Chongqing - Banan District has long been a scenic corridor with picturesque country getaways, mountain resorts, family courtyards, ancient towns, and hot springs, which are home to rich cultural heritage like Mudong Folk Song, Jielong Percussion, wood carvings, and so on. Now, the main urban section of Banan has a new flower park, which opened to the public on March 8, following half a year of landscape reconstruction.

The Babin “Banan Riverside” Art Gardens have been remodeled on the former site of the Ba Culture Film Park. Twenty-four acres of non-exhibition land are set aside for lush greenery, public spaces, children’s playgrounds, and fitness equipment, which are open free of charge to visitors and residents alike.

A wide range of interactive activities have been arranged for the opening weekend between March 8-10, where visitors can watch events such as the Fantasy Art Theatre Parade, exhibitions of traditional Chinese “Huafu” costumes, and live music performances that will bring a festive atmosphere to this latest green space addition to the urban landscape.

Now that early spring is in bloom, the park has unveiled an international range of twelve garden areas with over 100 varieties of flowers, including precious species like dalia, anemone, violets, agave, and curaçao. The spring flower areas present themes including the symbolic connotations behind Picasso’s Cat, the psychedelic Sharkspark inspired by polka dot art, the geometric spatial beauty of the Romantic Esther Garden, and the oriental zen spirit embodied through the ‘Unreal’ exhibit. 

Surprises lurk at every turn

During a personal tour on the first day, there were countless groups of jolly visitors posing for souvenir photographs by the roadside entrance, and the relaxing stroll into the park took us past the tourist center displaying culturally innovative products for sale like the cute “Banan Tiger” series, and where young adults dressed up in traditional Hanfu dress prepared to show off their elegant designs on the go. 

The attractive pathways linked multiple scenic vantage points, with visual features on display in whichever direction we looked in. The steps have colorful images running the entire height, and walled sections have eye-catching floral and artistic decorations. Along the way, there is plenty of human activity like various snack stalls, children tearing around the fun playground, elder ladies dancing in the open spaces, and traditional pastime experiences like Chinese-style golf and arrow throwing. 

Another personal impression was the contiguous layout that made the park easy to navigate on foot, all while the bendy pathways meant there was always a surprise lurking around the corner, such as the unexpected zip-line, green hillocks with different landscape scenes, and the chance to interact face to face with costume actors and friendly groups of older ladies. 

Horticultural dialogue enhances quality lifestyles

In a one-stop combination of various elements where East meets West through aesthetic dialogue, visitors can admire world-class horticulture, blending humanistic art and natural flora with yesteryear landscape philosophies in deep harmony with futuristic concepts. The floral arrangements are intricately decorated and exude artistic ingenuity.

The park displays floral art and non-powered amusements covering 3,000 square meters, including the Flying Flower Castle, Flower Hunt Valley, Flower Island, and a 200-metre Jungle Course area. In addition, there’s a play area with three powered amusements: the Flying Flower Carpet, Spinning Rabbit, and Colourful Hot Air Balloon.

Another feature set to open later on May 1, in time for the Labour Day Holiday, is the Bayi’ Banan Arts’ Centre. With 5000 square meters allocated for specialty dishes, art exhibitions, parent-child experiences, and shared reading areas, this will make the Babin Art Gardens a unique single-stop micro destination for families.

Banan District has further explored urban cultural tourism resources to create this new landmark. This first ‘Garden City’ demonstration project will enhance the functional layout of public spaces, in line with the pursuit of high-quality lifestyles and the district's overall competitiveness.