Mojiang Tropic of Cancer Symbol Park

Mojiang Tropic of Cancer Symbol Park is one of the world's largest and most comprehensive Tropic of Cancer landmarks. It integrates astronomy, geography, landscape art, ethnic culture, and sightseeing into a single geographical landmark entity, recognized as a national AAAA-level tourist attraction. Serving as an important science education base in Yunnan Province, the park is located west of Mojiang County and east of the Mojiang section of the Kunming-Bangkok Expressway, making it a must-pass destination on the route from Kunming to Pu'er and Xishuangbanna. Centered around the Tropic of Cancer axis, the park features 15 attractions that use vivid artistic displays to enhance visitors' understanding of the Tropic of Cancer, symbolizing humanity's reverence for nature, sunlight, and life.

At the golden ratio point of Earth's axis at 23.5°N latitude, Mojiang Tropic of Cancer Symbol Park uniquely demonstrates the mysterious "twin phenomenon" resulting from the combined effects of the Tropic's magnetic field and the magical twin wells. Every summer solstice when the sun shines directly on the Tropic of Cancer, the Hani people hold grand celebration activities with singing and dancing to pray for the sun's light and warmth, hoping for abundant harvests and thriving communities in the coming year. On this day, visitors can witness the astronomical wonder of "no shadow under vertical poles" at Mojiang Tropic of Cancer Symbol Park, poetically earning it the name"The place where the sun turns around".

Welcome to Mojiang Tropic of Cancer Symbol Park! Experience the unique solstice culture, savor Hani cuisine, and uncover the mystery of twins!

Popular attractions

Flying magic carpet lift

The overall spatial design follows the natural slope of the terrain, seamlessly blending with the surrounding environment like two soaring dragons reaching for the sky. For visitors' experience, they can board the magic carpet ride for effortless transportation. As the flying carpet ascends at a steady pace, it offers a smooth and comfortable viewing experience. Mysterious stone pillars and statues peek through the jungle along the way, allowing guests to immerse themselves in breathtaking scenery without moving a step.

Moon Square

Echoing the Sun Plaza, this area consists of a lunar phase diagram and a crater map. The lunar phase diagram meticulously displays the moon's appearance as seen from Earth each day throughout a month, while the crater map reveals the distribution of lunar craters observed through the "First Telescope of Southern Yunnan." With its ingenious layout and rich content, the entire plaza is a masterpiece that seamlessly blends astronomical knowledge with architectural design.

Cultural stone steps

From a distance, the layered steps symbolize the Hani people's terraced fields, a testament to their diligence and wisdom. Nestled within these "terraces" are mascots, iconic architectural sculptures, and brief profiles of 19 countries and regions along the Tropic of Cancer. Among these 19 nations, most are dominated by oceans and deserts, with Mojiang in China standing out as one of the few "oases."

Twin Star Plaza

The main sculpture depicts a young Hani couple, with the woman's belly slightly protruding. The couple kneels with offerings in hand, praying to the heavens for the safe birth of their twins. The land shapes its people. In Mojiang, drinking the local twin water year-round has become one of the key factors contributing to the high twin birth rate.Twin Star PlazaThe Yin-Yang Well is located where the Mojiang Tropic of Cancer Symbol Park passes between the two wells. Couples wishing for twins should drink from the Yin-Yang water, sleep in the twin bed, and then fasten a love lock here.

Mojiang Planetarium

The UFO-shaped planetarium is currently the largest and most comprehensive tropical culture-themed science museum along the Mojiang Tropic of Cancer Symbol Park, using interactive high-tech methods like sound and light effects to fully showcase the magical civilizations, legends, and phenomena along the Tropic of Cancer. The facility's main 40cm astronomical telescope allows 360-degree exploration of the sun, moon, and other planets, earning it the reputation among astronomy enthusiasts as "Yunnan's Premier Celestial Lens."

Naked-eye 3D science education theater

Using cutting-edge 3D film technology with sound, lighting, and special effects, this experience vividly showcases the extraordinary astronomical and geographical wonders along the Mojiang Tropic of Cancer Symbol Park, along with its mysterious legends. Through multi-sensory stimulation of sight, smell, hearing, and touch, visitors are immersed in thrilling, tension-filled adventures that feel astonishingly real.

