Green Lake Park
» Kunming, Yun Nan

翠湖公园 '七月西风翠湖上,藕花常伴稻花开'

Cuihu Park

Green Lake Park in Kunming, Yunnan Province, China is an urban park located on the west side of the Wuhua Mountain and is extolled as a "Jade in Kunming." The scenery of the Green Lake Park in early spring is one of the eight most beautiful scenes in City of Kunming.

What used to be

The Green Lake goes back to the late Yuan Dynasty (1277 A.D. - 1367 A.D.). At that time it was only a big marsh outside the Kunming City. It was commonly called "Vegetable Lake" because many places nearby were vegetable gardens, rice fields and lotus ponds.

The water-level of Dianchi Lake was then so high that it was connected with the Green Lake. That is why we have the couplet: "Dianchi Lake spreads five hundred li; the Vegetable Lake merges with it." As there were nine mouths of springs beyond the Bamboo Island in the northeast, legends believe that the lake water was from nine wells and then merged into the lake, so the lake is named "Nine Dragon Pond."

Getting around

Mu family

There used to be a scenically beautiful island at the centre of the lake. In the year 1382, Mu Ying, the Garrison Commander, started building the capital of Yunnan Province in Kunming, and the Green Lake was enclosed within the brick walls of the city. A military structure, called "the Liu (Willows) Barracks," was built, which was later changed into a villa for the Mu family.

Pavilions here

On the north and south stand imposingly two octagonal pavilions with craved beams and painted rafters and beautiful glazed tiles and elegant eaves.

Haixinting

In 1692, Wang Jiwen, the provincial governor, built the Biyiting (literally Green Ripples Pavilion), commonly called Haixinting (a Pavilion in the Centre of the Lake). Inside the Haixinting there are two courtyards, where all kinds of shows are held throughout the four seasons: flower shows, lantern shows, fish shows and picture shows. Flowers and trees are growing luxuriantly in the yards.

On the west of the pavilion are buildings for fish-watching. There is a two-storey pavilion on which hangs a horizontal board inscribed with four characters meaning "Drunk in spring in the abode of immortals" and facing north is a fish-watching pavilion.

The Green Lake

Two long banks divide the Lake into four parts. Embraced by willow trees along the banks dotted with a variety of lotuses, with the delightful contrast between the weeping willows and the lotuses, the lake offers a scene of freshness, serenity, and beauty, hence the graceful name "The Green Lake." The main attractions include lotuses, fish, willow trees and pavilions. Ling Shiyi, a Cantonese in the Qing Dynasty, wrote in a couplet: Fishes teem in the ten-mu lotus pond; over half the city poplars and willows are caressing pavilions." It is a superb description of the scenery.

How it got its name

Green Lake was named by David Phillips, who surveyed the area in September 1855 for the United States Surveyor General. His first notes referred to it as "Lake Green" because even in its natural state the lake is prone to algae blooms, since it was called "Green Lake" later.

Green Lake's Formation

Geologists say the Vashon Glacial Ice Sheet, which also formed Puget Sound and other area lakes, formed Green Lake 50,000 years ago. Dredgings of Green Lake have produced volcanic ash from an eruption of Glacier Peak that occurred about 6,700 years ago.

The Green Lake Path

The 2.8 mile (4.5 kilometer) path is divided into two lanes one for pedestrians and one for bicycles, roller skates, and other wheeled unmotorized vehicles. The inner pedestrian lane is bidirectional, while the outer wheeled path is unidirectional (counterclockwise). The path is a major destination for people seeking exercise and relaxation. It can become quite crowded on days of fair weather. There is also an outer path along the edge of the park.

Green Lake Park

The park is a popular spot for qigong classes, roller hockey, soccer, baseball, golf, Derek Baker Memorial Boccie Ball Club, and lawn bowls, Woodland Park Lawn Bowling Club.

Lovable scene in past years

It now covers fifteen hectares of land and is one of the most favorite parks in Kunming. Since 1985, the red-pecked seagulls from Siberia have been spending the winter months on Green Lake. In winter and spring, Kunming residents flock to the Green Lake Park to feed red-beaked gulls, there are tens of thousands of them which have descended upon the lake. This lovable scene, in which man, birds and nature mingle in such harmony, has kept occurring over the last ten years. The love of the Kunming people for wildlife has added to the charms of the City of Spring.

The bathhouse

The bathhouse was built in 1927 next to an outdoor swimming area with concrete steps leading into the water. A lifeguard station and boat were built next to this area in 1930 after several drownings in 1929. The bathhouse is now home to the Seattle Public Theater at the Bathhouse, a small but popular venue for plays.

The first community center

Across the lake from the bathhouse, in the northeast part of the park, its first community center, it was built in 1929 at a cost of $95,598. As it was built on the fill land from the 1911 draining, the community center was built on pilings. It contains two conference rooms, a gym with showers and bathrooms, and a stage.

The children's wading pool

It was a Works Progress Administration project, as was the drainage ditch and the arched stone bridge providing a path over the ditch. The wading pool is staffed in the summer by the Seattle Parks department, and operated daily from June 23-September 3rd, from 11 a.m.-8 p.m.

The Green Lake Aqua Theater

It was built in 1950 for the first Seafair in order to house an attraction called the Aqua Follies and their "swimusicals"--a combination of aqua ballet, stage dancing, and comedy. The theater included a round stage and floating (though still recessed below the stage) orchestra pit, encircling a section of the lake with high diving platforms on each side. The grandstand was built to a capacity of more than 5,000 seats.

