Ｔｈｅ Ｓｕｎ Ｉｓｌｅ ｏｆ Ｈａｒｂｉｎ

Ｙｅ　Ｙａｎｌｉ

In the 1980s “On the Sun Isle”, a pop song sung first by Zheng Xulan, put the isle in the Songhua River on the national map. The isle has now become a symbol of Harbin, the capital city of northeastern Chinas Heilongjiang Province.

In fact, however, the 38-km2 scenic zone is by no means a river isle. It is actually a park on the northern bank of the Songhua River and across the river is downtown Harbin. It measures about 10 km from east to west and about 4 km from north to south. With its peripheral zone, the park occupies a total area of 88 km2.

Except for the deceptiveness of the name, the Sun Isle does offer some attractions. Stepping into the scenic zone, tourists see a huge singular rock that stands 7.5 meters in length, 2 meters in thickness and 4.3 meters in height and weighs 150 tons. It is known as the Rock of the Sun and legend has it that the rock was moved here from Ashi River where the Jin Kingdom (1115-1234) was founded. It is said that carved lines on the rock were left over by the first king of the kingdom. The rock now carries three Chinese characters 太阳岛 (Sun Isle), a calligraphic inscription by Zhao Puchu (1907-2000), a prestigious Buddhist and calligrapher.

Behind the rock is the entrance to the park, composed of five arched gates standing in a semi-circle to embrace the huge rock. The main arch-gate is 12.5 meters high. The central axle of the main scenic zone is from due east to due west in the direction of sunrise and sundown. It is said that the splendor of golden sunrays going directly through the gate in the morning or in the evening suggests romance and can be best appreciated from the gate.

And most other things on the isle have a touch with the sun. The lake, the mount, the pavilion are all named after the sun. The Universe Park has one row of sculptures in relief on either side flanking the altar of the sun. The 45-m2 altar has four stone sculptures indicating seasons and 24 solar terms on Chinese lunar calendar. In the center of the altar towers a bronze sculpted statue representing the god of the sun. The sun waterfall is an artificial simulation which measures 132 meters in length and 7 meters in height. Nine totem poles depict the image of the sun bird.

Not everything on the so-called isle is meant to be spectacularly connected with the sun. White and black swans on the lake are an attractive sight. Wild ducks and squirrels can be delightfully spotted here and there. And the isle is a big picturesque place where would-be brides and grooms take wedding photos. These beautiful girls and young men are said to be the big attraction of the isle. They do represent a spirit of romance against a backdrop that indicates the great cult of the sun.□