This Place is Rarely Known! Exploring Suzhou's Hidden and Niche Parks (Part 2)
Wishing Pavilion Canal Park
Address: Xiangcheng District, at the intersection of Qingting Road and Ma Yi Road
The Grand Canal, built during the Spring and Autumn Period, has carried the prosperity and vicissitudes of Suzhou for 2500 years, becoming Suzhou’s eternal memory as a water town.
The Grand Canal flows through Suzhou’s Xiangcheng, Gaojin, Gusu, Wu Zhong, and Wu Jiang districts, linking up a number of cultural heritage and scenic spots such as Shantang, Huqiu, Panmen, and Baodai Bridge, and is a cultural symbol of Suzhou.
This canal park is located on the banks of the Grand Canal in Xiangcheng District, Wishing Pavilion, on the west side of the Grand Canal, with a total area of approximately 198,000 square meters and a landscape area of 175,000 square meters. The park is divided into six sections: agricultural experience zone, leisure living zone, historical and cultural street, industrial experience zone, reformed art zone, and Fenqian leisure waterfront zone.
The Wishing Pavilion Canal Park has restored historical sites such as Wishing Pavilion Earthenware, Huangting Stele, Shenzhai, Wangyun Pavilion, and Shiqiaguan Pier Gate, and has newly built a cultural exhibition hall to fully display the abundant cultural heritage of Wishing Pavilion, the first town of Wu Gate.
A long map, walking along the canal
The weather wasn't good when I went recently, a bit of drizzle and a strong canal wind, my teeth were shivering, and there were few tourists in the park. But in summer, there are a lot of people, especially in the evening, when the landscape lights are turned on, colorful and vibrant, and the evening breeze is very comfortable! It is recommended to come by self-driving on a sunny weekend, along the Grand Canal, to experience the canal culture!
There is a large sports field on the side of the road, residents can come to play badminton, basketball, and there are also some fitness equipment. Because it’s a special period recently, the sports field is closed.
The flowers and trees along the roadside are of various colors and layers, although the weather is not good, but looking at them is still beautiful and pleasant.
There is a children’s playground in the distance
It’s a large lawn, where many people used to fly kites.
The scenery is still good, there are a lot of cherry blossoms, and various trees whose names I can't say, if the weather is warmer it would be better.
Finally saw Wishing Pavilion. According to historical records: at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Sun Jian built a pavilion here, named ‘Wishing Pavilion’. There was a stele in the pavilion, which was protected by glass, I read the introduction, this stele was originally the Jie En Ting Stele. In the 15th year of Qianlong’s reign in Suzhou Prefecture, the merchants and people of Suzhou built the ‘Jie En Ting’ stele (commonly known as Huangting) to express their gratitude to the emperor, and the Wishing Pavilion was also known as ‘Huangting’, and the stele was called ‘Huangting Stele’Huangting Stele.In 1938, the Jie En Ting was blown down by a tornado and destroyed (also said to be destroyed on July 1, 1940) The Huangting Stele was broken into three pieces, and it was repaired and replicated afterwards.
A thousand-year-old Wishing Pavilion, named after the pavilion, thriving because of the river.
