Liuhua Lake Park (流花湖公园) – Guangzhou’s Historic Urban Haven

Strolling into Liuhua Lake Park, nestled just south of Liuhua Road and north of East Dongfeng Road near Guangzhou Railway Station, feels like discovering a verdant oasis amidst the city’s hustle . Since its official opening in October 1959 and later transforming into a free-to-visit public park in July 2009, this nearly 55-hectare space offers more than just scenic charm—its central lake, covering over 330,000 m², still plays a vital role in flood control and city-wide water management . The park is woven through with subtropical flora—towering palms, banyans, flowering shrubs, and sweeping grass lawns—divided into relaxing, recreational, and bonsai-themed garden zones . Key features include the Frankfurt Garden, Queen’s Oak (once planted by the British monarch), Egret Island, and the renowned Liuyuan bonsai garden—often called the birthplace of Lingnan-style penjing—whose exquisite works have earned praise both at home and abroad . In recent years, the park has undergone an eco-friendly transformation—restoring water quality to national Class IV standards and significantly boosting biodiversity, with bird species rising from 58 in 2019 to 75 by 2023 . It has also become more inclusive, with public-access improvements like the opening of park boundaries into adjacent streets, landscape-level upgrades, and thoughtful additions like a flower boutique, book café, playgrounds, and disabled-friendly amenities . Ongoing redevelopment aims to breathe fresh life into Liuhua Lake Park: the iconic “White House” pavilion is set to be reimagined as an international cultural & art center, with adjacent structures transformed into dining and cultural hubs—helping to solidify its status as Guangzhou Station’s welcoming green gateway . Whether you stop by to enjoy a lakeside jog, birdwatch, explore bonsai artistry, or sip tea in a serene setting, Liuhua Lake Park remains a timeless, rejuvenating retreat in the heart of Guangzhou. #gzonbudget