This time when I went to Quanzhou, I accidentally discovered that there is also a West Lake here, so I went to see it.
From a cultural and historical perspective, Quanzhou West Lake is inferior to Hangzhou. This is an artificial lake and most of the scenic spots in the lake are newly built. But in terms of scenery, there is not much difference between the two. Quanzhou West Lake also has the misty rain in the south of the Yangtze River that is not inferior to Hangzhou.
West Lake Park is located in the northwest of the city, very close to Qingyuan Mountain. With mountains and rivers blending together, this area has become a geomantic treasure of Quanzhou.
The construction of the park began in 1996. Quanzhou invested a lot of money in development, and finally formed a beautiful scenery like skylight and cloud shadow. Because there is an East Lake on the east side of Quanzhou, it is called West Lake.
West Lake is vast, with a water area of ??80 hectares, or 1,200 acres, and a total area of ??100 hectares, or about 1,500 acres. Standing by the lake and looking out, you can see the faint green mountains in the distance, the cold water, the white embankments on the lake like snow, and the lush green trees.
On a sunny day, the lake is like a mirror, reflecting the blue sky and white clouds, which is very spectacular; if it is rainy, clouds of mist appear on the lake, and the trees on the island gradually become hazy, creating a poetic and picturesque scene.
I entered from the south gate. The park is open to the public for free. The grand archway is very Fujian style, and the plaque reads "West Lake Park". After passing the archway, you will see the lake. It is sparkling, vast and beautiful, and coupled with the warm and moist breeze unique to Quanzhou, it is really "the warm wind makes tourists drunk, and they only think of Quanzhou as Hangzhou."
When you stand by the lake and look out, you will see a magnificent pavilion, which is the famous Citon Pavilion.
Citong Pavilion is located in the center of the island. Its black colonnades, red glazed tiles, and overlapping eaves make it particularly conspicuous in the sky and clouds. At first I was very curious as to why it was called "Citong Pavilion". Later my friend told me that it was because Quanzhou was called "Citong City".
It is said that during the Five Dynasties, the Jiedushi envoy Liu Congjie planted eryngium trees around the city in order to expand the city walls of Quanzhou. This Erythrina grows luxuriantly. When in full bloom, the flowers are as bright as fire and extremely beautiful. Quanzhou is surrounded by bright red. Over time, it was named Erythrina City.
Quanzhou people like the Erythrina flower. It is said that it can predict a good year. If the leaves grow first and then bloom, it will be a good year. If the flowers bloom first and then the leaves grow, it will be the opposite. So many people look forward to the leaves growing first. A poem once wrote: "I heard the villagers say that the leaves bloom first and the leaves will bloom first, which predicts a good harvest. I am here to worry about the people, and I only love green and not red."
But nowadays, it is difficult to appreciate Erythrina flowers in Quanzhou, because the branches of Erythrina flowers are fragile and easy to break, and Quanzhou is very windy, which poses safety risks, so they are rarely planted. Fortunately, there is an Erythrina Pavilion built in the West Lake Park to commemorate the lost history of Quanzhou, and there are Erythrina flowers planted in the park, but I searched for it for a long time and could not find it.
West Lake Park is very quiet, with not many tourists. Compared with Hangzhou West Lake, it seems quiet and secluded. The pavilion in the garden is surrounded by green branches. It is full of green as far as the eye can see, and it blends into the surrounding environment.
There is a beach next to the island in the lake. The sand is neither fine nor rough, and is shaped like a half-moon. It is a good place to bring children to play in the sand.
When you are tired from walking, you will find a pavilion to sit down and quietly enjoy the vast scenery. The green mountains in the distance are as dark as black, and the lake in front of you is blue. Occasionally, water birds pass by, leaving misty shadows. Because there are no buildings blocking the view, the West Lake has a very wide view, and you can see the red silhouette of the Quanzhou Museum to the north.
When I left, I met a group of aunts singing. They stood in the center of the square, as if they were on a stage with thousands of people, twisting and singing selflessly. Since there are no tourists, there is naturally no audience, but the aunts don't care, they are singing to themselves.
Hangzhou West Lake is like a peerless beauty, always suitable for heavy makeup and light makeup. It belongs to tourists from all over the country. It is crowded with people all year round, singing and dancing.
Quanzhou West Lake is like a cardamom girl, hidden in the boudoir and unknown to others. It belongs to the citizens of Quanzhou, and it is elegant and quiet every day, with a quiet and warm sound.
This kind of West Lake is more pleasing to me. I can enjoy the quiet nature all to myself.
Address: The intersection of Xinhua North Road and Xihu Street, Fengze District, Quanzhou City, free and open.
Transportation: Take bus No. 21 or No. 27 and get off at the middle section of Xihu Street.
Author: Lin Qinglu, a well-known traveler! Come with me to experience the majestic mountains and rivers and appreciate the various flavors of life.