The Shanghai Hanxiangshui Expo Park is renowned for its vivid cultural history related to the theme of the Huangpu River, earning it the reputation of the "soul of the Huangpu River". On the afternoon of March 30, 2021, the reporter, along with Shanghai friends Wang Guojian, Huang Qiaomei, Qiu Zelian, Liu Feng, Wang Jinkui, Jin Fukang, Xu Heyin, Luo Jianqing, Ye Renmin, Zeng Weixin, Wang Jue, and others, drove back to Shanghai for their first stop after their sightseeing tour of the ancient towns of Luzhi, Jinxi, and Qiandeng in Jiangnan.

Photo of Han Xiangshui Expo Park (Photographer: Wang Guojian)

Entering the Hanxiang Water Expo Park, stroll along the sightseeing boardwalk. In the garden surrounded by lush plants and beautiful water, small bridges with different shapes come into people's eyes one after another. Accompanying Zhang Youshi and Wang Guojian successively introduced to reporters that this place has 25 bridges distributed in the garden, making it an ancient bridge museum.

Garden Bridge Scenery (Photographer: Wang Jue)

Strolling through the garden and admiring the ancient and antique bridges is not only a wonderful visual enjoyment, but also a profound feeling of the vast and profound architectural art of traditional Chinese bridges. The bridges here, either clustered or scattered in various corners of the park, have different attractions.

Taking a photo on the bridge (photographed by Feng Ganyong)

For example, the Hanxiang Bridge with five holes, the Xiangjing Bridge with a single hole, the Xingshi Bridge with three holes, as well as the cross beam style flat bridge, curved bridge, and corridor bridge, each bridge has a history and a story, making people feel like they are accompanying history and walking with the ancients in the park. The pavilions and terraces in the park's long corridors, small bridges, and flowing water are all made of gray bricks and black tiles. The vermilion carved wooden lattice doors and windows, as well as the blue brick paved ground, showcase the brilliance of traditional architecture everywhere.

Grandmother Bridge (Photographer: Feng Ganyong)

The overall planned area of this water expo park adjacent to the Huangpu River is about 1200 acres, of which the ancient ecological park covers about 400 acres, and the ancient cultural park and rural leisure area cover about 800 acres. The Water Expo Park is a large-scale ecological park with the theme of protecting water sources, protecting the mother river, showcasing the history and culture of the Huangpu River, and the ancient culture of Maqiao. Its main functions include cultural display, ecological demonstration, leisure tourism, and science education. It is a rare classical garden in Shanghai that combines water, bridges, pavilions, terraces, towers, pavilions, trees, flowers, grass, and wood.

Jiang Taigong Fishing Pavilion (Photographer: Huang Qiaomei)

Upon arriving at the Shuibo Garden Ancient Ecological Park, one can only see towering ancient trees, aged dragon bells, and newly sprouting branches. Ginkgo biloba, camphor, crape myrtle, papaya, golden osmanthus, silver osmanthus, paired white wax, red beech, white beech, and melon seed boxwood all lead the way and complement each other, creating a vigorous, deep, and vibrant ancient ecological landscape.

Jiangnan Water Town is the best under heaven (Photographer: Feng Ganyong)

At the same time, the ancient trees are accompanied by huge stones with vivid images, different shapes, taken from different regions, weighing dozens of tons and hundreds of tons: the Taihu Lake Stone, Sanjianghong, stalactite, volcanic stone, Lingbi Stone. Some are like towering peaks, some are like fairy morning readings, some are like Tathagatas meditating, some are like great Peng spreading their wings, and some are more like sailing sails, giving people a sigh of extraordinary craftsmanship.

Smooth sailing stone (Photographer: Feng Ganyong)

In addition, many of the architectural designs at the Han Xiangshui Expo Park can be regarded as masterpieces. Like the holding moon pavilion located in the lake, three low pavilions support a high pavilion, like three stars holding the moon, soaring into the sky; The stone sail, engraved with the four characters "smooth sailing", is a giant stone that is 8 meters high, 3 meters wide, and 0.4 meters thick. It stands on a wooden boat by the river, as if blessing and praying for the boats sailing in the river; The ancient bridge community centered around Hanxiang Bridge connects arched bridges, covered bridges, flat bridges, and ancient theaters, forming a huge and interconnected ancient architecture and stone bridge group. Against the backdrop of the lake, it is like a fairyland in Penglai, captivating.

Gu Yun Lang Bridge (Photographer: Feng Ganyong)

Touring at the Hanxiangshui Expo Park, people can not only appreciate the scenery but also experience the rich historical and cultural heritage in the ancient cultural park. Here, the Huangpu River water culture, Maqiao ancient culture, and Maqiao historical and cultural celebrities are excavated and showcased. There are also Maqiao ancient cultural relics simulation museum and Dong Qichang Painting Academy built.

Looking at the Huangpu River in the Garden (Photographer: Wang Jue)

As mentioned earlier, the Water Expo Park is known as the "soul of the Pujiang River", which naturally leads to its origins. The Huangpu River is the mother river of Shanghai. It was excavated during the Spring and Autumn period and Warring States period, and was basically formed during the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty. It has a history of more than 2000 years. The Huangpu River Historical and Cultural Exhibition Hall systematically introduces the formation of the Huangpu River and historical figures who have made outstanding contributions in its governance, as well as historical events, documents, cultural relics, etc. related to the Huangpu River system.

Statue of Dayu (Photographer: Feng Ganyong)

This includes memorials from historical figures such as Fan Zhongyan, Hai Rui, and Lin Zexu to the emperor, inscriptions on governance projects, and lyrical poetry and prose, showcasing the weight of history and the wisdom of our ancestors, paying tribute to them, and warning future generations. The ancient cultural park will be equipped with ancient trees, bridges, and antique buildings to create an atmosphere of ancient culture, restore the space of ancient culture, and allow excellent traditional culture to be continued and promoted.

A Corner in the Garden (Photographer: Feng Ganyong)

The nearly two-hour trip to the Shanghai Hanxiangshui Expo Park by the journalist and his team was truly delightful. From one perspective, this ecological garden located on the edge of the central urban area of the metropolis is undoubtedly a paradise for urbanites living in noisy and busy environments.

Pujiang Soul Memorial Stone (Photographer: Wang Jue)

At the same time, due to its close proximity to the Huangpu River, the vast Huangpu River has also become a part of the Hanxiang Water Expo Park. This natural and clever use of scenery makes the Water Expo Park appear more natural and vast, and also provides a better interpretation of its theme.

Taking a photo under an ancient tree (photographed by Feng Ganyong)

The Han Xiangshui Expo Park is neither modern nor fashionable, nor a copy of traditional Jiangnan gardens and textbook like conformity. In the seemingly disorganized and rough layout and setting, there is a unique and ingenious design and unique style, which is unforgettable after viewing. (Image and text: Feng Ganyong)