Yingze Park is the most representative natural scenic spot within Taiyuan city and is often hailed as the "green lung of Taiyuan." At its heart lies Jinghu Lake, gleaming like an emerald set amidst the landscape, its surface shimmering with rippling light. Every spring, weeping willows brush the banks, peach blossoms dot the water's edge, and pleasure boats glide gracefully through the scene, evoking the poetic charm of Jiangnan's watery towns. Verdant artificial hills rise in layered ridges, pine trees rustle in the breeze, and from the summit, visitors enjoy panoramic views of the entire city—making it an ideal retreat for relaxation and leisure.
Each year during the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the park hosts the spectacular "Wanzihong" (Myriad Hues) Lantern Festival, where dazzling lantern displays harmonize brilliantly with the lake and hills, drawing countless visitors who linger long into the night.
The park’s core attractions include the Jinghu Lake Scenic Area, the Verdant Rockery Zone, the Botanical Viewing Area, and the Cultural Corridor. Around Jinghu Lake, aquatic plants such as lotuses and water lilies flourish; in summer and autumn, blooming lotuses fill the air with delicate fragrance. The rockeries, constructed from famed Taihu limestone, feature winding paths and secluded corners, with pavilions and terraces artfully arranged among them. The "Lancui Pavilion" offers the finest vantage point for taking in the scenery. The Cultural Corridor showcases Jin merchant culture and Taiyuan’s historical legacy, displaying engraved stone tablets inscribed with poems and calligraphy by scholars and poets through the ages.
Originally built in 1954 on the site of the Ming Dynasty’s Prince of Jin’s residence, Yingze Park has undergone several expansions to achieve its current layout. Within the park stands the historic "Jinyang Lake" site, a remnant from the Ming era that bears witness to Taiyuan’s thousand-year transformation. According to legend, Duke Wen of Jin—a ruler of the State of Jin during the Spring and Autumn period—once stationed troops here for military training, leaving behind tales of the "Ancient Jinyang Lands." Ruins of the "Shuangta Temple" within the park also echo the famous line by Tang Dynasty poet Bai Juyi: “Willows by the shores of Jinyang Lake,” embodying the city’s profound cultural heritage. More than just a showcase of natural beauty, Yingze Park serves as a living museum of Taiyuan’s rich history and culture.
