Splashes of cosmos color to beautify emerging park

A colorful sea of cosmos ornamental plants of the daisy family will adorn nascent Xiangshan Lake Park in March as flower season greets the arrival of spring.

Covering 3 sq km, the park measures 600 m north to south and 2.7 km east to west. It is situated in New Xiangzhou east of Zhuhai #1 Middle School at the southwest corner of Fenghuang Mt. The park directly accesses the urban area of Zhuhai and affords a view of a 3.5-km landscape belt.

The project is part of Phase I of Fenghuang Mt Forest Park for which ground was broken earlier this month.

Rendering of Xiangshan Lake Park

Before opening at the end of this year, there is to be an advance opportunity to experience its pleasant ecological landscape, according to Huang Qin, director of the project management center, which is financed with 120 million-yuan ($18.5 million) by the Xiangzhou government.

Ten local Guangdong varieties of cosmos have been planted on a sloping field. The flower was chosen because of its blooming period of two to three months. Among the varieties of cosmos, a few are perennials, but most are annuals -- self-seeding, dropping seeds for the next spring and thusly increasing the number of plants.

Cosmos flowers come in shades of white, pink, yellow, red, orange, and purple. Some varieties can grow up to seven feet tall. Other blossoms in various colors will decorate lakeside pathways, parking spaces, and children play areas starting from the west entrance.

Meanwhile, work continues on lakeside leisure, ecological transition, and intermountain cultural areas. 

Park under formation [Photos by Zhong Fan / Zhuhai Daily]

The lakeside zone has sections for leisure activities, waterscape viewing platforms, and valley tours. Three recommended tour routes will proceed to lakes, forest camping areas, and a mountain art gallery.

Mountains, waters, and other abundant landscape resources at the ecological transition area are designated for fitness activities, especially hill hiking and overlooks.

At the east main entrance stands a service-oriented building integrated with the surrounding environment. The facility serves cultural theme tours to the southeast of the intermountain cultural area, which includes a reading room, chess tables, and parts of Shixi Park. In the northern side of the area will be well-designed campgrounds.

Bicycle lanes have been separated from sidewalks to ensure safety and so as not to harm the existing harmony, according to a designer.