What to joy in summer

In summer, Green Lake is also popular for swimming and boating. Although public use of motorized boats has been banned since at least 1968, the lake was the site of hydroplane races from 1929 to 1984. Today many forms of motor-less boats, including sailboarding, pedal boats, rowboats, skiffs, and canoes, are commonly seen on the lake.

The Milk Carton Derby is held annually on the lake as one of the opening events of Seafair. While remnants of boat launches still exist, all launches have been removed from the lake, all boats must be hand carried to the water.

Animal and plant life

Wildlife

Green Lake is a beacon for wildlife. Many types of wildlife, ducks, cormorants, loons, herons, geese, turtles, raccoons, rats, squirrels, bats, hawks, eagles, and osprey are among the wild creatures commonly viewed there.

Fish, mainly trout which are occasionally restocked, live in the lake. A large amount of sucker fish (often confused with carp) are also present, along with largemouth bass, yellow perch, and small populations of many different unexpected species.

Cherry trees

During the spring, Green Lake Park is in bloom with pink and white cherry trees. Planted along the west side of the lake in 1931 and 1932, they were a gift from the Japanese Association of North America.

Attractions around » Kunming, Yun Nan

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Shopping & Leisure

Shopping & Leisure

  Weather

  1. Is Kunming's weather like Spring all year round?

  Transportation

  1. Noitce this when you take a bus
  2. Noitce this if you plan to rent a car

  Shopping

  1. Avoid buying fake goods
  2. If you have bought some ivory or ivory handicrafts...

  Travel

  1. Is it safe to travel in Kunming?

  Other Hints

  1. Tips for you to have a pleasant tour in Kunming
  2. Is it easy for me to make a call?
  3. Toilet Facilities
  4. Keep healthy
  5. Emergency
  6. Useful Numbers

  • Is Kunming's weather like Spring all year round?

    Kunming belongs to the subtropical plateau monsoon climatic zone; the annual average temperature is 14.7 and the yearly precipitation is 1,024 mm. It has the best climate of all Chinese cities, popularly known as the "Spring City". Kunming does not have severe winters or hot summers and the natural features of the four seasons are clearly defined. For the visitor, this means that Kunming is in bloom all year and a year round destination.


  • Noitce this when you take a bus

    Stand close to the door to get off at the next stop, otherwise, the bus driver does not stop.


  • Noitce this if you plan to rent a car

    Foreigners must have a Chinese driver's license. We suggest tourists rent a car with a local driver to avoid going crooked road.


  • Avoid buying fake goods

    Fake goods are prevalent on the streets of Kunming and while they might seem like tempting purchases, beware that you could be faced with their being impounded and charges brought against you when attempting to bring them back into your home country.So, please try to avoid buying goods from peddlers on streets. Instead, please choose large stores as your shooping places.


  • If you have bought some ivory or ivory handicrafts...

    As a rule, ivory and ivory articles are forbidden to be taken out of China. In China, bring out ivory articles or ivory carving needs strict checkup. The testimonial issued by relative governmental department is required.


  • Is it safe to travel in Kunming?

    The city of Kunming is a safe place to be with low levels of crime and few obvious threats to visitors. Like any big city however, it has its rogue element so the usual caveats with regards to pickpockets and bag snatchers apply. Keep money, wallets, purses and personal items of value well hidden and in hard to reach places. Avoid frequenting run-down or sparsely populated areas especially at night and be particularly conscientious with regards to personal safety if you are a lone female traveller.


  • Tips for you to have a pleasant tour in Kunming

    You should also wear sunglasses to shad their eyes from ultraviolet ray.

    When the lack of oxygen at high altitude occurs, it is necessary to take good rest or receive treatment by sucking oxygen.

    The southwest is an area where the minority nationalities live in compact communities and their culture, customs and habits vary from place to place. Attention should be paid to the following situation.

    • The Dai nationality resent outsiders entering their stockade village on horse back;
    • in the Jingpo village, the place where the Jingpo (Chingpaw) nationality hang the ox head cannot be touched;
    • when seeing logs placed at the door of the va (wa) nationality, one must avoid putting on short pants, must not step on the threshold, not to spit in the presence of other People and what is more, one must not hurt animals and birds at random.



  • Is it easy for me to make a call?

    While public phones are easily found in small shops along streets in Kunming, we suggest tourists make low-cost IDD or DDD calls in post offices or telecom buildings.


  • Toilet Facilities

    Most toilets in Kunming charge no more than 0.5 yuan. Tourists can find free sanitary toilets in some large department stores or fast food restaurants.


  • Keep healthy

    Be wary of where you choose to eat in Kunming, hygiene standards at street vendors and some restaurants may not meet western standards and you could end up with a whole lot more than just a portion of fried rice if you're not careful.

    Water from the tapsshould be avoided for drinking purposes and for brushing teeth and bottled water, which is cheap, can be found everywhere and should be used instead.

    Health care in Kunming's public hospitals is below what is considered international standard so visitors requiring medical care are advised to make use of the newly-opened Richland International Hospital.


  • Emergency Numbers:

    • Fire: 119
    • Ambulance: 120
    • Police: 110
    • Traffic: 122

  • Useful Numbers:

    • Weather forecast of the scenic spots: 16800122
    • Zip code inquiry: 3139491
    • Consumption Complaint: 12315
    • Kunming Tourism Complaint: 3164961


Considered as "Jade in Kunming," Green Lake Park is one of the most favorite parks in Kunming. The scenery of the Green Lake Park in early spring is one of the eight most beautiful scenes in City of Kunming. Since 1985, the red-pecked seagulls from Siberia have been spending the winter months on Green Lake. In winter and spring, Kunming residents flock to the Green Lake Park to feed them.

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