Yulin’s Stunning Garden Expo Park Guide
Yulin Garden Expo Park: A Flowing “Bagui Landscape Painting”
At nine in the morning, as the bustling life of Yulin city begins to rise, the gates of the Garden Expo Park by Yudong Lake slowly open. Here, there is no noisy ticket office typical of traditional scenic spots, only a sign stating “Free Admission” standing quietly to the side, silently expressing the generosity of a city. Stepping into the park, a fresh scent mixed from earth, flowers, and lake water greets you, instantly peeling you away from the concrete jungle of the city. Before you, a stretch of jade-like water winds like a belt—this is the core of the Yudong Lake area on the outskirts of Yulin city: Yulin Garden Expo Park. It is not only the honored venue for the 8th Guangxi Garden and Horticulture Expo but also a slowly unfolding, three-dimensional “Bagui scroll painting” that visitors can walk through.
1. The Starting Stroke: Mountains and Water as the Axis, Sketching the Framework of “Colorful Yulin”
The wisdom of the Garden Expo Park’s planning lies in its respect for and enhancement of the original natural texture. The entire park uses the Yudong Lake water body as the soul “belt,” with the themes of “Colorful Yulin” and “Bagui Scroll Painting” respectively portrayed on the north and south shores of the lake. Running through it is a clear structure of “one lake, two shores, four zones”: the main exhibition hall area, the urban exhibition garden area, the leisure lakeside area, and the horticultural expo area—distinct yet seamlessly integrated.
The most eye-catching connection is the “Feihong Bridge” spanning Yudong Lake. It is not only a transportation hub linking the north and south shores but also a magnificent landscape itself. The bridge’s lines are smooth, resembling a long rainbow resting on the waves by day. At night, the lights of the bridge and the main exhibition hall illuminate together, reflecting dazzlingly on the shimmering water. Standing on the bridge and gazing afar, you can see the flower-filled horticultural expo area on the north shore and the star-studded urban exhibition gardens on the south shore, with the lake breeze brushing your face, instantly broadening your mind.
The deeper significance of the Garden Expo Park lies in its integration with Yulin’s urban development blueprint. It is not an isolated “bonsai,” but a vivid model of Yulin’s practice of the “Colorful Yulin, Garden City” development concept. The park’s construction incorporates advanced ideas of sponge city and ecological city, linking with nearby ecological blocks such as Colorful Countryside and Huixian River Park to form a new model of coordinated urban-rural development. Walking through the park, you are not only appreciating garden art but also reading a city’s philosophy of pursuing green, harmony, and sharing.
2. Fine Brushwork: Fourteen City Gardens, Concentrating the Essence of “Bagui Charm”
If the mountains and water form the skeleton of the scroll, then the fourteen city exhibition gardens scattered on the south shore are the exquisite fine brushwork on this “Bagui scroll painting.” Designed as a “Grand Garden, Grand View Garden,” they use pavilions, towers, artificial hills, water systems, and characteristic plants to miniaturize the local customs of Guangxi, forming a dazzling cultural corridor.
Each garden is a silent local chronicle. In the garden showcasing northern Guangxi customs, you can see the Dong ethnic drum towers with blue tiles, white walls, and horse-head walls, feeling the simplicity and depth of the mountainous area; in the coastal-themed garden, sculptures shaped like pearl shells and saltwater plants seem to bring the moist sea breeze of the Beibu Gulf. As the host, Yulin Garden is especially ingenious. It is cleverly divided into three chapters: “Impression of Yulin,” “Colorful Yulin,” and “Charming Yulin.” “Impression of Yulin” sketches the classical charm of “Lingnan jade, beautiful scenery like a forest” through exquisite Lingnan architecture; “Colorful Yulin” depicts a picturesque ecological countryside with rice fields, flower fields, and waterside boardwalks; and finally, “Charming Yulin” perhaps adds a finishing touch with a scenic wall engraved with Yulin’s Bayin (eight-tone) culture, infusing the hometown painting with a rhythmic humanistic spirit.
