Canal Cultural Plaza, situated on the north side of Dongguan Bridge in Tongzhou District, faces Tonghu Road to the south and is nestled against the east bank of the Grand Canal. It is a significant地标, marking the eastern starting point of the hundred-mile Chang’an Avenue and the northern starting point of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal.
The plaza spans an area of 800 acres, with a generous 600 acres allocated to green space. Within the square, two circular platforms are constructed. The larger platform symbolizes the sun, with a diameter of 150 meters and a height of 1.2 meters. The sun’s rays, depicted by two shades of lawn, suggest the sun’s gradual rise from the east. Complementing the larger platform is the smaller one, symbolizing the moon, with a diameter of 100 meters and a height of 0.9 meters.
A main road, 1200 meters in length and 50 meters in width, traverses the plaza from north to south, linking the two platforms. North of the larger platform, a curved water screen stands at 70 meters long and 20 meters high, creating a majestic presence that contrasts with the gentle fountain in the middle of the smaller platform.
On the main axis of the plaza, two large sculptures are prominently displayed. The sculpture at the entrance, titled ‘Recreating the Universe’, signifies the thriving economic development of Tongzhou District. Between the two platforms, the large theme sculpture named ‘Goddess of the Canal’ inspires and encourages the people of the district to inherit and develop the canal culture, and to build a better Tongzhou with practical actions.The Canal Cultural Plaza features a dedicated sculpture park in its eastern forest area. This park is designed to engage the community by soliciting opinions from people of all walks of life. It showcases exceptional sculptures from both domestic and international sources, aiming to evoke a sense of rich imagination among visitors and foster a positive cultural environment. The park is open to the public daily, from January 1st to December 31st.
