Guilin Park (Chinese: 桂林公园; pinyin: Guìlín Gōngyuán) is a public park in Shanghai, China. It is located at the homonymous metro station on line 12[1] and line 15.[2]

Guilin Park
桂林公园
Map
TypeUrban park
LocationXuhui District, Shanghai, China
Coordinates31°10′04″N 121°24′48″E / 31.167644°N 121.413292°E / 31.167644; 121.413292
Created1929
StatusOpen all year

History

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Established in 1929 as a private residence of Huang Jinrong, the park covers a total area of 35,500 square meters. Huang died in 1953.[3] In 1958 it became a public park maintained by the Shanghai Garden Management Office and it received the name Guilin Park due to the garden's osmanthus trees.[4][5]

The park was damaged during the Cultural Revolution when the group of sculptures "Eight Immortals crossing the Sea" was destroyed.[6]

Sights

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Just like ancient Chinese gardens, it is densely decorated and planted with a vast variety of trees, including more than 1000 osmanthus trees.[7] This is one of the few parks in Shanghai that kept most of the aspects of traditional Chinese garden design, featuring gates, lakes, grottoes, rocks, curved paths, animal-shaped stones, stele and pavilions. Although its area is relatively small, the architecture of different parts varies, as if it were made to showcase a historical Chinese garden. When the weather allows, nearby residents come here to play Go and Mahjong, sing or play music, do exercises, or relax lying on the meadow.[5]

 
Stele in Guilin Park

The surrounding wall separates the park from the streets and creek, making it possible to close it for the late afternoon and night. Entrance fee is 2 yuan.

Just across the street there is the larger and more modern Kangjian Park.[4]

References

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  1. ^ "Timetable of Shanghai metro line 12". Shanghai Metro. Archived from the original on 2018-01-18. Retrieved 2018-03-20.
  2. ^ "New Metro Line 15 hits the tracks this weekend".
  3. ^ "The fascinating history of Guilin Park".
  4. ^ a b "Xuhui, Shanghai: Guilin Park And Kangjianyuan". Travelista. Retrieved 2018-03-20.
  5. ^ a b "Guilin Park". Afar. Retrieved 2018-03-20.
  6. ^ "The fascinating history of Guilin Park".
  7. ^ "The fascinating history of Guilin Park".
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