Cool mountain air and wide lakes not enough to tempt you away from Beijing's bright lights for a weekend? How about a replica marble statue that would not be out of place beside Michelangelo's classic David?
For a day's outing with a difference, head to Yanqing, a scenic county about 80 km north of Beijing. In its quest to become the capital's tourism "satellite city", Yanqing has promoted itself as a mecca for international lovers of sculpture art.
Located at the foot of mountains and surrounded by dense forest, this laidback town of 300,000 people is close to the Great Wall at Badaling, and about one and a half hours' drive from the capital.
Besides nature reserves for hiking and fishing lakes, visitors can discover a network of green space hosting a variety of unique sculptures. With the philosophy, "sculpture art can make the world a better place by its touchable entity", the county government invited artists from around the world to create works for its International Sculpture Exhibition in 2001. Conceived as a form of cultural exchange, the display at Xiadu Park included 50 sculptures by artists from 10 countries, in Asia, Africa, America and Europe.
The creative buzz has lived on, and extends to several of the pretty parks just out of the town center, where you'll find manicured lawns, lakes - and quirky architectural centerpieces.
Driving along tree-lined avenues, you can find Xihu Park, where a promenade on the lake's shore is adorned with Roman-esque marble columns forming an archway, as well as several tall statues in the style of the renaissance sculptors. Walking trails lead out from the park into forest.
Also check out the lovely lotus pond park, with its charming, silver sculpture of a wetlands scene. There are two frogs, one on top of a curved lotus leaf, its tongue extended towards an insect that is clinging to another bud. In the middle is a large lotus flower, while the second frog has its legs wrapped around a stalk. The scene is surrounded by planted rows of colorful flowers.
Having admired the artwork, head to the wooden walkway constructed over the lake, which leads to a platform where you can stand among hundreds of lilies and look out to the misty mountains beyond.
Also worthy of exploring is the expansive Jiangshuiquan Park. Here, there is a fishing platform built over the water with wooden planks, so that you can set yourself up comfortably and cast a line right out to where the fish are biting.
The park is surrounded by mountains, and there are winding walking trails between tall trees. Opposite the fishing platform is Butterfly Square, where three giant butterflies are crafted from rainbow-colored steel. They double as climbing equipment for the kids, and throw vibrant reflections on the water. Also venture into the surrounding forest to find a smaller, quirky sculpture, of two kicking legs clad in heavy boots, reminiscent of the children's book character, the Magic Pudding.
When it's time for lunch, either unfold a picnic in any one of the parks, or take your rest stop at one of the farmhouses in the surrounding villages. They are located off narrow lanes, entered via archways by the road, and have a plaque denoting them as an authorized tourist site. Don't let this put you off though, it's not hard to find a quiet courtyard where a family will welcome your group into their home, and bring out a country-style hotpot feast. Locals say the area is famed for its tofu, and our hosts bring out at least half a dozen different types to throw into the steaming stew.
In the center of the county in Guichuan Square, a 100,000 sq km community hub where families fly kites and musicians play traditional Chinese instruments. By night, groups come to dance. In the middle of the square stands another sculpture, called Guichuan Passion. It is a modern symbol of Yanqing, comprising three "Y" characters, three "" style characters and a sphere.
To get there: Take route 919 bus from Deshengmen to Yanqing (leaves about every 10 minutes) or drive along Badaling Hwy.
(Beijing Weekend by Viva Goldner September 10, 2007)
