Xihaizi Park, Urban park in Xinhua Subdistrict, China.
Xihaizi Park is a 23-hectare park at 78 Xihaizi West Street in the core of Tongzhou's old city, where five rivers meet. It is divided into three sections: the Ancient Pagoda area, the Tonghui River area and the Grand Canal area. The site was first formed in 1936 and expanded in 1985; a renovation from 2016 to 2020 rebuilt Huludao Lake.
Xihaizi first took shape in 1936, when Yin Rugeng used the existing pond to plant lotus, trees and four thatched bridges, creating what was called the Yin Mansion Garden. After falling into disrepair, it was repaired from 1950 and expanded in 1985. Between December 2016 and 2020 it was renovated, and the Hulu Lake was rebuilt.
The name Xihaizi means "West Sea" because the pond lay west of the old Tongzhou city; legend says the earth dug from it raised the foundations of the Confucius Temple and Randeng Pagoda. The rebuilt Hulu Lake, shaped like a gourd, recalls the Ming-era mooring basin for grain barges. Li Zhuowu's tomb was moved into the park in 1983.
The park is accessible daily and allows visitors to explore easily on foot with multiple entry points around the grounds. The best approach is to stroll slowly and discover the different areas like lakes and springs at your own pace.
The lake was dug, according to legend, to supply earth for building the Randeng Pagoda; the soil raised the foundations of the Confucian temple and the pagoda, which stand on the highest ground in the old city. In 1983 the tomb of the thinker Li Zhuowu was moved into the park from Dabailin.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,535 contributors worldwide.