Chengnan Park, Peace and Rule of Law Theme Park
★Travel Location: Taizhou Jingjiang Peace and Rule of Law Park
After coming out of the Jingjiang Chengnan Administrative Center, I noticed a park across the street. In no hurry to leave, I braved the scorching sun and entered the park. Though this park is just a place for nearby residents to take a stroll and probably has few tourists—indeed, at noon, I encountered only two people during my entire walk, and they were just cutting through as a shortcut.
This park is Chengnan Park, the Peace and Rule of Law Park. It is not large, with a long and narrow rectangular shape. At the entrance is a plaza with a large electronic screen that was dark; it might display something on holidays.
Beyond the plaza is a water feature area, but there wasn't much water—probably because it's not the rainy season. Even during the rainy season, the water here is not deep, making it suitable for children who like to play in the water. The water level might be a bit fuller during summer vacation.
To the right of the plaza is a pavilion with an antique style, nothing special. Further ahead, there is a propaganda corridor about national security knowledge, fitting for a Peace and Rule of Law Park. In front of the water feature area, there are also illustrated materials promoting the rule of law. Peace and rule of law are the park's main themes, so you can learn a bit while walking, even without stopping—at least something stays in your mind. Most visitors are local residents taking a stroll after dinner; no rush, after two or three years, they'll remember a fair amount.
The corridors on both sides are also law promotion corridors. In the middle of the west side are quotes from legal experts, such as Laurence Tribe saying: 'The Constitution is an endless, flowing conversation in which generations of a country's people participate.' Most of us know very little about the Constitution—just that it is the fundamental law of the nation, the mother law, and the overall charter for governing the country. Few people, apart from law students or legal professionals, have likely read the entire Constitution.
Justinian said: 'The basic principles of law are to live honestly, not to harm others, and to give each person what they deserve.' In fact, these are not only legal requirements but also moral ones.
The famous scholar Aristotle said: 'To truly eliminate internal strife in a country, one should rely on good legislation, not on chance.' The rule of law is the fundamental way to govern.
Thomas Aquinas said: 'Whoever makes laws for others should apply the same law to themselves.' Everyone is equal before the law.
In the middle of the corridor is a large open space planted with two-colored coreopsis. Though not as grand as the flower fields we are used to, they add a splash of color to the park. The red and yellow on these coreopsis vary—some have equal halves, others are mostly red with just a hint of yellow at the tips, still very vivid. However, at this season, some flowers are already fading.
Further ahead, there is a fairly new arched bridge. Beneath it, a small lake is covered with duckweed, completely obscuring the water's surface, like a green velvet carpet on the ground. The aquatic plants nearby are also lush but a bit messy, as if seeds were just scattered and left to grow on their own. They are not precious plants, so their vitality is strong.
Walking along the path up the arched bridge, I noticed that despite looking quite new, several stone slabs on the bridge surface were missing, revealing the soil underneath. I always thought bridges were made of concrete, but this one has soil beneath the slabs?
At the southernmost end of the park is a children's playground, small in scale, with slides, swings, and such. Around it are display boards with information on elimination, traffic safety, and the Dizi Gui (Standards for Being a Good Student and Child).
By this point, I had finished touring the park, which didn't take much time. Since my car was parked on Chengnan Street, I returned to the central plaza, wondering if square-dancing aunties would occupy it at night. The surrounding residential areas are relatively far, and the nearest street office closes in the evening, so even louder music wouldn't disturb anyone.
Peace and Rule of Law Park