Strolling through, every step reveals a scene, every city a world. Visitors pause to take photos under the hibiscus flowers of Nanning’s “Jinyuan,” or linger in an ancient-style city tower savoring architectural details. Here, there are no regional boundaries, only cultural fusion and resonance, vividly interpreting the inclusiveness and diversity of the “Bagui scroll painting.”
3. Freehand Brushwork: The Cycle of Four Seasons, Injecting Everlasting Vitality
The true charm of Yulin Garden Expo Park is that it is not a static museum. It changes its appearance with the seasons and festive events, always brimming with vibrant civic life.
In spring, it is a sea of flowers. During the Qingming Festival, the park is ablaze with blossoms, and the antique pavilions harmonize with the blooming flowers, attracting countless families for outings and flower viewing. Children play among the flowers, elders sit leisurely in pavilions, and young people climb the eaves and beams to enjoy the view—a scene of peace and beauty.
In midsummer, the Garden Expo Park transforms into a stage of intangible cultural heritage and fantasy. During the 2025 May Day holiday, a “Yu Meets Intangible Heritage · Phantom Umbrella Secret Realm” cultural festival will be held here. The most stunning sight is the giant art installation south of Feihong Bridge—the “Sky Umbrella” made from over ten thousand colorful oil-paper umbrellas. Nearly 40 meters in diameter and covering more than a thousand square meters, it resembles a brilliant cloud rising from the earth. Accompanying it is the “Dream Space Tunnel” constructed from over two thousand oil-paper umbrellas. Walking through it feels like entering a hazy and beautiful Jiangnan dream. Traditional culture (oil-paper umbrellas, intangible heritage performances) blends wonderfully with modern art installations and children’s play areas (cute dinosaur park, Journey to the West theater), giving the ancient garden a fresh, fashionable vitality.
Even on ordinary days, from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., it remains a paradise for citizens’ leisure and fitness. People jog along the lake, dance in the square, or simply enjoy an afternoon sunbath on the lawn. The Garden Expo Park has deeply integrated into the daily life of Yulin people, becoming an indispensable part of their “poetic dwelling.”
4. The Final Stroke: When the Lights Come On, Painting the Night Scene of the “Garden City”
As the sun sets, another magic of the Garden Expo Park begins to show. Lighting designers use light as a brush to recolor the entire park. The green plants covering the exterior of the main exhibition hall glow like a translucent “green diamond” under the lights. The outline of Feihong Bridge is clearly traced by light strips, becoming a gentle arc in the night sky. The lights of the city exhibition gardens light up one after another, warm or cool, sketching mysterious silhouettes completely different from the daytime.
At this moment, strolling by the lake, you can see the myriad lights of Yulin city flickering nearby, echoing the tranquil glow within the park. This scene perfectly embodies the ideal of a “Garden City”: the prosperity and convenience of a modern city and the ecological beauty of a natural countryside are not opposites but can harmoniously coexist in one picture. The Garden Expo Park is the brightest core of this ideal picture.
Travel Tips
· Core Attractions: “One Lake (Yudong Lake), One Bridge (Feihong Bridge), Fourteen Gardens (City Exhibition Gardens)” are the essence. The main exhibition hall and the host “Yulin Garden” are especially worth savoring.
· Dynamic Experience: The park is open year-round for free and hosts seasonal themed cultural events (such as spring flower shows, intangible cultural heritage festivals). Check official platforms like the “Yulin Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television, Sports and Tourism” for the latest event information before visiting.
· Practical Information:
· Opening Hours: Open daily, approximately 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (different zones may vary; main park open until late).
· Admission: Free entry.
· Transportation: Take bus route 612 to “Renmin Road Tonghai Road East” stop. Convenient parking is available around the park.
When leaving, looking back, the Garden Expo Park is tranquil like a pearl in the night. It is not just a park but an open-air art gallery, a vivid Guangxi cultural chronicle, and a lively civic living room. It silently tells Yulin’s story with grass, buildings, lake water, and lights—a timeless story about history, home, and green dreams. Yulin Garden Expo Park