doors to the public. Standing at a towering height of 48.38 meters with a brick and wood structure featuring seven tiers and eight sides, the pagoda offers a captivating panoramic view of the entire cityscape from its spiral staircase.
Various Entertainment Facilities
Beyond its historical treasures, Hongmei Park is a haven for entertainment enthusiasts. The amusement park boasts a diverse array of attractions, including racing cars, a cartoon city, elevated monorail rides, a thrilling world, archery, and white-water rafting, among more than twenty others. The boating area offers an array of vessels such as electric boats, pedal boats, and rowing boats, allowing visitors to serenely traverse the lake. The newly established Hongmei Racing City provides an exciting venue for visitors seeking leisure and excitement. Additionally, the expansive 5,000-square-meter lawn serves as a versatile space for hosting large-scale events, from flower exhibitions and lantern festivals to kite competitions, outdoor film screenings, and celebratory performances.
Vlog about Hongmei Park
Useful Tips Summarized from Reviews
Local Recreation Area: Hongmei Park is more of a recreational area for local residents. If you are a tourist with limited time, it might be advisable to consider other attractions.
South Gate Entrance for Plum Blossoms: The concentration of plum blossoms is primarily along the main road at the south gate. It is recommended to enter directly through the south gate for a more immersive experience with plum blossoms. The north gate, however, is suggested for accessing the entertainment area, especially if you have children, and offers a break with scenic boat rides.
Photography Tips:
- Tulip Photography: For capturing tulips, it’s recommended to crouch down, align the camera with the tulips, and shoot in a vertical composition. Remember to tap the screen to focus.
- Plum Blossom Details: When capturing details of plum blossoms, consider using portrait mode, tap on the flower in the frame for focusing, and leave some negative space in the composition.
- Overall or Group Shots: For capturing overall scenes or groups of plum blossoms, turn your phone horizontally, shoot in full-screen mode with 0.6x or 1x zoom, and try to avoid backlight situations.
- Creative Shots: Consider using plum blossoms as foreground elements when capturing distant landmarks like the Tianning Pagoda. Alternatively, incorporate plum blossoms as a foreground when taking pictures of people, ensuring that the upper half of the person is in the frame.
