Plan at a glance
Park hours and sights inside
Dahuoquan Park is north of the intersection of Quannan West Street and Shoujing North Road in Xindu District, Xingtai. Admission is free, and the park is open 07:00–21:00. The Guo Shoujing Memorial Hall is inside the park and is open 09:00–17:00, with last entry at 16:30; it is closed on Mondays.
The park is large. Allow about 1–1.5 hours for a short visit or 2–3 hours for a route covering Central Lake Island, the memorial hall, and the gardens. Sightseeing vehicles and boats can reduce walking, and each is charged separately.
Choose an entrance and visit length
The south gate is the main entrance, but parking is inconvenient. The north gate has more parking, and the west gate is closer to some sights inside the park. For a short visit, enter at the south or north gate and leave through another exit. For a longer route, enter at the west gate and leave through the south gate; drivers should plan how to return to their parked car.
Tickets and visit details
View visit options for this attraction and confirm the visit date and current arrangements before you go.
Choose your visit
Guo Shoujing Memorial Hall and observatory
The Guo Shoujing Memorial Hall introduces Guo Shoujing, a Yuan-dynasty astronomer and waterworks engineer. It displays models of the Simplified Armilla (简仪) and armillary sphere (浑仪). The observatory in the park and the statue in front of the hall are also worth a stop. The hall’s 09:00–17:00 hours and 16:30 last entry apply separately from park hours. If visiting on a Monday, spend time around Central Lake Island, the observatory, and the lakeside gardens; the park itself follows its own schedule.
Spring, Jiulong Pool, and Central Lake Island
Dahuoquan spring is one of the sights behind the park’s name, but it is tucked away. It lies northwest of the Jiulong Pool fountain and southwest of a four-corner pavilion. Central Lake Island is near the Chinese fringe trees. Guanlan Pavilion and the Nine-Bend Bridge look out over the lake and its koi.
Choose a garden route by season
The Chinese fringe trees near Central Lake Island usually flower in April, when holiday crowds may also be heavier. Dahuoquan spring does not have abundant water all year. If the spring is low, visitors can still follow a route linking the observatory, Central Lake Island, and Guanlan Pavilion.
For a separate historic-temple visit in Xingtai, see Xingtai Great Kaiyuan Temple.
Build your day
The 1–1.5-hour core route
Enter at the south or north gate and visit the Guo Shoujing Memorial Hall first, then see the observatory, Dahuoquan spring, and Jiulong Pool. Leave through another gate. The memorial hall is closed on Mondays and stops admitting visitors at 16:30; the park’s 21:00 closing time does not extend the hall’s hours.
The 2–3-hour lake island and garden route
Enter through the west gate and start at Central Lake Island and the Chinese fringe trees. Continue to the main area for the Guo Shoujing Memorial Hall, then walk by Guanlan Pavilion and the Nine-Bend Bridge before leaving through the south gate. Chinese fringe trees usually flower in April, when holiday crowds may also be heavier; visit outside public holidays for a quieter look at the flowers.
Boats and sightseeing vehicles in the park
A four-person pedal boat costs about CNY 50 per hour; the sightseeing vehicle is about CNY 20 per person. Walking the whole park can be tiring, so consider a boat or vehicle around the lake. You will still need to walk between other sights after leaving the boat.
Get there
Bus, railway station, and subway
Take Bus 15, 22, or 30 to Dahuoquan Park stop. A taxi from Xingtai East Railway Station costs about CNY 30–40. Xingtai has no subway.
Driving and parking
Navigate to “Dahuoquan Park—North Gate.” The first hour at the north-gate car park is free; each additional two hours costs CNY 3. Parking is inconvenient at the south gate. If you park at the north gate and leave through the west or south gate, arrange transport back to your car.
Know before you go
Finding the spring and setting expectations for the water
The spring is not beside the main entrance. Look northwest of the Jiulong Pool fountain, then check southwest of the four-corner pavilion. The spring does not always flow strongly, so the water display varies with current conditions.
Photos and park hours
Light is softer after 16:00. Guanlan Pavilion is a good place for lake photos, and the memorial hall’s exterior and Guo Shoujing statue are also photo stops. To enter the memorial hall, arrive before 16:30; the park staying open until 21:00 does not extend the hall’s hours. After the last entry time, follow the lakeside and outdoor garden route instead.
Nearby museum and food
Xingtai Museum is about 4 km from the park and offers more on Xingtai history and Xing kiln culture; allow extra time and take a bus or taxi. Great Kaiyuan Temple and Qingfeng Tower can also be added to a separate cultural route around the city. Nearby options include Jiguangfa Cantonese-style meals and a grilled beef hot pot restaurant beside Red Star Macalline; a meal is about CNY 20–30 per person.