Wenta Park in Foshan

Wenta Park (文塔公园) is located next to Tianyou City (天佑城) in Ronggui Town (容桂镇), Shunde District (顺德区), Foshan City (佛山市), Guangdong Province (广东省). The tower faces east, and the body of the tower is hexagonal. The park has been developed into an open public sports and cultural square, with facilities such as a standard swimming pool, basketball courts, badminton courts, and ping-pong courts, making it a popular destination for local fitness enthusiasts.

The Wenta Tower (文塔) is a pagoda-style structure built with brick and wood. It has a unique brick-laying method: every five rows change the style. It starts with alternating horizontal and vertical layers, then progresses to two vertical rows followed by a horizontal one, and continues with patterns such as three vertical rows with a horizontal one, four vertical rows with a horizontal one, and five vertical rows with a horizontal one. This method is the only surviving example of its kind in the current area of Shunde District (顺德区), Foshan City (佛山市).

Geography and Climate

  • Location: Ronggui Town, Shunde District, Foshan City, Guangdong Province, China (佛山市顺德区容桂镇)
  • Climate: Subtropical monsoon climate (亚热带季风气候)
  • Opening Hours: Open year-round, Monday to Sunday, 00:00–24:00 (全年:周一至周日 00:00-24:00)
  • Ticket Price: Free (免费)

Famous Attraction 

  • Wenta Tower (文塔)

Protection Level 

  • County-level cultural heritage site (县级文物保护单位)

History

The name “Guizhou Wenta” (桂洲文塔) is found in the historical records of Shunde County (顺德县), but the architectural details and construction dates are not documented.

The tower has a total of seven levels, each with a stone cap inscribed with text. The inscriptions are as follows:

  • First level: “Fei chu shang qing xiao qi” (飞出上青霄气) – “Flying up into the clear sky.”
  • Second level: “Xiu jia Shi Yang” (秀甲狮阳) – “The most outstanding in Shiyang” (referring to its location south of Shishan Mountain).
  • Third level: “Ju Kui Ge” (聚奎阁) – “Gathering the stars pavilion.”
  • Fourth level: “Ti Ming Chu” (题名处) – “Place for inscriptions.”
  • Fifth level: “Han Gao Xia” (涵高下) – “Containing the heights and depths.”
  • Sixth level: “Feng Ming” (凤鸣) – “Phoenix sings.”
  • Seventh level: “Ling Zhao” (灵照) – “Spiritual illumination.”

These inscriptions, written in various scripts such as regular, cursive, seal, and clerical script, are believed to have been penned by Hu Jun (胡俊), a native of Guizhou (桂洲), who was awarded the title of Associate Graduate (副贡生) during the Qing Dynasty (清代) in the Qianlong period (乾隆时期, 1792). This attribution offers a potential clue to the tower’s construction date.

The tower, located in what is now part of Ronggui Street (容桂街道), was repaired in 1989, following strict guidelines for preserving ancient structures. The repairs restored its ancient elegance, and its bright, distinct colors. To protect the ancient tower effectively, the surrounding land was developed into a small park, enclosed by brick walls. The park includes pavilions, a water kiosk, and a four-column archway at the main entrance, creating a magnificent view. In May 1991, the tower was designated a county-level cultural heritage site (县级文物保护单位).

After 2007, the area around Wenta Tower (文塔) became a fully open park. The old walls and surrounding shops were removed, and fitness facilities such as tennis courts, ping-pong tables, badminton courts, and gateball courts were added. With its historical allure, Wenta Park (文塔公园) has become a popular leisure and entertainment spot in Ronggui.

Public Transportation 

  • Shunqi Bus (顺汽公交): Wenta Park Station (文塔公园站) – Routes: 317, 320, 326

Bus Routes 

  • 317: Wenta Park (文塔公园) – Shunde Passenger Terminal (顺德客运总站) – Longchong Community (龙涌居委会)
  • 320: Wenta Park (文塔公园) – Shunde Meiju Center (顺德美居中心) – Xingfu Community (幸福居委会)
  • 326: Wenta Park (文塔公园) – Rongqi Ferry (容奇轮渡) – Huangpu Passenger Station (黄圃客运站)