Brief Introduction of Ailian Park

Ailian Park is located in the bank of Chenjiang river and junction of Chenzhou Avenue and Xiangxue Avenue. It covers about 240mu area, including 135mu water surface area. It was named under Zhou Dunyi’s poem of “Lotus” (Chinese spelling Ailian shuo). Tens of sceneries are set in the park, such as lake, academy, island, stage, landscape belt, square, memorial arch, statue, bridge, and etc. The architectural scale of Ailian memorial arch is “six columns, five gates and three floors”. It is 44meters wide and 18meters high. The middle gate crosses over 8meters with the width of 7.4meters and its beam is about 8meters long. It is the biggest pure stone arch available in China. The expansion project of Ailian lake was launched in June, 2010 by the donation of real estate companies around the lake. Qingfeng pavilion, Qinhe pavilion, Junzi bridge, and more than 10 sceneries were built during the two years upgrading period. It was re-opened to the public on May 8, 2012. Green trees, colorful flowers, and different sceneries enabled Ailian park to be one of the favorite places to enjoy their leisure time.

1. Historical figures

Ailian lake was named under Zhou Dunyi’s poem of “Lotus” (Chinese spelling Ailian shuo). Zhou Dunyi administered in Chenzhou city for three times. The sixth year of Qingli of the reign of Emperor Songrenzong (AD1046), Zhou was nominated as the chief of Chenxian and then dispatched to be the chief of Guiyang (current Rucheng county of Chenzhou city). Four years later, Zhou was dispatched to the capital. The fourth year of Xining of the reign of Songshenzong (AD1071), Zhou was promoted as chief of Chenzhou. Zhou Dunyi was one of the officers administered in Chenzhou city for maximum times and longest time with sound achievements in ancient China. Zhou set up schools, promoted agriculture, and cared for the grass roots people. He planted the lotus by himself and created the famous poem- “Lotus”. Just 119 words, it expressed the nobleness of lotus and the feature of gentlemen to the greatest extent.

2. Traffic and geography

Ailian Park is located in the bank of Chenjiang river and junction of Chenzhou Avenue and Xiangxue Avenue.

3. Landscape features

The core project of South Hunan Folk-custom Park includes 11 subprojects of “one road, eight zones, one academy and one lake”. Eight zones refer to farming culture zone, south Hunan dwellings culture zone, central villa zone, historical culture zone, local fairy culture zone, folk culture zone, historic resort zone and modern times culture zone. One academy refers to Lianxi Academy. One lake refers to Ailian lake.

Ailian lake covers about 240mu area, including 135mu water surface area. There are tens of sceneries available in the lake- one lake, one island, one academy, one stage, one landscape belt, two squares, two memorial arches, two statues, four bridges, and so on.