Nan Hui Zhui Sea-Sight Garden 南汇嘴观海公园

Today we decided to cover Nanhui which is south-east of where we are staying. We have to take the highway by paying toll of RMB25 one-way to reach this place. Actually quite expensive considering the short distance of the highway!!!

This place is a modern city under construction with a circular shaped man-made lake right in the middle of the city. Seeing the pillion of high voltage electric towers erected along the way here, one could imagine how much potential development there would be for this city when it is properly completed.

First place we arrived and visited was the Nanhui mouth view sea park 南汇嘴观海公园.

This is a small park which is built in modern style using material from the construction of this site. The place is at the far south-eastern tip of Shanghai. When we arrived, there were not too many people at the site perhaps because it was quite early. Later, the crowd built up. There were some teenagers cycling to this site, probably staying in a hotel somewhere nearby here. Tourist van also brought some visitors here.

To reach here, we have to pass through Di Shui Lake and came to a narrow roadway. On both sides of the roadway, there were acres of swamp land. Initially we thought that we have gone the wrong way but according to the information from the web, which I have done some research prior - it should be correct. The swamp land tends to give you an eerie feeling because here out in the middle of no where - we were trying to find a park that is near the seashores.

The park is free of course. How can one possibly charge for a park so small in size, huh?

View of the park

Main entrance signage of this park

Right in one corner of the park is a circular sphere shape steel globe that is surrounded by rectangle blocks of pillars. I observed that the rectangle pillars has world major cities name on them, like Yokohama, etc. I think it should be those port cities.

Not sure what does this globe signifies though. We have just taken photos for remembrance sakes.

In between the globe and the steel compass structure, there is a large stone book. Written on the stone book is a description of this park.

After the stone book, we came to 2 bronze statues of construction workers. This is meant to commemorate the efforts of the workers who had built this site. One can see that they are fully geared with their working equipment and gears by their side.

The construction started in May 2002 to June 2005. The successful completion of this site is due mainly to the perseverance and hard work of the workers.

Right at the other corner of this park and also the main attraction is the stainless steel shaped architecture of a ancient compass called 司南鱼.

There is another steel book here that describes the story of this structure.

More photos of this magnificent structure of steel.

Since we are already at the mouth of the sea, we could see Dong Hai 东海.

Apart from the main attraction of the steel compass, there are other smaller displays within the park. One of them is the pyramid structure. This is a glass pyramid which contains the fine sand dug from the ocean floor during construction. These 3 pyramids are called sand pile 聚沙.

The other is called the sand blower 吹沙. The pipes seen below are used to blow the sand.

Last one is the sea dike protector 海堤卫士. This structure is used to protect the sea front from the constant impact of waves.

We were amazed to see some guy driving a racing buggy along the road from the swamp land. He was speeding and suddenly breaking as he approaches the park. Seems like that guy is having lots of fun away from watching eye of the police.

Overall a good place to visit although it is quite small. I guess once all the development is completed and restaurants/hotel build up, this would become quite a nice place for tourist to come for R&R.

Lu Xun Park 鲁迅公园

Our visit today was the Lu Xun Park which was formerly called Hongkou Park. The park is dedicated to Lu Xun, containing the Luxun Mausoleum with the last resting place of the famous Chinese writer.

When we arrived, we were amazed to find so many people at this place. Seems like it is mainly due to the amusement park just near the entrance? Entrance to this park is free.

Lu Xun Park guide map

This is quite a modern park with a lake in the middle and stone bridges crossing the lake. One can see people boating in the lake.

Started from a shooting range in 1896, Luxun Park has a history of more than 100 years. It is one of the first modern city parks in Shanghai. In 1901, a recreational park was built on this site, which was opened in 1906. This place became a sports and recreational arena exclusively for westerners. In 1922, this place was at first named Hongkou Park, which was opened to the Chinese people six years later. In 1956, Luxun's Mausoleum and Museum were constructed in the park, and Luxun's body was moved here. Thereafter, this park has become a well-known memorial, cultural and recreational park. Between 1956 to 1960, an artificial lake and hill were added to the park, and the layout of today's park was completed. In 1988, with approval from Shanghai Government, this park was named after Luxun. In 1999, Luxun park and the neighbouring Hongkou Football Stadium formed the United Development Group.

Luxun Park covers an area of about 22 hectares. In this park, Luxun's mausoleum us one of the key relics preserved by the nation. And also, there are Good Will Memorial Clock and Japanese Cherry Garden representing friendship between Chinese people and Japanese people. In addition, there is a Plum pavillion in the park, which is also a famous international scenic spot. At the same time, the scenery of Birds Hill and Willow Bank make the park more beautiful. Nowadays, the park is a very good place of recreational and rest for local people, and tourists.

After walking for a while, we came upon the Good Will Memorial Clock.

The place we found in this park was the Drinking Fountain. The British style drinking fountain was built in 1929, and there was once drinking water supply for tourists.

There was even a statue of Sándor Petőfi in the field in front of Lu Xun Museum. Sándor Petőfi (born January 1, 1823 and died most likely July 31, 1849, in Segesvár, Hungary) was a Hungarian national poet of Serb and Slovak descent and a key figure in the Hungarian Revolution of 1848.

Lu Xun (鲁迅), was the pen name of Zhou Shuren (周树人) (September 25, 1881 – October 19, 1936) is one of the major Chinese writers of the 20th century. Considered by many to be the founder of modern Chinese literature, he wrote in baihua (白話) the vernacular as well as classical Chinese. Lu Xun was a short story writer, editor, translator, critic, essayist and poet. In the 1930s he became the titular head of the Chinese League of Left-Wing Writers in Shanghai.

Lu Xun's works exerted a very substantial influence after the May Fourth Movement to such a point that he was lionized by the Communist regime after 1949. Mao Zedong himself claimed to be a lifelong admirer of Lu Xun's works. Though sympathetic to the ideals of the Left, Lu Xun never actually joined the Chinese Communist Party.

The Lu Xun Memorial Hall is opened to visitor for free. Visitor would need to go to the booth to get free tickets.

Although free but still to get a ticket anyway

I heard that previously visitors are required to buy a ticket. I guess that changed recently. Entering the hall, we have to be scanned like in the airport security. Any liquid items we brought, we have to drink some in front of the guard.

No photos were allowed to be taken in the main hall, so we could only take the entrance photos above.

Lu Xun's remains were interred in a mausoleum within this Lu Xun Park in Shanghai.