Dao Shenggen Park 🌳

📍 Address: Zhenxing Avenue, Gulou District, Fuzhou City, Fujian Province

🏛️ Historical Origins

Dao Shenggen Park was originally the site of Dàyì Lane in southern Fuzhou during the Qing Dynasty. It gained fame for being the location where Lin Zexu, a renowned statesman of the Ming Dynasty, once established a study hall to teach students. The park’s name “Dao Shenggen” (meaning “Roots Growing Upside Down”) derives from an ancient banyan tree over a thousand years old whose aerial roots grow downward from the branches—appearing as if inverted. This remarkable sight was listed among the “Eight Scenic Views of the Banyan City” in the Yin Du Bie Ji, symbolizing resilience and the will to survive against adversity.

🏞️ Architecture and Landscape

Spanning approximately 12 mu (about 0.8 hectares), the park blends traditional Min-style garden design with modern ecological principles. The centerpiece is the “Ancient Banyan Tree with Inverted Roots,” estimated to be over 800 years old, with a trunk diameter of 3.6 meters and a canopy covering more than 400 square meters—earning it the title of “living fossil of the Banyan City.” The park features several classical-style structures such as a stele pavilion, Tingyu Pavilion (Pavilion of Listening to Rain), and the Cultural Heritage Corridor, all constructed using traditional mortise-and-tenon joinery. With blue-tiled roofs and white-walled walls adorned with intricate carvings, these buildings reflect the architectural essence of traditional Fuzhou residences.

🏵️ Cultural and Historical Significance

• A stone stele inscribed during the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty, titled Record of the Restoration of Dàyì Lane, remains on-site, documenting Lin Zexu’s teachings and local historical changes.
• On the eastern side, the “Zhonglian Culture Gallery” showcases family precepts and ideals of integrity and public virtue from distinguished native sons of Fujian, including Lin Zexu and Chen Baochen.
• An annual “Ronggen Sacrificial Ceremony” is held during the Qingming Festival, preserving the folk tradition of honoring roots and valuing moral character. This event has been included in the municipal list of intangible cultural heritage.

📅 Visitor Information

• Opening Hours: 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM daily (open year-round)
• Admission: Free entry
• Transportation: Take Line 1 of the Fuzhou Metro to Dongjiekou Station, then walk 15 minutes; bus lines 1 and 17 stop at Zhenxing Road Intersection
• Recommended Visit Duration: 1.5 hours

✅ The park is a key protected cultural site in Fuzhou City. Climbing ancient trees or carving on them is strictly prohibited.
🌿 Highly recommended to combine your visit with nearby attractions such as Sanfang Qixiang and Wushan Scenic Area to fully experience the continuity of Fuzhou’s millennia-old cultural heritage.

📌 Tip: Late afternoon offers a serene moment when the ancient banyan’s shadows dance gently under shifting light—perfect for photography enthusiasts seeking quiet beauty.