Zhongshan Park (中山公园), praised as “Dongyuan Flower Sea,” has numerous botanical gardens named after various flowers and plants. The most popular areas of the park include: Oriental Cherry Road, Plum Blossom Road, Chinese Herbaceous Peony Garden, Osmanthus Flower Garden, and Peach Garden. The Little West Lake and Sun-Wen Lotus Pond are very popular with tourists during summer months.
The Sun-Wen Lotus Pond serves as a symbol of the amicable relationship between China and Japan, rooted in a historical anecdote from the late Qing Dynasty. During his time in Japan, Sun Zhongshan (孙中山) received assistance from a Japanese friend, Tian Zhonglong (田中隆), to whom he gifted four lotus seeds as a symbol of pure friendship. Tian, in turn, had a botanist friend plant the seeds, eventually naming them “Sun-Wen Lotus.” In 1995, the chairman of the China-Japan Friendship Association commemorated 15 years of friendly city status between Xiaguan and Qingdao by personally planting these symbolic seeds in Qingdao Zhongshan Park.
How Did Zhongshan Park Get Its Name?
Zhongshan park, named after Dr. Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) in 1929, was constructed in 1901. It is 185 acres (75 hectors) in size and surrounded by Taiping mountain to the north-east. The main entrance to the park faces Tiantai Stadium and Huiquan Square to the south.
The Qingdao Zoo and cable cars that ascend to TaiPingShan (where the Qingdao TV Tower is located) are at the north-east end of ZhongShan Park. The north entrance is located on YaNan 1st Road.
Where is Zhongshan Park Located?
Zhongshan Park (青岛中山公园) is located in the east end of Qingdao Old Town at 28 Wendeng Road in Shinan District (文登路28号, 中国山东省青岛市市南区, Telephone: +86 (532) 8287-0564).
Annual Events
- Cherry Blossom Festival: The 500-meter-long Oriental Cherry Corridor (Sakura Road) is a famous scenic spot featuring 20,000 Japanese cherry trees. Every April and May, the Cherry Festival attracts thousands of admirers to view the delicate pink blossoms.
- Lantern Festival: Ideal for late night summer strolls with your loved one especially on Qixi which falls on July 7th of the Chinese Lunar Calendar. The red lanterns along with the many illustrations of Chinese fairy tales will help bring good luck and happiness for the upcoming New Year.
- Chrysanthemum Festival: Started in the 1950s and held annually during late autumn, this festival features a great number of rare plant species.
Hours & Admission
Hours: 06:00 – 22:00
Admission: Free