Nashan Park Yangquan China

View of Yangquan from the Tower area at Nashan Park

Population: 1,289,500 Area: 4,451 square kilometers (1,719 square miles) Nationalities: Han

Administrative Division: 3 districts (Downtown District, Mining District, Suburban DIstrict); 2 counties (Pingding, Yuxian)

The Nashan Park Gate at the top of the steps leading to the Park and Tower

We went to Nashan gardens in a bus which stops at a Central Location from where buses go all directions. The fare was 1 yuan.

Because it was the start of Spring and the green is still coming, the park was grey and dry afer the winter. It was very cold up in the Mountain and the pond and the waterfall was frozen with icicles

We walked up the steps to the gate and up into the areas where people used to collect and sing songs and play Music. It must have been too cold here as the few singers that were here were at vaious locations around the tower in sheltered spots where they sang to small broadcasting stations. Most were alone and without an audience except for us walking by. It was a really cold morning.

After exploring the area around the Tower which was almost deserted except for the few sole singers and a lady walking backwards, “for her health” I was told,

we walked down and towards the Monkey House which was still there with some very cold monkeys trying to get warm in the sun that was now filtering the cold of the day

The small zoo was closed and there seemed to be nothing else to see and as it was cold we walked back and walked south back to the city where we ate hot noodles at a small shop where it was warmer and then went looking at the shops before walking to the Library and then back to the School along the river road which is beautiful even in winter.

Location: Yangquan lies at the western foot of the middle Taihang Mountains, it is the political, economic and cultural center of the eastern Shanxi Province, and is adjacent to Hebei Province in the east, located midway between Shijiazhuang and Taiyuan and about 400 kilometers (249 miles) from Beijing and Tianjin.

Physical Features: The city is situated on the eastern edge of the Loess Plateau in the mountainous area of eastern Shanxi. The terrain of the city slopes downward from the west to the east with the mountains as its main part of the land.

http://www.travelchinaguide.com/cityguides/shanxi/yangquan/

History: Yangquan is a time-honored city and gains its name for the five bubbling springs of former days in the downtown city. Historically, it was always a strategic point that commenced construction as a military fortress as early as in the late Warring States Period (476BC-221BC). In the Tang Dynasty (618-907), Yangquan was exalted to a prefecture. By 1905, it had a train station to facilitate the exploitation of the mines, making the city one of the birthplaces of Shanxi’s modern industry.

When to Go: from April to October of a year

Niangziguan Pass, Great Wall

Niangzi Pass: Apart from the sites of old berm, the gate and the wall, this pass of the Great Wall also has a waterfall nearby which counteracts the occasional pervading gloom.
Nanshan Park: It is a comprehensive hilly park that assembles imitations of ancient buildings, fountains, pavilions, and children’s playground. It is a perfect place for people to relax.
Other Scenic Spots: In northeastern Yuxian County, there are a group of karst caves extending for 20 kilometers (12 miles) with the largest one half kilometer (0.3 mile) long. It is one of the largest caves in North China.

Local Products: vinegar, walnuts Tourist Tips: 1. Travelling to and from Yangquan is easy. Visitors can get to Taiyuan Wusu Airport and Shijiazhuang Zhengding International Airport in one hour and only about 4 hours are needed to travel between Beijing and Tianjin. 2. In June, during the temple fair at Wutai Mountain, tourist buses are available from Yangquan directly to the mountain to admire the spectacle.