The Central Park by the Haohe River in Chongchuan district, Nantong. [Photo/WeChat account: chongchuanonline] 

After a year of renovation, the Central Park (Zhonggongyuan), which holds a century of memories for Nantong, was officially completed and unveiled in November. 

Bearing its profound historical significance, Central Park has undergone a transformative renewal to better meet the demands of modern urban functions and the daily lives of its residents. 

Today, the Gongzi Building in the park has been transformed into a research center dedicated to Chinese studies, where it will regularly host lectures on traditional Chinese culture and etiquette training. Meanwhile, the Kuixing Tower will feature an exhibition highlighting Nantong's scholarly culture, showcasing the history of its notable scholars through artifacts and multimedia displays. 

The park now also features a cultural and creative store along with a cafe, offering convenient amenities for both residents and visitors. The creation of scenic viewpoints along the Haohe River has been developed, improving the integration of the garden's aesthetic with the river's natural scenery. 

Central Park, established in 1917 under Zhang Jian's guidance, is one of Nantong's renowned "five parks". These parks are named after the five cardinal directions — east, west, south, north, and center — and are pioneers in China's urban beautification efforts. 

As a national ecological garden city, Nantong has developed several new city parks recently, such as Langshan National Forest Park and Yangtze River Sports Park. Currently, the city's per capita park green space has grown to 18.75 square meters, placing it among the top in the Jiangsu province.