Wuxi Liyuan Park

Wuxi Liyuan Park [Photo/jiangsutravel.us]

Liyuan Park, situated not far from the beautiful Lihu Lake in Wuxi City, is a main spot of "Taihu Lake"- the national key Scenic Spot. It covers a land area of 123 mu (8.2 hectares) wherein water area account for 2/5, and it is famous for waterscape. Lihu Lake was formerly called Qihe Lake and Wuli Lake. It is named after a legend that Fan Li, a Dafu (a senior official in feudal China) of Yue State in Spring and Autumn period, rafted on the Lake with the beauty, Xi Shi, and the Park is named after the Lake.

The Park is surrounded by water on 3 sides, continuous green peaks in the distance and spindrift breaking the banks in the vicinity; there are red peach blossoms and green willows in spring on the south bank. The scenery changes as one walks along the banks, with artificial hills towering in the horizon. The area also features numerous terraces and towers. "Ask the kid on the cliff if you want to know what is interesting about Liyuan Park" said Guo Moruo, a great writer in the contemporary era.

Moreover, the artificial hills in Liyuan Park are built near water and have survived due to the water. It is said that Fan Li had a habit of seclusion in Liyuan Park with his true lover, Xi Shi. They roamed in the exquisite and quiet waterscape park, viewing mountains and water, and the romantic scenery.