Main Tower

The main tower stands 23.26 meters tall, corresponding to the latitude of the Tropic of Cancer. At the tower's summit, there is a "sun-viewing hole." Every year on the summer solstice, when the sun is directly overhead at the Mojiang Tropic of Cancer Symbol Park located at 101°41' east longitude and 23°26' north latitude, it marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. At noon on this day, sunlight passes directly through the viewing hole and illuminates a small copper plate inside the tower, allowing visitors to witness the remarkable astronomical phenomenon of "a vertical pole casting no shadow" with striking clarity.

Sundial

A sundial is an ancient Chinese timekeeping device that measures time using the sun's shadow. It consists of a gnomon (pointer) and a circular dial divided into 24 sections representing the 12 traditional Chinese time periods. When sunlight falls on the dial, the gnomon's shadow points to the corresponding time period on the face, indicating the local solar time.

Echo wall

In certain natural landscapes, even the softest sounds are amplified with remarkable clarity, creating prolonged and continuous echoes. This fascinating phenomenon produces a mystical atmosphere of "heaven-earth resonance," and such areas are known as "echo walls."

Sun and moon shining together

At the center of the pool stand two marble spheres, each weighing 16 tons, representing the sun and moon. Every 60 years during the jiazi cycle, when the sun, moon, and earth align in their orbits and rotations, a unique phenomenon occurs in Mojiang. Here, the moon begins to rise before the sun fully sets. Under the simultaneous illumination of sunlight and moonlight, these two marble spheres cast intersecting shadows in opposite directions, creating the breathtaking "sun and moon shining together" view.

Beyond Tower

The Transcendence Tower, composed of 81 steps, stands 23.26 meters tall. The latitude 23°26′ represents the Tropic of Cancer, while the 81 steps symbolize that only by continuously overcoming challenges can one reach the peak of life and surpass oneself. According to Hani ethnic tradition, walking through the tower from east to west along the Tropic of Cancer line makes you one year younger—what we now call "traveling through a time tunnel."

Hani Fire-Making Platform

A square where the Hani people perform their sacred fire ceremony. Three majestic dragons form the triangular hearth commonly found in Hani homes. The Hani are a people of fire, and the hearth holds profound significance in their households—it serves as the "heart" of the family. Seniors often gather around the hearth to share ancestral stories and pass down knowledge about livelihood and traditions with the younger generation. As they speak, they continuously add firewood to the triangular hearth to prevent the "spirit of fire" from dispersing, ensuring the family's well-being and happiness.

Stone Square

The square features a sundial for measuring the 24 solar terms, composed of 12 stone pillars of varying heights and shapes, representing the 12 months of the year. A metal sphere atop the southernmost pillar casts a shadow that moves precisely along a crimson line at noon, allowing accurate determination of the solar terms. These 12 pillars also symbolize the unity and harmony of the 12 Hani ethnic subgroups living in the magical oasis of the Mojiang Tropic of Cancer Symbol Park.

Stone Ring

The stone circle has a diameter of 32m, consisting of 69 bluestones arranged in a ring at specific intervals. The alignment and spacing of the stone pillars and gates correspond to the shadows cast by the sun and moon during the 24 solar terms each year. Ancient people deduced the timing of these 24 solar terms by observing the shadows at sunrise and sunset, applying this knowledge to agricultural production and daily life for the benefit of humanity.

Kuafu Chasing the Sun

In his quest to subdue the sun and save his people, the giant Kuafu chased the sun all the way to Mojiang, where he collapsed from exhaustion. His flesh turned into yellow earth, his hair transformed into lush fields, and his blood became flowing rivers, eternally guarding the northern lands. Unaware of the truth, the sun dared only to reach Mojiang before turning back south. Since then, Mojiang has been known as the place where the sun turns around.

Five Elements Pillars Square

The five elements—metal, wood, water, fire, and earth—were integrated by the Hani people in ancient times with their calendar system, giving rise to an ancient solar calendar known as the "Ten-Month Solar Calendar" for timekeeping. This solar calendar divides a year into five seasons: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. Each season lasts two months, with each month comprising 36 days, totaling 360 days per year. The remaining 5 or 6 days are reserved for festivals, during which various celebratory activities take place. The Hani people celebrate two "New Year" festivals annually. The summer festival, called the "June New Year" or "Kuzhazha Festival" in the Hani language, typically falls on the first Pig or Rat day in the fifth or sixth month of the lunar calendar and lasts 2–3 days. Its primary purpose is to worship heaven and pray for a bountiful harvest. The winter festival, known as the "October New Year" or "Zelahose," usually begins on the first Dragon day in the tenth lunar month and also spans 2–3 days. This festival celebrates the harvest of crops.