Octagonal Diagram Field Relic Park

As one of the magnificent  West Lake scenic spots, Octagonal Diagram Filed Relic Park is an area of farmland that lies on the south of Hangzhou, an excellent pastoral retreat from hectic life for busy urban people. After the Southern Song Dynasty chose Hangzhou as its capital, the traditional rites and fetes were gradually restored. In the 15th year of Shaoxing Reign, emperor Song Gaozhong gave orders to imitate the ancient governing system of Bianliang Town, the eastern capital city, now called Kaifeng in Henan Province. His command was to allocate some fertile land here for the imperial family, in a similar style to that in the capital, the area chosen was to be within four li (1 li = 500 m) to the south of Jiahui Gate in Lin'an Town (Hangzhou).  

According to a description at the entrance of the park, "To govern a country is to develop agriculture", the Octagonal Diagram Filed Relic Park inherits this governing principle of  ancient China. The park consists of a vegetable field shaped like an octagonal diagram with various crops, such as soybean, rice, corn and eggplant. In the north of the park, a recreational center and a small tea house providing resting venues for travelers. The Ancient Farming Exhibition Hall displays agricultural tools used during the Southern Song Dynasty with a detailed description, and Tianlong Gumiao (Tianlong Temple) and Baiyun Nunnery at the walking path northwest of the field. The whole scene gives a bucolic feel with beautiful look of Mother Nature, also provides you a peaceful mood with a solemn religious air. After a hard working week, take your friends or your family here, to relax and breathe the clean air. It is an ideal place for children or young people to learn about Chinese agricultural history and environmental issues.