Why is Eling Park special?
Literally meaning “Goose Neck” in Chinese, Eling Park is located at Changjiang Road, Yuzhong district of Chongqing. It is also on the narrow and steep mountain ridge where the Yangtze River and Jialing River traverse. The park is the best place for overlooking the night view of Chongqing City and enjoying the beautiful landscape on river banks. It is also celebrated as “the most beautiful scenery in mountain city - Chongqing.”
Eling Park was built in the late Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911). Originally, it was a private garden called "Yi Yuan". Later, a rich businessman purchased the place, converting it to a villa and named it "Li Yuan". A friend of the garden's owner, calligrapher named Zhaoxi, thought the topography of the mountain resembled a goose's head, so he wrote down 鵝嶺(Eling Mountain in Chinese) to the owner. The owner was very happy and immediately carved and set up a stone tablet titling the garden “Eling”. This is the origin of the name of Eling Park.
Eling Park Highlights
On the peak of the city, Eling Park graces Chongqing with delicate miniature landscapes. Besides, there are many attractions worth visiting, such as Sheng Bridge, Tiger Terrace, Bonsai Garden, where guests can appreciate flowers and bonsai, enjoy the night scene and taste the tea. Now and then some exhibitions are held in the park, chrysanthemum exhibition in particular, is the model of Chongqing garden art. The well-renowned chrysanthemum exhibition in autumn is regarded as the paragon for the landscape garden art of Chongqing. Additionally, there are potted landscaped gardens, each with its own unique characteristics. The beauty of Eling Park has been the subject of many old Chinese poems.
Out of its good location and beautiful natural scenery, many famous people have stayed or visited here. Mr. and Mrs. Chiang-Kai-Shek, the premier of Kumingtang had stayed here for six months. The former British ambassador Karl Rove had been here for five years. Australian Embassy was once located in the garden as well. After the liberation of Chongqing in 1949, the Southwest Military Command was set up here.
Another important exhibit is a 180 degree panorama of war-torn Chongqing in the period of bombardment by the Japanese over several decades. There is also a 360 degree cinema of Three Gorges that mainly shows the natural and social sceneries of Three Gorges prior to the construction of the dam project.