The planning map of Wintersweet Park

　　The Three Gorges Area is regarded as the origin of Wintersweet by the world plant academia, while Yichang is situated in the center of this area. Even Ouyang Xiu, as one of the Eight Giant Scholars of the Tang and Song Dynasty, had written on this scenery with the tone of praise. Native plant as it is, but due to small-scale planting in urban area, some citizens are not familiar with it. The reporters learned that Wintersweet Park, as one of the first batch of projects to beautify and green Yichang, a future megacity, will be situated in the Dagongqiao scenic spot of Binjiang Park, and the construction will soon be started to meet the citizen’s demands of watching city flower nearby.

　　In 2011, the 31st Session of the Fourth Standing Committee of Yichang Municipal People’s Congress approved by voting that the Koelreuteria tree and orange tree will be as the city tree, Wintersweet and Lily as the city flower. And vigorous promotion should be made for them to symbolize Yichang distinctive scenery features and the image of the city. “Wintersweet mostly grows wildly and seldom be planted along streets, in gardens and balconies.” explained by an officer in charge of the Municipal Urban Management Department. The demolition of Dagongqiao Passenger Station creates the conditions for convergence of scenic zones in the Binjiang Park to have Wintersweet planted in the park become possible. It will be of great importance to complete the landscape feature of Binjiang Park, enhance the degree of participation of residents and advance the environmental quality along the Riverside Avenue.

　　The World Peace Park and the Retreat Memorial Square around Dagongqiao are paved in great area, and can distribute people flow and provide residents’ fitness activities with enough public space. To balance the functions of these public areas, Wintersweet Park will be mainly constructed for ecology, with little or even no pavement, taking priority on plant landscape. The natural and clear pathway, well-spaced plants and large variety of categories should be pursued to make it the greenest island of the city.

　　It is learned that the Wintersweet Park is to build Wintersweet Cultural Wall in addition to the setting of flower gallery, stone carving and pavilion. The entire planning area of the park is about 11,000 square meters. The area of the green space taking over 75 percent proportion of the park is 8260 square meters.