Baohe Park ( Baohe gongyuan )

Baohe Park ( Baohe gongyuan ) is one of a ring of parks that circle the old city walls of Hefei. This park is the southeast section of the ring, while the others, in clockwise order, include the Xinghua Park ( Xinghua gongyuan ), Hei Pond ( Heichi ) and the Leisure Ford Park ( Xiaoyaojin gongyuan ). Baohe itself is mostly lake, although there is a memorial temple, several small tombs, a number of pretty arched bridges, a small conifer wood and a profusion of willow trees that drape their boughs over the water.

The park is named after a famous Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127 AD) official, Bao Zheng , whose name is now a synonym for incorruptibility and rectitude. Bao worked as a judge and was the final say in all important rulings in Kaifeng , including executions. In the middle of the park's Lord Bao Memorial Temple is a statue of this powerful and wise administrator, behind which stands the tools of his highest authority, three fixed hay cutters ( Zhadao ). Each cutter is marked differently, one dragon headed, one tiger headed and one dog headed, meant as indicators of the condemned man's social ranking. The statue's face is painted black, a colour that in opera tradition is the symbol of honesty. This idea is backed up by the Bao family motto, that adorns the hall, and preaches "familial piety" ( Jia xun ) to all who see it.

There are a few other sights of interest. The hexagonal pavilion , to the east of the Lord Bao Memorial Temple, contains a well that legend states is a measure of moral status. It is said that when corrupt officials drink the well water their heads will split. Also of interest are the garden houses, in typical Anhui architectural style, that Bao and his progeny used to live in, hidden away in the conifer forest and ideal for relaxation and study.

How to get there: From the railway station, take bus No.11 and get off at the Baohe stop. Opening hours: 07:30-17:30, daily.