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The Zhongshan Square, also known as the Traditional Cultural Square, was built in 1998 on the base of the Zhongshan Park at the relocated stadium. The Zhongshan Square comprises the Traditional Culture Square, the Cross-Century Square, and the Future Square, covering a total area of 8.3 hectares. The history of the Zhongshan Park can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty. According to archaeological studies and historical records, in 821 of the Tang Dynasty, the Prefecture Seat (Mingzhou Prefecture) of Yinxian County was relocated from its "low and narrow place" to the present location, the area around the Park Road. In the last years of the Tang, to safeguard the people of the town, walls were built around the Mingzhou Town, which made the town a minor city division and thus laid a foundation for Ningbo to become a metropolis of Southeast China. As time elapsed into the Song Dynasty, the city division had developed into a square-shaped city 200-meter wide (east-west) and 350-400 meter long (north-south). It started from the Gulou (Drum-tower) in the south and ended in the Park Road, and in the city were builg administrative offices, storehouses, houses for the officials and for the civilians, etc. In 1646 of the Qing Dynasty, with Zhejiang elevated to a Province, Ningbo was correspondingly raised to a sub-provincial prefecture, Ningbo Prefecture, in charge of all the affairs of of education, land reclamation, water conservancy, coast defense and others of Ningbo, Shaoxing and Taizhou. In 1658, the government office was moved from Shaoxing to the prefecture city of Ningbo. Then the prefectural office consisted of the Outer Gate, the Arrow Watchtower, the Yanwu Hall (Martial Arts Practicing Hall) and the Court Room. In Emperor Guangxu's reign (1870-1909), Xie Fucheng, the Taotai (Intendant of the Prefecture) of Ningbo Prefecture and a commander in the Sino-France War, had a hill opened up into a garden and named it "Pleasure Backyard". After going through several expansions, in 1927 the garden was renamed the Zhongshan (Yatsen) Park to commemorate Dr. Sun Yatsen. With an area of 2.13 hectares, the garden has now grown into the major part of the Zhongshan Square.
The white arched gate of the garden is a construction of the early 20th century and is now the main entrance of the Zhongshan Square. The small bridge near the gate is called Chengwen Bridge, which literally means: in memory of Dr Sun Yatsen. And on the columns of the adjacent Memorial Archway is an inscription of a couplet inscribed by Mr. Zhang Yuanwei, whose English translation might be: "How great it is to have a view of the pretty garden afar off; worldly cares leaving me, I find the peace of mind creeping in". After going through the Archway, one may find the field of vision gradually broadened. With three hills standing in tripod, one waterway encircling, and with pavilions, terraces, corridors and balconies integrated, the Zhongshan Square has managed to keep the features of the classic garden of the former Zhongshan Park. Therefore, the square has got another name: Traditional Culture Square. The scenery here changes with the seasons: there are blooming peach and cherry flowers in springtime, green shades in summertime, and sweet-scented osmanthus blossoms in fall and fragrant calyx canthus flowers in winter. The stele pavilion of Dr Sun Yatsen's Testament is located amid the sublime scenery, within which is stored Premier Sun Yatsen's Will, stating clearly his lifetime goals and ambitions. The will is to inspire later generations and serve as a reminder to tourists.
Suggested Itinerary
Zhongshan Square--Former Residence of Zhang Cangshui--Cross-century Square--Square of the Future. |
