Huaxi Park (Flower Stream Park)|china guides

Huaxi Park forms the center of the Huaxi Scenic Area. Blending natural hills and rivers, idyllic scenery with ethnic features, it has gained the name of "Back Garden of Guiyang City". It is located in the south suburb of Guiyang City, Guizhou Province. It covers an area of about 825 mu (about 136 acres), of which about 300 mu (about 49 acres) is water area.

Huaxi Park was built by a local country gentleman in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). He built towers and pavilions, planted trees and flowers on the hills, and built little islands in the water. In the 1930s, it was rebuilt as a park. After the founding of The People's Republic of China, the park was equipped with tourist facilities and renamed Huaxi Park, which means a park where flowers are in full bloom and streams flow.

Unlike man-made parks, the stream and the four hills in Huaxi Park are all naturally formed. Huaxi (Flower Stream) winds elegantly across the park while the four hills, Lin (Kylin, an animal in Chinese legend), Feng (Phoenix), Gui (Tortoise), and She (Snake) Hills stand at its two sides.

With its clean water and intoxicating scenery along its banks, Huaxi is regarded as "The First Love Stream" in China. Lin Hill is the highest of the four. It is like a ferocious kylin howling angrily at the sky. Standing on the hilltop, tourists can take in the full view of the park. On top of Feng Hill, one can overlook the stone houses, stone walls and stone village roads that crisscross the field. On Gui and She Hills, with various stones in peculiar shapes bordering the roads, the scenery is also appealing.

Baibu Bridge (One Hundred Steps Bridge) should also be mentioned. It is a winding bridge with stones fixed in water. Different from common bridges, when people walk on the bridge, it is just like that they are walking on the water surface, especially in summer when water level is high.

In addition, the park includes several other bridges, pavilions, towers and gardens. Some of them are distinguished in style; some are magnificent; and some have historical significance. All are worth a visit.