Check-in - Ailian Lake Park in Chenzhou

Address: Ailian Lake Scenic Area, Xiangnan Scenic Garden, Suxian District, Chenzhou City Ticket: Free Ailian Lake: Ailian Lake is located at the intersection of Chenjiang Road and Ailian Road, by the bank of the Chenjiang River, and is named after Zhou Dunyi's 'Love of the Lotus'. Zhou Dunyi served as an official in Chenzhou three times. In the sixth year of the Qingli era of Emperor Renzong of Song (1046 AD), Zhou Dunyi was the magistrate of Chenzhou County, and later transferred to Guiyang (now Rucheng County, Chenzhou). After serving in Guiyang for four years, he was transferred to the capital as the Deputy Director of the Dali Temple. In the fourth year of Emperor Shenzong's Xining era (1071 AD), he was promoted to the military governor of Chenzhou. Zhou Dunyi was the court official who served the most number of times, the longest, and had relatively good achievements in Chenzhou. The overall architectural decoration incorporates elements of ancient Xiangnan residential buildings such as horse head walls, flying eaves, brick carvings, wood carvings, stone carvings, and color carvings, coupled with the extensive use of bluestone materials, forming a typical ancient Xiangnan architectural style. Archways with statues, green trees, and red flowers create a scene at every step; pavilions, towers, small bridges, and flowing water, winding paths leading to secluded spots. These sceneries also exude the charm of Jiangnan gardens. It is said that the lake water is diverted from the Chenjiang River. These past few days there has been heavy rain, the river water is very turbid, and the water level has risen, but the lake in the park is still quite clean. Sanitation workers have been cleaning all morning. The archway is distinctive, with misty mountains in the distance. Chenzhou is still very beautiful, the City of Clouds. Ailian Lake Park is built around Zhou Dunyi's 'Love of the Lotus', and following the navigation is very accurate. The parking lot is large with not many cars, very convenient and seems to be free as we were not charged when leaving. Inside, there is a large pond with many lotus plants which should be very beautiful in summer. There is also a memorial hall for Zhou Dunyi. 'Love of the Lotus' is very famous, we all memorized it in school. The park is large and the scenery is beautiful, worth a visit if you're on the way. The scenery is very good, not bad at all! So excellent!